Miscellaneous questions from first-time poster.
 

I have been browsing the forum for quite a while, and enjoying all the information available. But since I haven't found the answers to all my questions, it is now time to swith to the "active" mode. :)

So here are a couple of questions:

* I have some rust under the chromed arch above the doors. Removing it seems easy, but I'd like to make sure that the screws hold on to the body itself, not to bolts hidden inside the body and which may fall inside it somewhere... Could anyone please confirm?

* I also have some rust on the tray under the battery, which I saw when I had it changed on the road by MB. It looked like you need to remove the windshield washer fluid reservoir, which also looked cumbersome, to be able to remove the battery: is there an easier way? From my readings here I am also a little concerned about manipulating batteries which can explode...

* My (OEM, Becker) cassette player only plays on the right hand side (although the radio plays on all the speakers): any effective way to clean the cassette heads? (Unless the pb is other...)

Many thanks in advance.

My vehicle info. didn't automatically appear as I expected. So I have now duplicated it in the signature, which seems to do the trick.

I can only answer some, since I don't have the same chassis.

Disconnect the battery ground terminal first, then the positive. Reconnect in the same order. Keep it always upright when removing, and you shouldn't be in any danger. Just move slowly and carefully and keep potential shorting items away from the terminals at all times.

Note you will trigger the anti-theft in the Becker when you do this, so know the code and reset procedure first.

Speaking of the Becker, I wouldn't bother keeping that part original. A dirty head is only one possible problem - worn out or switching problems could be your issue. Most cheap CD units on the market today will sound and work better, and you will be able to play your CD's. Cassettes deteriorate quickly kept and used in a vehicle, and the mechanisms that play them are subject to wear and are failure-prone. Using a computer with a CD-R unit you can duplicate any cassettes you like, and they will play on in the car. The OEM speakers can certainly be improved as well, while keeping the interior look original.

Can't answer about the screw threads, but it seems unlikely they would not be captive. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

Steve

I have had some success cleaning cassette heads in place with long cotton swabs, which are often sold for 'wound care' in pharmacies. Usually they only have the expensive sterile ones, which are wasted on this. Clean gently with rubbing alcohol, and try to leave no fibers behind. They do make special 'head cleaning solution', but rubbing alcohol seems to do the job just as well in my experience.

It is a challenge to see what you are doing in there.
It is much easier to do a good cleaning job by removing and opening up the headunit, but perhaps not worth the security reset issues in this case.

I have had no luck with those special 'head cleaning cassettes' that that they sell.

Becker
 

Your balance control may be off.

Adjust it.

Do you have the radio manual?
It is not obvious by sight. U need the manual.

2 cents
 

Chrome arch...... take out one screw, put a pice of wire inside hole
such that the wire end has a hook long enough to latch the unexposed threaded half. I don't know if it has this.
Remove or loosen another or others, and do likeise with wire. At some point when it is loose, you ought to be able to shake it a bit and determine if it has the threaded halves behind the body shell.

At all times make sure the wires are inside so that the back threads don't fall into body panel.

Find a way to eventuallt slip the chrome piece off the wires while keeping the hooked ends inside body.
That is how I changed the door latch/strike plate , which does have the threaded plate behind the body panel.

Use your imagination;)

As for the washer fluid reservoir, the unit simply lifts up from its seating. There are no bolts, etc. holding it in. The tubing and wires are long enough for you to pull the reservoir out enough to get a wrench in there to unbolt the front clamp holding the battery down. Whatever you do don't unfasten the hoses connecting to the heating element that goes into the reservoir. You will be greeted with a healthy spray of anti-freeze. :eek:

Sanchezc, did you ever figure out how to remedy the problem where the cassette player only plays on one side, but the radio plays fine on both sides? That is exacly what is happening to me too. Wondering if a clenaing worked or if you had to do something else.

There are no captive nuts in wheel arch trim.

Batteries don't explode from handling. They are not sensitive and often you have to wrestle them a bit to get them out.

The only thing I am aware of them exploding from is electrical activity, such as extended jump start activity without removing the cell caps.

treiberg, I stopped listening to cassettes: that's one solution ;-)

Yeah, cassettes are a thing of the past, but i can connect my ipod using a cassette adaptor, which is still the easiest way to connect an ipod in these old cars. I guess your answer means no solution (other than no cassettes!)