Cat Converter a must (Florida) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Theurig · #1 01-01-2004, 05:10 PM

I highly suspect my cat (one of) to be going bad , after noticing some occasional rattling, and today after seeing some vaporish smoke come out of the hood, I really panicked, after some serious examination, I looked under the car and noticed the smoke to be coming from close to one of the cat's and being blown under the hood, thus rising and making me really panic. My question is I am moving to Florida in 5 days, Is a cat a must to have in the state of FL.

stevebfl · #2 01-01-2004, 07:41 PM

"Is a cat a must to have in the state of FL."

It helps to get the exhaust to the back of the car! But if you are asking whether Florida has emission testing, the answer is no.

BTW, cats don't smoke. Oil on cats smoke. I would check for an oil leak.

Theurig · #3 01-01-2004, 10:40 PM

Didn't know it was a federal offence. I guess that is out, Yes I will have it checked. I guess I do have an oil leak, because I checked the oil level, the other day and I had to top it off with a quart to get to the correct level. I had an air leak under the intake manifold fixed i.e manifold gaskets, injector seals and a few other parts under the intake. It was done by an experienced Merc Techie, could it be that he forgot to do something ?? First time I have had to top off the oil, and 2, the noise started after the work was done.
I had to go back the 2 nd day because the trans was taking to long shift right after the work was done, he adjusted something and it shifts fine now.

What do you guys think.??

euronatura · #4 01-02-2004, 11:15 AM

When I lived in Miami from 1996-2000 I had to have my cars emissions tested to get registration renewel. Has the law changed? In fact, on my 190e, I had to have a new cat installed when I lived there.

Iggy

stevebfl · #5 01-02-2004, 11:54 AM

New gov, new law.

Theurig · #6 01-05-2004, 07:14 PM

Genltlemen and ladies,
I think I will officially get myself out of the DIY club!!! I can't even pour oil in, the right way. When SteveBfl , mentioned oil leak, I remembered that when I had poured the oil I had spilt some on the exhaust manifold area, so I opened the hood and really analyzed ,turns out that , that oil kind of oozed down the pipe on to one of the Cats ( right side) hence the smoking. As for the rattle, it turns out that it was the A/C idler pulley, which I had changed earlier this after noon. As for the high idle, I pulled out the idle control computer and reconnected it after checking it out, and now it idles at 600 when in gear and 800 when in P/N. In the time that I have owned the car, never has it run so well!!!!! You can't tell the car is running !!!!!! I must thank SteveBfl for his diagnosis, otherwise I would have never realized that it was my mistake with the oil. I also balanced the tires because the was some severe shaking past 60mph, it drives much smother , however there still is some vibration at about 65. ( The car needs a wheel alignment.) That could be a contributing factor right??
To bad I am not moving close to Gainsville,SteveB I'd love to be bringing my car to you. Know anyone around North Bay Village/ Miami area who knows about Merc and doesn't charge crazy??

stevebfl · #7 01-06-2004, 08:06 AM

Not sure exactly where you are at but if you are close to Dania then you might look up Raul Bengolea at Ultimate Euro Repairs 954-475-0225.

Theurig · #8 01-10-2004, 01:10 AM

So me and the Merc got to Miami earlier this evening. She run very well, I must I am real impressed. The car though sounds kind of tired, I wonder if it is the regular fuel I put in for the last fill up. My mechanic said, Regular is ok on the older 126's. What do you think folks?? (tired- runs slighly rougher than normal.) then again it could be another loose injector. Before I left NJ, she had a slight miss, I took to my tech and he apologized for a loose injector. ( He had just redone the intake a week before.)

porkface · #9 01-10-2004, 07:10 PM

hello-regular is never ok with a euro-spec mb. the compression is higher than the us spec cars. and the spec on those is "premium fuel only". good luck, chuck.

Theurig · #10 01-12-2004, 09:02 PM

Hey folks,
the car was sitting for 2 days after I recuperated from the road trip. She is running fine now , just like before.I drove around Miami yersterday and today. ( still on the same tank of regular.) When I drove from SC to FL I may have stopped only twice, all the other time she was running, I figure she was " tired"( for lack of a better term.). 8-10 hrs straight!. I looked at the Euro manual and the compression for the euro is 9.4 while the compression for the U.S model 380 is 8.3. The Euro model calls for Bosch W7D, spark plugs, whle the U.S calls for Bosch W9D spark plugs, the spark plugs in my car are W9's. ( My mechanic in NJ changed them and probarbly forgot that he was working on a Euro.) Probarbly the reason why she is running ok on Regular.

What do you folks think?

stevebfl · #11 01-12-2004, 09:10 PM

I think the heat range of the plugs really don't matter unless you are on the autobahn.

Theurig · #12 01-12-2004, 09:20 PM

So what's the bottom line, will Regular fuel really harm anything.
( that's all the previous owner used.) Not trying to be a cheapee, just trying to get the facts??

stevebfl · #13 01-12-2004, 09:30 PM

If its not pinging or burning the tips off the sparkplugs then your only worry is if you can really hear the pinging. Lug it up a hill if it doesn't ping use whatever suits you. Those motors are tough as nails and the factory settings on timing are conservative as can be. Personally I would use high test and jack the timing up ten degress, but then I like POWER!

Often the mileage will improve so much using high test and high timing that the economics are the same.

Theurig · #14 01-14-2004, 03:11 PM

So I decided to take steves advice and check my plugs. Oh My goodness!! they were brownish with a nice black film around them. The tips were not burnt off though.!! No Pinging or anything though.
what gives?? Probarbly the regular fuel?? Right?? Before I left NJ the timing and CO had been adjusted.
I am off to get some new ones I'll probarbly change them once I fill up with a fresh tank of High test put some techron.

Any advice appreciated.

Theurig · #15 01-19-2004, 07:45 PM

Maybe 15000 miles. I pulled them all out today and all the rest of them didn't look to good. Just Regular wear though, brownish at the elecrodes and tips with a little black around them. I replaced with the same W9DC plugs and it runs better now. I wonder how long these will last?
Just an observation.