Hello, 1979 280e to work on. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Cervan · #1 11-06-2007, 05:35 PM

Hi, im working on a 1979 280e automatic, that im working on for a customer. What should i check on these cars? it has the DOHC inline six fuel injected. where could i get the specs on this car? like valve lash and adjustments. What about the timing chain?

Mike D · #2 11-06-2007, 05:51 PM

Valve clearance spec's are on a plate by the emissions sticker. Standard timing chain stretch technique is to remove valve cover, pull the plugs, rotate the engine to top dead center and check the marks on the cams. Rotate the engine again, bring the CAM MARKS to alignment and check to see what the timing pointer says at the crank. 6-8 degrees stretch is getting marginal but still useable. My '73 M110 with mumble, mumble 65K shows only 2 degrees stretch.

Adenauer · #3 11-06-2007, 05:55 PM

And keep in mind, too, that you can obtain offset woodruff keys from MBUSA/dealer in order to correct stretch. They are available in varying degrees of offset to a certain point - the point at which chain replacement is a no brainer.

Cervan · #4 11-06-2007, 06:06 PM

Thanks for the info guys! what about lube points, things that go out on these cars, hints and info on things like oil leaks and such? what of the ignition system?

wbain5280 · #5 11-07-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cervan

Thanks for the info guys! what about lube points, things that go out on these cars, hints and info on things like oil leaks and such? what of the ignition system?

There are no lube points on the W123 chassis, except for the door hinges. Maybe the 123 guys can offer more advice.

Cervan · #6 11-07-2007, 04:14 PM

Ok, what of the engines then? anythign special or something i should look for?

Cervan · #7 11-08-2007, 05:41 AM

Ahg! well tonight i did the old atf trick. i took out all the spark plugs and filled the cylinders full of ATF fluid. let it sit for awhile and then cranked the engine over to get the fluid out. (Man does that stuff shoot out!) after that it smoked like crazy for awhile and now im plauged with a miss at idle. one miss, another thing. Does this engine have hydraulic lifters? and the tranny seems ok, it is really really whiny. at idle when you shift it into drive it kind of slips into gear rather than go into it. and when coming to a stop you hear a high pitched whine.

kalpol · #8 11-08-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cervan

Ahg! well tonight i did the old atf trick. i took out all the spark plugs and filled the cylinders full of ATF fluid. let it sit for awhile and then cranked the engine over to get the fluid out. (Man does that stuff shoot out!) after that it smoked like crazy for awhile and now im plauged with a miss at idle. one miss, another thing. Does this engine have hydraulic lifters? and the tranny seems ok, it is really really whiny. at idle when you shift it into drive it kind of slips into gear rather than go into it. and when coming to a stop you hear a high pitched whine.

Solid lifters - you need a tool from Mercedes to adjust them. They're easy to adjust though, if the adjusting nut still meets the torque spec. (It's all in the manual). As for the miss, you may have fouled a plug with burning ATF. Otherwise, could be anything - bad injector, worn cam lobe, cracked plug wire, whatever.

Drain transmission fluid and replace filter - there are two drain plugs, one on the pan and one on the bottom of the torque converter that you'll have to get to by rotating the engine until it shows at the bottom. Be very very clean, don't get the smallest speck of dirt into the transmission.

Also make sure there aren't any vacuum leaks, vacuum leaks or misconfiguration will do things to the transmission on a 123 (speaking from my experience with my 85 300D, someone correct me if a 280E is different).

cheapold280ce · #9 11-12-2007, 07:13 PM

timing is set to TDC with vacumn

idle speed 750-800

valve tool 110589010100 heard of people managing with a 17 mm wrench
adjust cold
Intake lash 0.10 mm Exhaust 0.25 mm add 0.05 mm if engine is warm.

Cervan · #10 11-26-2007, 10:08 AM

what about the fuel injection system, any maint to do on this? i checked the sparkplugs, whats the gap supposed to be? and how hard would it be to rering/do a valve job on this engine? im a well seasoned mechanic, im just wondering what special tools i might need and what the overall cost may be.