Hi all, I have a few more questions for you if you don't mind. I've got my 83 300d on the road now and love it. This thing goes down the road so solid, it truely is a great ride (my other car is a 98 explorer and the 300d rides much nicer) I do have a few concerns though that I thought you all could help me with.....First at what temp should this thing run at normally? I ran into some major traffic the other day and sat on the highway for an hour and a half to go 7 miles (with the AC on). Then the car sat running for 10 minutes while I made the delivery I was making. When I got back to the car I noticed a little antifreeze on the ground. Not a lot but maybe a cup or two. It looked to be blowing out the overflow hose. The temp was up over 100 degrees C on the gauge. Once I got moving it went back down to around 90 degrees C. Is this normal? A friend who has an older MB told me he doesn't use the air conditioner when he is in traffic for this reason. Should I be allarmed about this or just watch it? Once I got moving I put another 200 miles on the car this weekend with the temp gauge staying between 80 and 100 degrees (pretty much in the middle).

Also what is the meaning of the oil gauge. It is always on 3 when I am moving and drops down a little when I am idleing. Again is this normal? I did not receive a manual with this car so i am not sure what normal would be.

Third stupid question (because I don't have a manual and never owned an MB before). what are the meaning of the 5 buttons for the heater/AC unit? I'm not familliar with some of the pictures on the buttons. I wanted to turn off the AC while it was overheating and couldn't figure it out. I finally pushed the last one to the right and it stopped blowing so I am assuming this is off BUT????

Sorry if these are very basic/stupid questions and thanks in advance for your help.....John

You can find owner's manual information (and much, much, more) at http://skinnerbox.steaky.org.


-- eskimo

john,
your should try to pinpoint the source of the leaking anti-freeze. post back.
i'll let the radiator experts comment further about this.


oil gauge. should peg to 3 when the engine is over 1000rpms and stay there
when you are driving. dropping down to 2 or bit under at idle is normal and ok.
if it drops down when you are driving STOP the CAR!

5 buttons on the ACC unit.from left to right as follows
defrost - default full heat
a/c compressor on - air flow top and bottom vents
a/c compressor on - air flow bottom vents
EC mode - a/c compressor off - (sort of the same as ''vent'' on american cars)
air flow top and bottom
finally last one is off

cabin temperature is controlled by the wheel to the left in Deg C. clicks at either end are full heat and full cool. in between is automatically controlled temperature. small changes of the hweel are preferable.


fan buttons to the right of ACC top = full fan , middle = auto whcih changes fan speed automatically, bottom = off

hope this helps

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Check to make sure your electric fan is running in front of the radiator while the ac is on and the car is hot, if it isn't that might be why it's getting a little hot. Anything between 80 and 100 should be ok for a normal temp, it should be safe a lot higher than that but if it stays over 100 then something isn't right.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

pretty normal...I'd top up the coolant reservoir with water the next time I came out in the morning before I started up...likely the coolant "loss" won't even be noticed.

Ironic that the times you want to run AC the most are the times it's hardest on the car.

You should be able to find an owner's manual for the W123 diesels at a junkyard, used car lot, or from a mechanic who works on a lot of these cars...I'm amazed at the number of these cars I find junked out but with manuals, operating tags for various controls, and even the booklet on where you could find diesel fuel in 1983 still in the glovebox...ask and you can likely be told just to take it.

a/c mode(s)

Top = defroster vents
middle = center vents
bottom = heater vents (at floor)

From left, 2nd button sends air out top and middle
3rd button is middle only

Right?

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

ok yes to clarify defrost is top vents and 2 side vents, 2nd button
a/c all vents, 3rd button a/c all middle and bottom vents , and EC bottom and 2 side vents.

i get confused myself because i removed the center vent flap in my car

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Replace the coolant tank cap with a new cap and you should see better temps and no coolant overflow. The system has to pressurize properly to keep the temps down, and it sounds like your cap has gotten too old for the task.

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TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

Thanks to all who replied, it was very helpfull. I'll replace the overflow cap as suggested and watch the temp. It only got up to 100 while it sat and came back down once I got the car moving. I'll also check the electric fan. Also thanks for all the help with the buttons, I have them down now. Looks like my oil gauge is working properly as well.

Some other observations I have figured out from searching this site:

Looks like my drivers seat has the same problem many others have. The only machanical issues I seem to have left are the antenna mast is shot. This shouldn't be a problem to fix. The passenger rear window doesn't work, and I have no dash lights. I'm not all that concerned about the window since the others as well as the sunroof work fine. Is there anything tricky about the dash bulbs? I've already seen a good post on the antenna.

I really love this car and really appreciate a site like this with so many people who seem to like these cars as well and are willing to help. thanks again, John

Hey, I only learned the correct vent "order" when I finally got a vacuum issue resolved and got full center vent air and a smooth shifting transmission.

Those two things are soooooooooo nice.

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

smooth shifting transmition ???? OK, I guess I have one other mechanical problem. I do get a jolt after 2k on the tach and then a shift that is a little rough. I'm assuming the first jolt is the turbo kicking in. The shifting is a lttle rough though....