Fighting the Compulsion to Over Fix your Diesel... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carrameow · #1 11-01-2004, 07:27 AM

I think what will wore me down as a diesel head was the compulsion not to just make it run. Instead it had to run and look perfect.
I really got a little nutty on my 85 300D.
I mean every function had to work and I ripped apart the cluster and dash running a new wiring harness to make sure all the panel and console lights came on.
Unfortunately the Clusters, as they get old, are not forgiving. Yanking and putting them back in stresses them a lot and thats how I lost my Coolant Temp signal that would have told me my water pump wasnt running last week--i went 40 miles at 80 mph with no pump!!
Then when i had it all fixed I tore it down again because I wanted my power antenna to work perfectly.And the water pump went becase I lost my crankshaft pulley after putting in all new belts and using a guage to tension them vice just feel..I overtightened them even though the guage read spec and pu too much force on the crank pulley...and sheared it
I had nailing and I adjusted my fuel pump some 5 times, ran Moly Purge thru it twice, and any time you do that, you will do something wrong. I unwittingly kinked and plugged a homemade breather hose by kinking it..and ran it down to 1 quart..
I ripped the doors part looking for vacuum lock leaks..and I had spent untol d time tring to make the motor as quiet as new..
As I read other's posts, I am aware all of us are like that..but the more time we spend on meticulous minor repairs, the more chances we have of messing something up or overlooking/delaying a badly needed repair...
Sometimes when i see all those rusting dented and smoking 300D's going down the highway that probably get one oil change every year and are terribly maintained--I shake my head and think--maybe I would be smarter for Welding or Bolting my Hood shut and go by the rule--if it aint broke, dont fix it...

boneheaddoctor · #2 11-01-2004, 07:50 AM

For me the fact I don't have real deep pockets, and a wife that isn't big on old cars keeps that urge in check.

franklyspeaking · #3 11-01-2004, 08:39 AM

I have a perfectionist mentality also when it comes to my car, but I have so many other projects going around the house that I can't afford the time to over fix it. I have to prioritize my repairs with everything else. Right now, my car has a slight leak in the water pump, a worn out right engine mount, and a non-working A/C system. But since I don't need to drive it that much right now, and when I do it is only for short trips, I keep the radiator topped off, grit my teeth through the noisey left turns and startups, and roll down the windows, if I get too hot. What I would consider a high priority is the water temperature and oil pressure gauges, which I wouldn't want to be without, or anything else that could endanger the life of the engine. I am planning to take a day in the next two weeks to change out the water pump and replace the engine mount...the A/C system is something that will probably wait until spring. I am thankful that my 240D is not very complex and needs minimal amounts of maintenance.

boneheaddoctor · #4 11-01-2004, 09:17 AM

I have a perfectionist menatality too. I just don't have an income that alows me to follow through unhindered. If I did every one of my vehicle would be concours quality.