First of all the car drives great. its probably one of the most enjoyable cars ive ever driven. It did come with a few quirks though, but I guess thats what this place is for, to get some help.

#1 - The stereo doesn't work. It wont come on orplay even when I put a cassette in the cassette player (its a Grand Prix system), and it wont come on when I pressthe ON button either. When I turn the headlights on, the LCD screens backlight lights up, but the screen is blank. I thought maybe it needed a code, but one guy I emailed said Mercedes stereos didnt have codes until 1990 or later (i think hes wrong tho, so you all tell me if im wrong). I let me CD player go with my old car some im up that proverbial creek without a paddle if I cant fix this one.....oh and the power antenna wont raise either, if thats a related problem, I dont know, you tell me lol. HELP! (im including a picture of the stereo to help identify it so that i can possibly figure it out) The PO said the fuses werent burnt out for the radio....but i could still check if anyone thinks I should. The POs father said he had turned the radio off one day and it never came back on, but he said if he hooked a "hot" wire to the antenna, it still would raise up and down, so im clueless here. HELP!



#2 I think theres a smalle oil leak. Id it possible its just some overflow of fluids? The PO said it never leaked but sometimes just a little oil. I saw some black substance dripping down (very slowly, nothing serious)from a small hose that ran alongside the oilpan, but I couldnt pinpoint the source right away.

#3 The power sunroof is acting...old. Its very hesitant to open and close, needing me to help push it one way or the other to get it to open/close. Once closed, the motor makes an od grinding noise if i dont press the buttom immediately once shut. Is the motor going bad, or what? I have the same problem with the rear passenger side window, except it will go up and down on its own, its just jumpy, and its motor growls some too. The sunroof is my favorite part of this car, so its important to me to get it working right....

#4 I have to pop the hood and hit the "Stop" lever to shut the engine off everytime i get out of the car. Is there any way to fix this? its not a BIG deal, just annoying.

I want this car to be in as good condition as possible, and I'm willing to spend a lot of time working on it (hell, its my first mercedes, and im already in love with it, and what other car is worth putting effort into if not one of these?).

Thanks for your help!

#4 is a vacuum leak. These can be a pill to diagnose, but I am sure that there some good diagnostics in the DIY links.

#2 is, I doubt and overflow of fluids. I always just hit it with engine cleaner to help me isolate the source. However, in general, once you find the source, you may find that you will live with the leak as fixes can be a real bear. I always just got used to a few drips on the garage floor. I considered it my car marking it's territory.

JCD

your car has leather interior, a fairly rare option i think in a 123. nice. the interior will clean up nicely i think. the sunroof will prob respond to cleaning of the tracks and careful oiling of the rubbing surfaces. it is also possible to adjust the cables i hear but i have never done it.

cheers

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Oil Drips

Check the swivels in the oil cooler lines to and from the Cooler. If they leak plan to replace them. MB have no oil pressure low alarm.

The switch for the sunroof may need to be cleaned. I have the exact same kind of car and mine was doing the same thing. Actually, mine wouldn't even open. My dad pulled the switch off and cleaned it a little bit, put it back on and now it works just fine. You do have to make sure the switch goes to the off position though because that will fry the motor.
My dad's a retired ASE master tech but a mechanic I am not. Have fun with your "new" car! I love my Claudia and I can count on my finger the number of times I have driven her! LOL!

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1985 300DT-My first car!

Its really easy to fix the vacuum problems.

http://dieselgiant.com/mercedesvacuumtroubleshooting.htm

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

1. The illumination for the radio has a different power source. Its possible for the screen to light up even if you dont have power to the radio. There is a fuse at the back of the radio, you might want to check on that one too. Switch on the ignition, check your glove compartment light or cigar lighter, if they dont work, check Fuse #4. The radio does not have a code.

2. Oil leaks. Could be your oil cooler hose. Ive replace mine three times already. Its leaking again. Id be surprised if your MB diesel didnt leak any fluid.

3. Sunroof. Your motor gear could be giving up. I replaced mine 15 yrs ago. I had the same symptoms as yours. The only way to find out is opening up your sunroof motor and look at that gear. You'll see it right away. Its that big white plastic gear. They wear out. You can purchase just that gear. Your motor seems fine.

4. Vacuum problems. Check out the archives. There is a lot of info on that topic here.

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'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

Looks like someone spilled coke or coffee on those door switches. They look pretty worn out too. Try to clean the inside of the switches. You'll be surprise how dirty they could get. Just watch out. There are small springs inside. You dont want to lose those.

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'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

First of all, thanks to EVERYONE for your help. I've learned a lot so far since I've became a member, and as I plan to be a Mercedes owner for as long as I can be, (eventually getting that Kompressor I've always wanted) I plan to stick around here for a while. I do have some more questions though....

#1 How do I get the stereo out of the center console to check that fuse? I can't see any screws. Same thing goes for the switches.....I have no idea how to remove them to clean them. if theres a guide I need, let me know.

#2 My odometer has stopped.....how do I fix this (also how to I take it out TO fix it if it can be fixed!)

#3 Whats the chance the Cardinals get to the World Series this year? I hope they do, but I'm sure pitching will once again curb my hopes for the first World Series title in St. Louis since I was 10 months old....

i dont know, do they drive benz diesels?

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

you will love this car!!!!!!!!!!!!!This website will get it running perfectly! You will like the website as much as the car.................just reading your posts sends needles up my spine and I want to go out their and work on mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To remove radio:

open ashtray, push down on spring and remove completely. See those two screws in the bottom now? Remove them-and be careful, they like to drop into the bottomless pit below.

remove ashtray frame.

above ashtray frame hole, are two flat springs. Get partner to hold them down about half inch (use couple of small screwdrivers) while you reach your hand into hole and push radio out. pretty normal from there.

All this will make sense after you do it once.

I would personally check (or better yet just replace with good new copper fuses) all the fuses in the fuse box. They can look god and be bad or making a bad connection.

Get yourself a factory manual (paper or on CD). it will save you a bunch of money and make things much easier for you.

Oh, and welcome to the group. Those cars really are great!

#3

**************.com has a sunroof repair and maintenance kit for about $30 that has a manual and instructions with pics and the right grease for re-lubing the sunroof cable. the grease gets old and thick, as it's from before these days of easily accessable synthetic greases.

they also have a manual on the 617 engine in your car, but you can get much more info here.

#1 get a new radio, pay best buy or someplace to put it in. as I recall grand prix is junk. that said, my 85 f250 still has the original radio. display doesn't work but at home it pulls in stations I've never heard of.

karl