So I just bought my first car, which was a 1979 300sd for $3500. The major problems I have found by driving it are as follows:
-leak in radiator or radiator fluid line
-rear driver side door doesn't open from outside
-fuel leak
-driver door not working
-A/C not working
I have no clue about diesel cars or Mercedes cars so i have no clue about the workings of this car. I was wondering if any of these problems were common with this kind of car and if so, what is the cause of these problems? also, the previous owner put some aftermarket headlights on the car and the passenger side light is broken, so i was wondering of good websites to find a match to this kind of headlight to replace it or a good website to just buy the stock style headlight to replace both of the lights.

Thanks for all your helo, i really apreciate it

O, and one huge problem, which i can't believe i forgot, is that i takes 5-7 tries to start the engine and the glow plug light blinks for a while after i start up the engine. I was wondering what the most common problem would cause this: bad ignition wires, glow plugs, something worse?

1. replace the radiator hose that is leaking.
2. its probly just a little clip that broke.
3. where is the fuel leak coming from? cant help with such little info
4. define not working
5. the a/c could be alot of different things. i sugest you buy a book on ac and read it.
6. there are no ignition wires on a diesel. its possible you have a bad glow plug.
how long has it been since the valves were adjusted?

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

I would love a 116 SD... FYI, that is the body style you have I belive. very nice style IMO, HOWEVER, to keep this car in good condition, you will need to learn a bit about working on them. if I were you, I would start at the link that says "last thread" and start browsing the headings for something that looks like what you want to start on, and read all the questions and replies. also, a good service manual will help with some of the problems you mentioned.
pick one thing and start working on it. I would start with the door, search here for remove door hardware. or something similar. then when you find the problem and fix it, move on to where the radiator is leaking and find out where it is coming from, autozone will loan out a radiator pump up kit and you can work with cold engine to find where the fluid is escaping and if it is a hose, replace it if it is the radiator itself, it will be a bit more money, but still just a R&R. trust me, the guys and gals here on the forum will bend over backwards to help. we love the MB and those who love them.
in no time you will be up here helping others with their MB's problems.
welcome to the fold.
John

It's very likely that more than one glow plug has failed. You can test them all for resistance.........they need to be between .8 and 1.2 ohms..........and replace the ones that have failed.......usually open.

is there a good website for guiding me in some of these things (resistance tests,replacinf fuel lines)

This is the website.

Start here:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=127342

He mostly uses 123 vehicles to show pictorials, but the similarities are there.
John

burner,

First U have to find where the fuel and radiator leaks are.

Fuel leak should easy to find, just follow the fuel line from the tank and look for a wet spot. There is a manual primer pump on the side of the IP and sometimes they leak. Replacement is the cure. A slight pressure applied to the fuel tank will facilitate finding the leak.

Coolant leaks are harder to find. Could be the water pump, radiator, hoses, heater core or the cylinder head gasket. Take to a radiator shop and have them do a pressure test on the cooling system. If the head gasket is leaking, there will usually be pressure in the cooling system and sometimes U can see bubbles or an oil slick in the overflow tank.

GP light blinking is caused by an open GP or 2. If U don't have an ohmeter to test GP, remove the 8 pin plug from the GP relay (black box on inside of driverside front fender just behind headlight). Then connect a wire to the battery and touch it to each GP terminal. Any GP that doesn't spark is bad and needs to be replaced.

P E H

the fuel return lines are the most frequent source of leaks. and very easily changed. they go in loops from injector to injector. i would buy them from the dealer or a mb parts supplier. they are cheap easy to replace and last a long time...but not forever.

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.

Yep.

Or it could be that the rubber hoses that attach to the plastic fuel filter, or the "cigar hose" that attaches the large fuel filter housing to the hard fuel return line, are old and leaking. Inspect all of them closely, and move them around. If there is dry-rot, etc., you will see cracks and/or wetness from leaking fuel.

Also, under the rear of the car, there are two short rubber hoses that attach the hard fuel lines to the fuel tank itself. When I first bought my SD many years ago, these were VERY dried out, and were leaking terribly.

Mike

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1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
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1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
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1985 300TD
270,000 miles
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1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

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