W123 Questions and Problems...85 300d - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hubmachine · #1 12-07-2006, 08:36 AM

Present Issues:
Right turn signal: rather slugish compared to left signal. sometimes doesnt flash, other times flashes fine. any thoughts?

water in trunk: water after rain in plastic well on right side behind wheel. also, water on passanger side. ive looked at the seal on the rear window. pried up seal to glass, see soft gray bead of material, scraped a little off. still plyable. should i run a bead of silicon on top of this?
also looked at hinge wells in engine compartment. this car was garaged since new, thus the wells were clean. looked at the sheet metal in fron wheel wells, metal is intacked, no holes. any thoughts?

also, are the antenna, rear cabin light switch, rear defrost and sunroof swithes lighted when the headlights are on? if so, easy way to remove them to replace the bulbs?

many thanks

cliff

ONE MORE ISSUE:
very cold last night. came out this am and tried to start. would not turn over. took the truck instead.
came home a couple hrs later and tried to start. did not turn over. started it using the jumper under the hood.
ran it for twenty minutes, shut it off, turned the key. it turned and started...

any thoughts?

many thanks.

Bama1 · #2 12-07-2006, 09:03 AM

Leaks could have more than one cause but my bet is on the windshield seals. (In the case of trunk water it is the rear windshield seal but plugged sunroof drains usually add water to the passenger compartment only)

Note Murrow's suggestion to chase the drains with weed-eater string to clear them out and not damage the finish.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforu...d.php?t=164755

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforu...d.php?t=164697

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforu...ad.php?t=64843

The Switches are lighted...does your dash potentiometer (rheostat) work for the other dash lights? If so, Search the forum threads for replacement discussion or look in the Haynes manual. Suggest using OEM bulbs only.

Motor on

t walgamuth · #3 12-07-2006, 09:05 AM

caulking rear seal is good to do. i have posted detailed instructions about it so you may be able to find them with a search.

i suspect a ground problem with the lights.

tom w

Bama1 · #4 12-07-2006, 09:11 AM

Proceed carefully. The plastic on the rocker switches can be brittle and will break rather easily if you are not gentle in removing them.

Good luck

Jeremy5848 · #5 12-07-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hubmachine

also, are the antenna, rear cabin light switch, rear defrost and sunroof swithes lighted when the headlights are on? if so, easy way to remove them to replace the bulbs?

Those four switches are all illuminated by a single bulb; the light is directed to the switches by a 'spider' of fiber-optics. You probably have a burned-out bulb. Access is by removing the ACC (climate control) switch panel.

I have read here that the bulb is a special one with a built-in reflector but a regular bulb will also work at reduced brightness -- that's what I currently have.

Jeremy

hubmachine · #6 12-07-2006, 11:19 AM

thanks for all the responses.
the reostat works on the cluster, shifter and window switches.
the switches seem pushed up into the dash overhang, any tips on getting them out?
thanks
cliff

Bama1 · #7 12-07-2006, 12:17 PM

85's have fiber optics? (Those newfangeled models are really sumthin!)

Unlike earlier models, that means there is no need to pull switches, just locate the lighting source and replace it. Cool!

Can you share a URL to the assembly drawing? I'd like to take a look and understand where the source is mounted.

Motor on

OldPokey · #8 12-07-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hubmachine

Right turn signal: rather slugish compared to left signal. sometimes doesnt flash, other times flashes fine. any thoughts?

Probably a ground. Since you're having leaks in the trunk, I'd bet the ground connections are getting rusty.

dmorrison · #9 12-07-2006, 11:26 PM

As old pokey pointed out, a possible ground problem.

I had a problem with mine acting up. Replaced the flasher unit and they work fine now. It located under the center console. Next to the shifter housing.

Dave

robhybrid · #10 12-08-2006, 05:33 AM

I have an 80 and a 82 and they both have fiber optics. Don't pull the switches! You'll probably crack the finish on the wood dash panel, the bulb is under the AC panel as Jeremy said.

The water is probably leaking into your trunk through a small crack in your tail light under the trunk lid. This is where all the water is drains to. Caulk your tail lights.

The lights flashing slow intermittently is probably caused by dirt on one of your bulb terminals, if it were the relay, you'd have the same problem on both sides.

hubmachine · #11 12-08-2006, 11:49 AM

bump

rrgrassi · #12 12-08-2006, 12:07 PM

Check the condition of your trunk seal sun roof seal, all door and window seals.

Check the seals around the tail lights, and check the lenses for cracks. You can caulk the lenses, but do not caulk where they mount to the body of the car. Those would require seals as well.

Your battery could be getting weak, or it's the wrong type for this diesel car.

hubmachine · #13 12-11-2006, 09:05 AM

UPDATES:
scored bulbs for fiber optic as well as ACC unit.
also, does the headlight switch have a bulb in the center that coems on when the fog lamps are on?

looked carefully at the lens and there is a crack in it.

the battery is relatively new and i believwe it is big enough for the car...

many thanks for the help.

cliff

#14 12-11-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hubmachine

also, does the headlight switch have a bulb in the center that coems on when the fog lamps are on?

the battery is relatively new and i believwe it is big enough for the car...

The bulb in the headlight switch doesn't work in U.S. spec cars, it's only for the rear fog light that we don't have. I wasted some time trying to get it to work too.

The battery should be rated for at least 750 CCA, 850 CCA is better.