Lube ... what??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jbach36 · #1 10-20-2009, 02:42 PM

The light on my dash came on, to let me know an outside bulb was out. I looked, and all were fine, inlcuding brakes and turn signals. It was on for 2 days like that, then mysteriously went away on its own.

I went through the manual, and happened to see that I'm supposed to be "lubing" things every 15,000 miles or whatever it said. Woops! Lube what?

jeff 1991 300d, 140k

3pointstar · #2 10-20-2009, 05:51 PM

Jeff - I also had very simular situations with both of my previous cars
87 300D Turbo and 93 300SD. Both would have a rear tail light that thru age (both cars had well over 200K) the contacts would rub away and cause a disconnect. However, going over a bump would sometimes allow for contact. Finally after going nuts I just replaced the rear bulbs and all was well.

hope you solve your issue.

3 point star

matthias08 · #3 10-20-2009, 06:04 PM

i have the same problem time to time on my '87 300D

I suggest bulb grease, on all the rear lamps, and double check your license plate lights...

babymog · #4 10-20-2009, 08:06 PM

The bulb-holder metal strips tend to shear the tits holding them in, then it's a fight with epoxy and hot-melt glue. The bulb that suffers first is the side-marker in the tail-lamp assembly.

truckinik · #5 10-20-2009, 08:58 PM

When they say "lube", what they are referring to is the sticky, white litheum type of grease the factory puts in the light sockets. Not only does it make the lights/sockets more resistant to moisture, but it very effectively insulates the electrical connection and the current traveling through it. Pick some up at Napa, and put a small amount in each light socket and reinstall the bulbs. You'll see that all of these related problems you mentioned will be gone forever.

bmwpowere36m3 · #6 10-20-2009, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

When they say "lube", what they are referring to is the sticky, white litheum type of grease the factory puts in the light sockets. Not only does it make the lights/sockets more resistant to moisture, but it very effectively insulates the electrical connection and the current traveling through it. Pick some up at Napa, and put a small amount in each light socket and reinstall the bulbs. You'll see that all of these related problems you mentioned will be gone forever.

I don't think the FSM refers to lubing electrical contacts, even so I'd recommend dielectric grease and NOT lithium grease. What the manual is referring to, is either the throttle linkages (clean and lubricate the ball & sockets) or any chassis lube points (such as door hinges, hood hinges, door striker & lock, etc...).

truckinik · #7 10-22-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwpowere36m3

I don't think the FSM refers to lubing electrical contacts, even so I'd recommend dielectric grease and NOT lithium grease. What the manual is referring to, is either the throttle linkages (clean and lubricate the ball & sockets) or any chassis lube points (such as door hinges, hood hinges, door striker & lock, etc...).

Allow me to clearify. I did NOT say Lithium grease. I said it was LIKE Lithium grease, but was trying to explain it in Laments terms because that seemed to be the best way. It is in fact called Dielectric grease, I just thought that would have been too much detail, to bother with, and that Napa would just handle the details once he explained his problem to them personally. Trust me, any Napa will know what he needs once the problem is explained to them, in the same way it was here.

bmwpowere36m3 · #8 10-22-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

Allow me to clearify. I did NOT say Lithium grease. I said it was LIKE Lithium grease, but was trying to explain it in Laments terms because that seemed to be the best way. It is in fact called Dielectric grease, I just thought that would have been too much detail, to bother with, and that Napa would just handle the details once he explained his problem to them personally. Trust me, any Napa will know what he needs once the problem is explained to them, in the same way it was here.

Okay, good. I wouldn't necessarily trust the guys at the auto parts stores either... you tell them something, something like lithium, grease. They'll give you lithium grease

Junkman · #9 10-22-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

Trust me, any Napa will know what he needs once the problem is explained to them, in the same way it was here.

You must be talking about a different NAPA than the ones we have around here.

#10 10-22-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkman

You must be talking about a different NAPA than the ones we have around here.

Same here, I had trouble getting the correct headlight a couple of weeks ago.

lupin..the..3rd · #11 10-23-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Same here, I had trouble getting the correct headlight a couple of weeks ago.

x2 most auto parts store workers at least around here are high-school summer job types. They know *absolutely* nothing about cars, nor do they care to. They're simply selling products, no different than workers at McDonalds, The Gap, or Wal-Mart.

stimpy451 · #12 10-23-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupin..the..3rd

x2 most auto parts store workers at least around here are high-school summer job types. They know *absolutely* nothing about cars, nor do they care to. They're simply selling products, no different than workers at McDonalds, The Gap, or Wal-Mart.

One can prove this point simply by walking in and asking the counter 'droid for a lower radiator hose for a 1969 Super Beetle.

truckinik · #13 10-24-2009, 04:07 PM

Ask them if they stock "Elbow Grease"....see what u get for an answer. Or perhaps they have an overstock of "Muffler Bearings". Just kidding. The Napa stores I deal with here, on a day to day basis, almost always get it right, or know what I'm asking for even if I dunno exactly what it's called. Aside from 1 particular female employee who always gets stuff wrong anyways. Nothing to do with her being female, just that she isn't cut out for the job maybe..... My Napa stores are usually good though.

PanzerSD · #14 10-24-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

Ask them if they stock "Elbow Grease"....see what u get for an answer. Or perhaps they have an overstock of "Muffler Bearings". Just kidding. The Napa stores I deal with here, on a day to day basis, almost always get it right, or know what I'm asking for even if I dunno exactly what it's called. Aside from 1 particular female employee who always gets stuff wrong anyways. Nothing to do with her being female, just that she isn't cut out for the job maybe..... My Napa stores are usually good though.

at our NAPA store, we had a female worker who was EXTREMELY on-the-ball.
She had a memory like a steel trap, I only had to tell her the make and model of my car ONCE, and she remembered me and my car each an every subsequent time. She was Awesome. she was also HOT!

truckinik · #15 10-24-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanzerSD

at our NAPA store, we had a female worker who was EXTREMELY on-the-ball.
She had a memory like a steel trap, I only had to tell her the make and model of my car ONCE, and she remembered me and my car each an every subsequent time. She was Awesome. she was also HOT!

Not at ours. You ask her to send two gallons of green antifreeze, and she sends two gallons of washer fluid, or a lt of times, nothing at all, and yu call back two hours later asking ahere your antifreeze is, and why it didn't get delivered yet. never mind if you actually need a real part, for a specific car. She'll send you windshield wipers, for a Taurus, if you ask for a radiator hose for a Saab...