help! oil change runied my '80 300D - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

engatwork · #61 11-25-2011, 06:42 PM

Welcome aboard and way to go

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piccolovic · #62 11-25-2011, 09:29 PM

And, if that mechanic bothered to read the printouts that you highlighted, then you should keep him as your mechanic . . . I had an experience in MN with generic mechanics who blew off all the sage wisdom from this forum that I printed out regarding installing an OEM block heater!!!! Consequently, they did a lot of work for free . . . not happy to see me the next day!!!! LOL.

piccolovic · #63 11-26-2011, 08:11 AM

i would definitely take the repair bill back to the old shop, demand to speak to the manager in person, and show him the bill, and give him the real low-down that was obviously hidden from him/her by the underlings covering up their own butts and incompetence. I would demand that they at least give back your money!!!

Zacharias · #64 11-27-2011, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piccolovic

And, if that mechanic bothered to read the printouts that you highlighted, then you should keep him as your mechanic .

Heh. You would have a fun time of it, getting any local wrench in my area (over the age of 35, anyway) to look at something printed off a Net forum.

If this one even feigned interest in the printouts, he's a keeper

NEWTO1980300D · #65 11-27-2011, 12:08 PM

she's not driving like she did before but at least there's no jerk now when she shifts gears. This forum really saved me and the support from you guys have been amazing. I'm going to try to change the wipers on my own and Yak said something about creating a DIY for it. I can't wait to learn all about my car. I named her Joleen. :-)

Yak · #66 11-27-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEWTO1980300D

she's not driving like she did before but at least there's no jerk now when she shifts gears. This forum really saved me and the support from you guys have been amazing. I'm going to try to change the wipers on my own and Yak said something about creating a DIY for it. I can't wait to learn all about my car. I named her Joleen. :-)

The suggestion for a wiper-change DIY was tongue in cheek. Standard J-clip. Brand is up to you, of course. And forum members are also opinionated on what works best.

Since this is your first car, and you're in Philly. I'd recommend a winter blade or one of the one-piece "smooth" blades.

Just changing the rubber refill is the most cost effective, but sometimes a hassle to find a match and usually fussy about getting it in/out of the wiper.

Top off your wiper fluid with a 0-degree type.

Once you've named her, you have to keep her.

vstech · #67 11-27-2011, 08:22 PM

heh, on the wiper, if you don't get bosch blades, you need to go 1" shorter on the lower blade, or it will hit the hood on the passenger's side!

winmutt · #68 11-27-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEWTO1980300D

is all 15w40 oil for diesel? My poor car (Joleen) is being towed to the mechanic's now to be fixed by someone who has worked on diesel Benzs before. I read everything I could so far and just want to make sure I know everything I should going in there.

i hope its on a flatbed....

sorry for your misery but this thread has been the most humorus thing i have read in weeks....

winmutt · #69 11-27-2011, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

nahh. too hot for ice tea in there... maybe he thought it was a mercedes pressure cooker?

these are not ricers.... no pressure cookers needed....

WNC123 · #70 11-27-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piccolovic

i would definitely take the repair bill back to the old shop, demand to speak to the manager in person, and show him the bill, and give him the real low-down that was obviously hidden from him/her by the underlings covering up their own butts and incompetence. I would demand that they at least give back your money!!!

if they are a chain/franchise, i would talk to the regional/area manager, not just the manager of that particular location.

i would demand my money back for their shoddy repairs.
i would demand payment for the other shop repair bill.
if that did not happen, i would threaten legal action.
i would be forward and kind of a jerk about it too (meaning stick to your guns and don't give in). there is no way they should see you or your car again, so you have nothing to gain by being "nice" about things.

i would file a complaint with the BBB.
i looked at their online reviews, and they are less than stellar to say the least. i would add to those reviews so others can know of your troubles and dissatisfaction.

retmil46 · #71 11-27-2011, 10:25 PM

Did that first mechanic work for Freightliner at one time?

Several years back, when I was an inspector on the finished cab assembly line, we had roll-around carts with a Group 31 battery and a set of leads we'd use to test the electrical components in the finished cabs for functionality. When the batteries ran low, we had a large automotive charger we'd hook them up to to charge back up.

One day, I see this gent rolling one of our carts back from another part of the plant, up to the charger. He spent about 3 or 4 minutes looking back and forth between the charger and the battery. Wondering what the devil was going on, I walked over and asked if I could help him.

He said he couldn't figure out how to hook up the charger to the battery. I showed him that red goes to positive, black goes to negative, then you turn the timer dial on the charger to turn it on.

He had that "eureka" look on his face. He says "Oh, you mean they have a positive and negative on these batteries? I didn't know that!"

I started to get a bad feeling, and asked the guy what he had been using the battery for. "Oh, I work over in dash buildup, and install all the wiring and hook up all the instruments and equipment. I was using the battery to test everything out before we brought it over to the line".

shertex · #72 11-28-2011, 06:05 AM

Sounds like you may have a found a good mechanic, but I'll throw this out anyway: if you're looking for an absolutely first rate MB diesel mechanic in the great Philly area, I would HIGHLY recommend Fred's Foreign Cars in Kennett Square 610-444-5599. Knows these older Benzes INSIDE and OUT, and he's passionate about them. One of the most competent techs I've ever come across.

NEWTO1980300D · #73 12-03-2011, 11:51 AM

i've been too sick and nervous to change the wipers but i am without a doubt going to do it this week. i just need to do it while standing next to someone who can fix it afterwards lol. Unfortunately, it's not a chain but i did lodge a complaint and sent my dad up there to get the money back, i mean, that's what dad's are for, right? i knew cars were going to be work but i have to admit i underestimated.

shertex · #74 12-03-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEWTO1980300D

i knew cars were going to be work but i have to admit i underestimated.

In acquiring on older Mercedes, you have unwittingly entered into a maintenance adventure....one which you will find sometimes entertaining, sometimes frustrating even maddening, the balance of which will be in part dependent upon your personality and temperament!

To avoid the adventure altogether, get a Toyota or a Honda. But I hope you stick with it.

winmutt · #75 12-03-2011, 12:22 PM

Any autozoo will change your wipers for you, so maybe try on your own and let them fix it if you fail....

It is just as easy as unclipping and clipping etc etc.