Hello all -- It's been awhile since I've been on the board - I just purchased last week a 1982 300sd with a "rebuilt" engine - it's in good shape body wise and I have put maybe 1,000 miles on her in the past 2 weeks I have owned her - While waiting for someone the car was running with the air on and it began to reach the max temp on the gage but not in the red - I shut the car down let it cool off and cranked the car - it made a loud clanking sound almost like thrown rod ( i know what that sound like I owned a 1991 350SD) the clanking stopped and I drove off - the power stearing was tight and after a mile or 2 the car began to over heat again - so I stopped and let it cool off - check fluids etc - after 20 minutes a crank it up and drove it home with no event- I then waited an hour - checked pullies etc all ok seemed to me and then cranked again and hear the clank - shut it down and now I am on the board seeking advice - I've read about Harmonic Balancers and crank shaft seals --- I don't have a lot of money in the car $1,350 but I am wondering what you guys think the it is - and most importantly how much you think an independent shop may charge to fix - I will not drive it again - time to join AAA platinum -- thanks all -

I wonder whether one of the auxiliaries could be the cause - maybe the A/C compressor bearings are shot or on the way there, which is why the problem occurred when you were using the A/C. This is turn might be putting a high load on the engine which has to turn the shot compressor, and maybe causing it to run hotter and affecting the rate of turn on the power steering pump as well.


If you're able to, you might jack up the car and loosen all the drive belts so you can hand turn the individual auxiliary components to rule these out before focusing on the motor, especially if you can verify it has been rebuilt (hopefully by a reputable individual knowledgeable in MB diesels). Did you smell anything burning, like rubber?

Although, my guess is the associated belt would've likley snapped under that kind of load, so if you didn't smell anything and the belts look fine then it might be the motor.

No rubber smell at all - been their done that on an 1995 e320 wagon but a bad oxegen pump -

I am waiting to get my AAA membership to tow to a shop - I know the owner and trust him -- I've been know to ignore noises and drive a benz to complet failure but I have no miles to speak of on this one and it's in pretty good shape - thanks for the input -