Bad news- Need troubleshooting help for my 81 300D! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

showme · #1 08-20-2013, 02:51 PM

I had a bad experience Friday evening coming back from a trip, and i need help determining what is wrong. I had been driving about an hour and a half, and suddenly I heard a pop and saw a puff of dark smoke in my rear view mirror. The popping (under the hood) conitnued about at about one second intervals, as I was driving about 70 on the interstate. I made it to the next off ramp about a quarter mile ahead, then turned into a parking lot and backed the car into a parking spot, ready for AAA. The car was still running, though the temp gauge was reading a little above normal. While making it to the parking lot, the engine was still occasionally puffing some smoke every 5 or ten seconds. It still started after I got it to the lot, and it will still start, (though it still "pops", almost like an exhaust donut gasket blew), now that I've had it towed home. I haven't pinpointed the location of the popping yet. Like an idiot, I decided to check the coolant level and got a scorched forearm to go with it as the cap jumped the pressure relief notch and blew off.

Dumb, I know. Something I've warned my kids about forever. Anyway, I'm coming to you all to see if anybody can give me a clue to what I'm dealing with, and how to start my repairs. I will say that along with the long drive, I was getting up to about 75 miles per hour for about 15 minutes before it happened. I was in rush hour traffic in St. Louis, and trying to "keep up" with traffic. Thanks for any and all comments. No need to tell me how stupid the radiator move was. I'm still kicking myself, and have the urgent care bill to remind me, along with a bandaged arm and now lots of pain. Thanks in advance for your help. Lee ps- I'm having to use the library's internet, so I'm only able to get on here for an hour each day, temporarily.