1984 190D 2.2 Sudden Rattle While Driving, Ran Fine Otherwise - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Baby Benz Sandra · #1 04-10-2021, 07:11 PM

I was driving my faithful 1984 190D home last week and suddenly heard a rattle noise coming from the engine - seemed to emanate from the center front area. I froze internally; she had never made a noise like this; a rattle is not good. Scanning, scanning ... other than the sudden rattle, she ran fine like she always has. Oil pressure & water temperature fine; no smoke at all from the exhaust. I pay attention to the sounds my car makes, and my first impulse was to pull over - but I was in the middle of downtown
San Jose on a Friday afternoon around 5:00 - and couldn't. I was less than one mile from home; once out of downtown I hastily thought, "should I pull over? the engine sounds fine, running fine - you've now
got two blocks to go - make it home!" So I made it home and parked her in the parking garage where I live. I shut it down and went down to check the fluids later; they were fine.
Here's the thing: I've been afraid to start it ever since. I have triple A towing so I decided I will call them for a flatbed tow and have her delivered to an elderly man who owns a shop in Fremont who has done work for me before - he knows Mercedes-Benz vehicles and is honest but I have to wait till I get some money I am expecting next week. In the meantime, do any of you fine helpful fellows have any ideas as to what it could be? Even though I'm a female, I'm fairly mechanically-inclined - I'm proud to say I replaced the serpentine belt myself last year, so I'd sincerely appreciate any input. Thank you!