Thanks for the advice on Enrique-now for more dumb questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mrdhh · #1 01-14-2003, 07:53 AM

Just called down there today and Enriques is so nice ,thoughtful and KNOWLEDGEABLE.You do not know what a pleasure this was and knowing a good valve adjustment and the fuel injection timing port is so off AND THE BEST PART IGNORING MY DEALER RECORDS THE CAR IS STILL O.K.!!! Yes I now get to say this "Sangera ******** sucks-for what you did to my Benz as well as my Volvos-and they were even known by him without name recognition".The car will be down this week either flatbed or uhaul or if somebody knows of a good inexpensive way to get it there.I would drive it there but I am concerned about these things and do not want to be stuck up at 4000 feet (grapevine) 40 miles from home and 60 miles from MB expert.
1.When I hit the accelerator I swear I hear a chain sound.It gets stonger when I am on the accelerator but when I take my foot of it,it goes away-what do you think that is.
2.I do not think I was hallucinating-I could swear I saw engine exhaust comming out of my air filter and the underside of car.And the exhaust smells kinda metallishy-you know when a catalytic converter gets fried.Is it possible and probable that the first muffler is plugged as well as the "oxidation catalyst"
3Which brings me to my 3rd and final question,how does one know if they changed the trap oxidizer over to the oxidation catalyst system.Ive seen pictures of the 300SD and they do not have a cylinder thing in there engine where mine still does.Why is that?I could not get a straight answer out of MBUSA either and when I call there (except for the fact it has been replaced 3 times in the 2 month span of January and February of 1997).The SD versions got a whole new exhaust system mufflers and all while the 123 only got this trap thing replaced.Could it be possible that the rest is plugged up to and therefore backing stuff up into my engine and all.Sorry for being inept about this car but (incase if I forgot to mention it) we recently (June of 2002) inheirited the car after sitting in storage for a while and remembered when this car was new and how I always felt safe in it.Again sorry to go off subject and yes I told Enrique that Ashman,Alon and Paul adised me of him.

engatwork · #2 01-14-2003, 08:23 AM

Again, based on what I have read you will be in good hands with Enrique. Get the car to him and let him go through it. Tell him to give advice/guidance on everything the car needs NOW versus what all you can let slide. I'm sure he will provide estimates too. The "noise" you hear when you accelerate/decelerate sounds to me like it may be a motor mount issue.
good luck

Fisherman · #3 01-14-2003, 10:05 AM

Item 1: I agree with engatwork as it sounds like a motor mount issue. What you might be hearing is the fan slightly hitting the shroud or seomthing to that effect when you have the car under acceleration. The torque makes the motor twist on the mounts. Check the area around the fan and shroud for any signs of wear. It may be very, very slight (like an edge of one blade shiny) but then spinning at the speeds that they do it doesn't take much of a touch point to make lots of sound.

Item 2: Blowby from your engine will cause lots of vapors to be visible. Usually they are transfered from the valve cover to the air cleaner via the tube that is atop the valve cover. This should not be a big issue but then seeing it out the bottom of the car gives some puase for concern. Have them check it out but it might just be that you have a slight leak in your exhaust system.

Item 3: I have only normally aspirated cars and can't help at all. Sorry!

Good luck with the car...

rwthomas1 · #4 01-14-2003, 10:49 AM

Do you own a pickup that is up to the task of towing the MB? Do you have a friend with one? Rent a car dolly and drag her backwards or a car trailer if you got the cash. One day rentals are cheap. RT

The Warden · #5 01-14-2003, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrdhh
I do not think I was hallucinating-I could swear I saw engine exhaust comming out of my air filter and the underside of car.And the exhaust smells kinda metallishy-you know when a catalytic converter gets fried.

Actually, this and the "chain" sound could be related. With the engine off, grab your air cleaner and try to move it. If it can move, the noise you're probably hearing is the air cleaner rattling against the valve cover. The air cleaner housing is held on by 3 rubber mounts, and it's not uncommon for them to get worn. I need to replace mine, in fact.

The other thing that bad air cleaner mounts can do is dislodge the oil recovery pipe. The blow-by gasses that get into the crankcase go out through a hose into the air cleaner. There, there's a unit that separates the oil from the other gasses. The other gasses go into the intake to be burned by the engine, while the oil goes through this pipe (it's metal and goes into a fitting on the underside of the air cleaner). HOwever, at least on my '85 300D, the pipe isn't firmly attached; it just sits there, and if the air cleaner's moving too much, the pipe can come off the nipple on the air cleaner housing, allowing blowby gasses to escape the air cleaner out into the engine compartment. Oil also gets out, leaving one heckuva mess.

Just some thoughts...good luck!