I am a little discouraged at the moment... I think the water pump in my New to me 1997 E320 may have just died. My troubles start like this:
This past Saturday I noticed a few drips of mystery liquid underneath the vehicle on the plastic engine cover. Could tell it wasn't water but wasn't quite sure at that time that it was coolant. Noticed that the coolant level was just a hair low though.

Today: leaving from work I start the car up. Immediately the coolant low warning come on a few seconds later the car shutters and fealt like it started ideling rough all the sudden. Simultaneously the engine light comes on and the warning: " check engine electronics comes on". I waited a few seconds turned the car off and then started it again. The rough idle was gone but the check engine light still on and the warning "check engine electronics". I drove straight to the gas station by my house. Fueled up, and checked under the hood to make sure nothing obvious was going on. I see what appears to be approx. 1/2 a cup of coolant sitting on engine cover below as if the water pump weep hole is leaking. I then start the car with no "check engine light" or "check engine electronics" lights on. I am praying the water pump didn't die on me, I changed the wp in my 300E which wasn't exactly fun. This car doesn't look quite as bad to change !? Am I deceived? Does this sound like the wp is toast?
I just check the coolant to make sure that it was an adequate mixture for NC since the car is from south Florida. It checked out A-ok 4 balls floating = -25. MB cooant in there too!

All this is a bit discouraging since I've only had the car two weeks and I'm already dealing with a strange vibration coming from who knows where and wasn't present at the time of purchase. I had the car PPI'ed and they found absolutely nothing !! The car now has 147,000 miles. Someone please lighten my mood....

BTW the car has already been scheduled to go to the stealership for an oil change tomorrow. I would like to go in as knowledgable as possible.

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

When you drop your car off at the dealership ask if they could check/confirm water pump is leaking whilst car is on hoist having the oil drained, or you could confirm this yourself by using a small mirror on a stick and a bright light source holding mirror up under water pump looking at weep hole. Also ask for a diagnostic check and printout, check eng light may have come on due to low coolant??, but there may be another reason for it, a fault code should have been logged and will be in printout.

Without seeing the coolant actually drip from the water pump weep hole, there is no way to know where it came from.

That plastic pan catches everything, and a coolant leak anywhere from any hose ends up in that place.

Since you are taking your car to the dealer, I'd have them investigate the problem.

It can lead to a catastrophic problem if you are losing that much coolant for the light to come on.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Thanks guys,

I'm pretty sure it's the weep hole now, I just checked the car this morning before start up and I see a small line of coolant running down the drivers side of the block.....arrrgh.......I just bought this darn thing....... Will the MB dealership charge me to check around in there or to pull the codes?

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

Ok guys just got back from the MB dealer.....I am now certain that the water pump is leaking and was the culprit for my "check engine electronics" warning since the coolant was leaking onto the oil level sensor. MB was unable to diagnose my vibration at 1500RPMS. And they were unble to find any other problems with the car. So I feel a little better about my decision to buy this beast.They suggest I change the water pump and then go from there. Is it possible since my vibration sounds engine related that maybe the seal inside my water pump is toast, causing it to be out of round thus causing vibrations in the engine?

Anyhow, have not quite yet decided if I am going to tackle this job myself or take it to a Indi. I am tounted by memories of the long day I had when changing the WP on the 300E......yikes

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

I would be more inclined to believe that your vibration is related to a bad/worn engine mount(s) than the water pump. Another possibility is that the coolant dripping on the oil level sensor may be causing the computer to mis-adjust the engine causing it to vibrate.

You can easily rule out the water pump when you replace it.

__________________
Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

Thanks Ronnie,

I had MB check out the mounts they were fine.. In fact they were unable to find anything on the car. Your theory of the computer mis adjusting the engine sounds like a good one though !

I'm going to change the wp and spark plugs and see how she's feeling after that.

Thanks for the reply

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

Since this is an M104 engine, it is always advised to change the three (3) coil supressor boots while you're at it.

They are the source of 99% of all misfire problems.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Thanks for the suggestion !! Are they listed as supressor covers in the parts catalog?

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

Probably.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".