w201 m103 diagnosis needed! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #1 07-18-2006, 12:27 AM

hello everyone

I Just bought a "new" w201 190E 2.6. The car is in nice condition and runs well. However, I was letting it idle and i found a "ticking" noise whos speed of ticking increases with the rpm's. The A/C doesn't blow real cold especially when its above 85-90+

I don't know much about the m103. I have more expierence with the om617 engine. So can anyone tell me what this noise might be..

I have a video of the car starting and some revving...Click to watch

Thanks Everyone,

Kris

david s poole · #2 07-18-2006, 11:17 AM

the ticking is lifters.possible causes.not enough or bad oil,one of the bolts that holds down the rocker arm assembly has pulled the threads and is loose,lifter has sluge in it.last possibility some one screwed up when putting car back together after changing valve stem seals. first i suggest changing oil and adding lucas heavy duty oil additive 5 qts oil and 2 qts lucas.this is your best shot at a cheap fix .if this doesn't work the valve cover needs to come off for exploratory surgery. david poole european performance dallas tx.

JamesDean · #3 07-28-2006, 04:57 PM

Ok everyone,

I stopped at the auto parts store and put in a can of SeaFoam (bout 10oz for the amt of oil in the m103). After a few days the ticking sound was gone. Today when I started it up, I heard somthing different. I don't know if it is a lifter or not...I didnt get to camera the car starting. However I have a clip of the noise as the car is running...the noise went away if I revved the engine but as it came back down to idle it came back...however after a few minutes of running the noise dissapeared. Here is the clip...diagnose away...i appreciate it

oh dont mind the messy garage....

kris

iwrock · #4 10-16-2006, 10:45 AM

Did you ever find what this was?

JamesDean · #5 10-16-2006, 02:59 PM

it was the hydraulic compensators (lifters)...replaced..no more noise...

sorry i should have followed up on this thread...

iwrock · #6 10-16-2006, 03:51 PM

Last question... Is it OK to drive the car? I have to get it home, and I need to know if this is something that is going to require a tow. Will it kill it if I drive it?

JamesDean · #7 10-16-2006, 04:19 PM

confused...driving with ticking lifters im pretty sure wont kill ur car...

iwrock · #8 10-16-2006, 04:39 PM

Thats what I meant. Sorry for the confusion. I wanted to drive it to EuroSunday, and then send it in for service. I just want to make sure it won't blow up on me while I'm on the freeway.

gmercoleza · #9 10-16-2006, 04:39 PM

You can drive on ticking lifters for quite some time with no immediate damage. I have personally logged tons of miles on vehicles with lifters ticking loudly. From what I understand, it is more of a slow eventual damage as in greater tolerances due to wear, though I never experienced the end result personally.

Hatterasguy · #10 10-16-2006, 06:49 PM

Sounds like a ticking lifter, they tick on the 603's all the time as well.

You can drive them thousands of miles with ticking lifters, afaik it won't hurt anything.

Before you dive in and change it try some high detergent synthetic oil. I bet a couple thousand miles on say Delvac 1 might clear it out.

JamesDean · #11 10-16-2006, 06:58 PM

i used some Delo400 and mines shut up for a while...then it came back after a while...

iwrock · #12 10-19-2006, 07:12 PM

Well, it wasn't a lifter.... I threw a rod. My dad went to the mechnic today to go look at the findings.... Cylinder #3 was the culprit... So now, I am faced with a dilemma. What to do.

JamesDean · #13 10-19-2006, 07:29 PM

ouch...

well i dont know much about what all happends when one throws a rod but
I assume that you'll need a new engine..

options there are

replace the m103 2.6
swap in a m103 3.0
swap in a m104 3.2
swap whatever in..

by far i believe the first two options are the simplest...largely due to the fact tha its the same motor basiscally and there might be only minimal modifications

where at the m104 might need more and certain mechanics wont touch somthing like that due to all the labor and modifications needed (i know mine wont)

how many miles did u have on it?

iwrock · #14 10-19-2006, 09:01 PM

I am going to stick with the M103 3.0 motor that in there. I live in Cali, and I have to pass the smog check, and the fact that the wagon has some extra parts on the motor for stuff like the SLS in the back.

She had a little under 225,000 miles. All regular maintainence performed. I think its because shes no longer garaged. She has a nice warm garage at home, but not here at school.

Hatterasguy · #15 10-19-2006, 10:27 PM

Wow that sucks! Most certainly a fluke I know 617's do that once in awhile, guess M103's do as well.

If the car is in good shape and you like it why not swap in a long block? I wouldn't buy it from Adsitco, but certainly go to there website and get an idea of pricing.

Actualy give Phil a call, wonder if thats something he can get?