1986 Mercedes E300 Few Questions
 

Hello, I have recently acquired a 86' Mercedes E300. I am very excited, due to my long love for the older Mercedes styling and looks both inside and out. Yet after having it for just a day I have noticed a few quirks.

First off the car does overheat after just sitting for a little while. I have already diagnosed this issue as being the electric fan. However, I don't want to order a new fan until I am sure that it is the fan that is actually the issue. So I am guessing I should check first for power supply to the fan. I do have a meter to measure for this and am first looking for a little guidence on how I should go about figuring that out.

Secondly, I am told by the previous owner that he furnished new brake pads not too long ago. He is a close personal friend and gave me the vehicle kind of "paying it forward" after something I gave him a hand with a little while back. That just being my ground for the fact he isn't lying to me. However, while driving the indicator light for Brake Pad Wear faintly flashes, and not all the time, oddly enough generally while just driving. Any insight into that would be fantastic. If not I can just bring that issue to a mechanic.

Thirdly, me being no expert I wanted a little insight in to this as well. My friend told me he provided new bushing for the shifter. ( I am unsure if that is helpful, but thought I would add that) Yet when using the automatic transmission, when I select the gear I want e.g. Reverse there is generally a pause and then kind of a little jerk when it is actually put into gear. Same follows putting it into drive, expect a shorter pause. The pause is merely just a few seconds. I have a few guesses on what it could be (:() but wanted your guys' input. I experience no jerking when actually driving and the car shifts between 1st 2nd and so on.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Shea

On the transmission issue, check your fluid level. If it is low, it acts just like you are saying. Check for leaks, or for bad modulator valve on transmission sucking up your fluid. Just my two cents from my 420 respect. Steve

1 overheat, my 300e drives around 90c w.o ac on, if you park it temp likely jumps up to 110 on restart, that electric fan only comes on above 110. my car rarely gets to 110 just idling. (on the temp gauge, not sure 'actual' temp .... check coolant?


2 break pad wires were replaced? they are pretty annoying to do, if they werent replaced the bare wire might be rubbing the rotor causing flashing,

Thanks for the input on the tranny, I fluid levels was the first on my checklist I just have been so busy today I have had the option to check it yet, but early tomorrow I will for sure.

Also on the overheat issue, see thing is I don't recall exactly where the temp gauge was, however, the A/C became warm, and the needle was nearing yet not in the red zone. However, I may conduct a test to confirm this. So theoretically if the electric fan is functioning, what's my next step? I will check coolant levels as well.

could be your cluth fan

You mean Fan Clutch? :rolleyes:

You can connect the 2 wires at the reciever dryer to jump and force the fan to go on, to make sure its a bad electric fan motor.

As far as the transmission, how many miles are on the car? Sounds like the transmission may just be tired. My car has a 2 second delay going into reverse. 283,000 miles.

FWIW, 1986 W124 should be a 300E, not E300. Later US E300s were Diesels....

Well so you would think... but the car only has 92,000 miles on it. I reckon it could be 92,000 rough miles but idk.

Hows the fluid look? I'd throw fresh fluild/filter at it.

It's a 300E.

Next, your fan clutch is probably dead along with the radiator. As stated, aux fan only comes on at very high temperature for high speed and low speed for the A/C.

[quote=redassag00;1928701]You mean Fan Clutch? :rolleyes:

yeah that thing:D

Shea,
1) Replace the thermostat and see if that resolves the rising temperature issue. The existing thermostat may be sticking and not opening completely.
2) Pull all 4 wheels and visually inspect the brake pad thickness. Perhaps your friend replaced the front pads and now the rears are shot, or vice-versa. It's also possible that one of the calipers is sticking and the brake pads on that wheel wore prematurely.
3) Change the transmission fluid and filter ... should be done every 30,000 miles.

Could you point me towards what I should use for fluid and filter specifically fluid.

Any DexIII/Mercon compatible ATF is fine. I use the cheap stuff from the local auto store. Keep it clean and change it often.

Be sure to drain the converter too.

Overheating at idle is not normal even if the electric fan is inop. Check you coolant reservoir for oil residue for signs of a blown headgasket as well.

I do agree try a thermostat first since it's easy and check fan clutch next.

overheating
 

Since your car is a 1986, you may have the old version of the fan, I believe its blades were white. You need the fan with the black blades. I don't know if the fan clutch was also updated; Phil should be able to help you on that. I did this switch on my early production model 1988 300ce using parts from my later production 1988 300ce parts car and the overheating problem I had disappeared immediately. Hope this helps.