tick tick tick help w/ e500
 

haven't been here in a while and general lurker in need of help. 94 e500 w/78k miles. about four weeks ago, started hearing a ticking sound just like a very loud watch. the number of ticks per minute is proportional to engine speed. it appears to be coming from the front of the engine but can't isolate which side. when i took it to dealer yesterday, it wasn't ticking but dealer says belt tensioner making noise. dealer says belt tensioner is bad and it and pulley should be replaced. says heard ticking today and believes it to be lifters and /or oil tubes. says may need to replace tubes, tappets, etc. wants to open it up and if see broken?/plugged? tubes then replace tubes. but that might not cure it and won't know unless button it up and see. also said might be a good time to replace chain rails as long as we are in there. next, check engine light had been going on and off for approximately 8-10 weeks. it hasn't been on for the past week so it and the tick didn't seem to be directly correlated. fault codes stored include engine misfire. any advice or thoughts on this matter greatly appreciated. being told i'm looking at up to $3000 depending in what they find. HELP!!!
steve kotler
coral gables, fl

How are your Oil Pressure guage readings?
Are you seeing the guage at 3 or closer to 2 when your foot is pressing the accelerator, how about at idle, is the needle swinging up and down ususally?
Has the timing chain been replaced along with the plastic chain guides?


You really need a Tech's input on this one.

With code for misfire and ticking , you may want to check if you simply have a spark jumping at a plug...
Ticking is the sound they can make....

78k? Sounds like tubes to me, I'd leave the chain be for right now, odds are it'll be fine untill 120k or so.
Early 119's tend to lose tubes and odds are everything else is just fine. If you cant fin all of the tubes, pull the sub pan and retreive them, I saw a 606 that pulled a washer through the oil pump screen and blew out the side of the oil pump. Even if the peice is large they can get them into the engine under hig volume demands.
Early 119's also have a oil pump housing chek valve issue as well, I cant remember the exact SI it was in but, it oughtta be easy enough to find. If your in the affected vin, do it.


Joe

Whats the Service History? Is the oil clean?
There is a problem as stated above with the tubes!
One Quick fix if its lifters... is change the oil except leave it one quart low then refill the last quart with trans fluid as We did ths on SEVERAL 119s with lifter noise and it worked! AHHH MERCEDES WARRANTY Got to love it!!
It was a Hush Hush in house MERCEDES repair!!
I Would try this for 1000 miles then drain/refill as normal
The chain and tensioner should be good til 110/120 miles
Then do the Rails/chain/Tensioner..

yeah, make sure all your plugs are properly fitted in

thanks for all the replies. was told today oil tubes bad, caps and rotors show arcing and pos cable at starter also has a problem but i am not sure what. so will replace tubes, caps, rotors, upper chain rails, and belt tensioner. was advised lifters ok. when i asked about o2 sensor also advised no need at this time.

Please advise-how does an oil tube go bad? What kind of oil has the subject car been run on?

TIA for replies

cheap plastic, they blow out of the cam blocks. It has nothing to do with service, just one of the FEW 119 quirks.



Joe

me too!
 

sorry to come in to this thread, but I seem to have the same problem w/ my '94 S500 cpe (119.970), ticking from one lifter on right side of engine.

Read the MB Service Bulletin issued in early '95 re oil feed tubes and they say to replace them. They now have a newer/better part.

Had my valve cover off and all tubes LOOKED ok (not broken) but did not remove and inspect them. Can these tubes plug?

check out this thread!
 

Don't forget those oil tubes!!!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?postid=214476&t=5762#post214476