Urgent help needed
 

Urgent help needed with my 1983 240D. I was driving on I- 395 South in Washington D.C. last night around 4:00am doing about 85mph. I felt a big jerk like I hit something. I though I had a flat tire till I realized the car had cut off. I pulled over to the me side of the road and the car would not crank. So I called AAA they towed the car home. When I inspected the car this morning I saw nothing obviously wrong. The main problem is I was suppose to drive to New Jersey today on business. Plus I just moved to D.C. two weeks ago and have no clue of a reputable mechanic to take my car to. I know the information is very vague but any help would be appreciated.

LoveLEE143,

A few more details would be helpful. Did the engine sieze or did the power just cut out? Do you have an automatic or a 4-speed?

Can you turn the engine over with the starter today, or by hand? How much oil is in the engine, on the dipstick?

What was the engine temperature at the time of the event? Are the belts ok?

A little more information might help get to the root problem, but someone in the area can pipe up with a recommendation for a shop. Good luck, Jim

I'm assuming that when you say it will not crank, is that it does not fire, but the engine spins.

My take is that you had a timing chain break. Same thing happened to me. Sorry, it's time to rebuild the head.

Sorry I could not get anymore info to you sooner I was in NJ for training all week. It would not have mattered anyways. I received bad news yesterday. No one in my whole family wanted to tell me but my car is now dead. The mechanic told them it is not really worth fixing. It really sucks because I just spent $1600 on the transmission less than a month ago. I am now in state of mourning. My 1983 240D named Wendy is now dead. I will have to tow her back to Raleigh from D.C. I guess now she will be my project car and I will have to get a new car in the mean time. The only thing is I do not think I can afford a Mercedes right now. A used Honda accord is looking better and better now. So you probably won't be hearing much from me for a while.

I live right outside of DC and would be glad to buy the car off you as-is where-is if you dont wish to tow it back home or deal with it. let me know.