need help removing radiator fitting - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jsmith · #1 07-26-2002, 12:38 PM

the little 90 degree elbow fitting on top of the radiator has been seeping coolant for some time now and i figure the o ring is shot. i went and picked up the $3 part but when i asked the techs they said something about going in through the upper radiator neck and compressing the little "feet" with a box wrench. does that sound right? don't want to mess with that neck for fear of breaking it as i know it is wont to do...

Mike Richards · #2 07-26-2002, 02:30 PM

Maybe this will help:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=7494&highlight=elbow

jsmith · #3 07-26-2002, 02:42 PM

thanks, i did see those threads. the reason mine was leaking was because it was cracked. i just wiggled it a little bit and it popped off. the bottom half was wedged in the hole and i managed to push it out from the inside (i did have to take the upper hose off). the little feet were missing though and must have broken off some time ago. i decided i'm not worrying about that. i did find that my upper radiator neck was reinforced...

SRI inc · #4 07-26-2002, 08:01 PM

Just did mine exact same circumstances with the top cracked same with my feet missing , once again chowpit to the rescue sent me the benz manual diagram , shows a 9mm box end wrench under the feet with a flat blade screwdriver under it , the plastic feet i am hoping disolved cause the plastic part that came out i was able to crush into dust with my 2 fingers

93 300e rebadged as a e320 w/68k

jsmith · #5 07-26-2002, 10:12 PM

actually, i almost took a bath with coolant when the thing popped up because it was still slightly pressurized

. i barely wiggled it and since it was cracked it popped off like a champagne cork. is that also a 300E 2.8 you have? that's cool -mine has 60k miles...

joe p · #6 07-27-2002, 08:09 AM

I just stick my fingers in the upper neck and pop the old elbow off, the old lock ends up in my hand. Crude but it works. Just dont twist the elbow, take it straight upwards, I use a pair of 90 deg neddlenose pliers.

Joe

jsmith · #7 07-27-2002, 10:22 AM

the MB procedure and the "catch it in your hand" trick would depend on a lot of luck IMHO. the plastic does get brittle - i don't know how you would catch pieces if compressing with a box wrench+screwdriver broke off the feet. same thing with "hands", i'd say two fingers is the most you could work in there and those little feet could very easily drop into the side recesses of the radiator. i would recommend sticking a plastic tray like from a parts bin inside the neck, pull off from the top, then pushing the remaining pieces through. if the part is relatively new, then maybe the MB procedure might work, otherwise it is sure to crumble to pieces as other's experiences seem to indicate...