Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-02-2003, 10:51 AM
G-Benz's Avatar
Razorback Soccer Dad
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
Unhappy W124 heater hose blew out! Cause?

Searched the archives and didn't find anything related to this.

Just passed inspection and on my way home, stopped off at the day care to drop something off. Left car running.

Came back out and smoke was emanating out out the driver's side near the hood hinge. Popped the hood and saw (and smelled coolant) near the fuse box area!

Immediately discovered the plastic mating piece on the heater hose ruptured. So I quickly glanced at the gauge cluster and saw the temp gauge pegged to almost the 120 C mark! I was a block from home, so I took a chance and limped it to the garage.

The replacement isn't costly, and I don't believe any serious damage has resulted yet, but my real concern is whether the hose damage was a result of old age or something else? The rest of the hose actually appeared to be okay, but the plastic joint rupturing has me worried. Any clues?

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-02-2003, 11:08 AM
1991300SEL's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 545
I had a similar experience on a 126 car with the upper radiator hose. It slid off the upper radiator pipe. Not long before this I had checked the snugness of the hose clamps.

The interior of the hose felt slick as I refitted it to the radiator pipe. I suspected age, although the exterior of the hose seemed ok.

Purchased a new OEM hose and have not had a reoccurrence.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-02-2003, 01:08 PM
csnow's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Mass
Posts: 1,127
Don't try to limp home when an engine is overheated and leaking coolant.
The stakes are just too high.
I have the cracked heads to prove it.

If it's a slow enough leak, let it cool down, top it off with water (very slowly, just to be safe), then try to limp home before it overheats again.
Carry extra water if possible.
Do not push it to the red before stopping again.
__________________
1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-02-2003, 01:27 PM
haasman's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 3,097
G-Benz

Had a very similiar thing happen with the 91 300e in the middle of the city on a Sunday morning.

It was the heater hose that comes from the engine and goes through the firewall by the fues. It was worn where it attaches to the engine, just above the clamp. I used the MBZ tool kit, took it off, cut it back and reattached it.

I know there is a service recommendation to change all the hoses after I think 4 years.

That little plastic connector failing is weird.

Haasman
__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-02-2003, 01:33 PM
it leaks, its german
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: raleigh nc
Posts: 1,111
Not that weird of a failure, they are made of the same material that the radiator tanks and the 90 deg elbow is, plastic. 140 cars has a similar cluster behind the l/h head that'll do the same thing. The coolant goes acidic and eats at the interior of the plastic. Hence the recomendation of the Benz long life coolant, its more resistant to this.



Joe
__________________
Project Smoker, '87 603 powered wagon
Hauler, 96 CTD can you say torque?
Toy 73 Cougar xr7 convertible
Acme Automotive Inc.
Raleigh NC
919-881-0364
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-02-2003, 01:43 PM
Bud
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I believe tap water is the cause of most problems with cooling systems. Sticking with distilled water and MB coolant will ensure a long and trouble free life.

I do my own maintenance so no one uses tap water for anything in my cars.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-02-2003, 04:47 PM
G-Benz's Avatar
Razorback Soccer Dad
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
Good to know that the failure is not a prelude to bigger problems...

...although I had managed to dodge the headgasket issue for years...this last overheat probably sealed its fate!
__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-02-2003, 06:34 PM
pfphipps
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Unless things have changed recently, Mercedes tells you not to use distilled water.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-15-2003, 10:25 AM
G-Benz's Avatar
Razorback Soccer Dad
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
Installed new hose and coolant level sensor last Thursday and used MB coolant and tap water.

Test drove on short trips this weekend prior to commute this morning. No overheating, so I guess the head and gasket are still sound (knock on zebrano)...

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page