Titivating my Mercedes 124

[TR4man]

Yes, small children are so useful when working on a car - their little hands and fingers are often of much more use that Snap On’s finest tools!

[Northbrook]

r129sl said:

Is the pace too slow or too fast?

The pace is the pace. I'm just used to reading the posts in faster succession than you've written them. It was while I was pondering that - as you do - that I realised that you've still driven 20k miles in this car faster than I likely ever will.

I hear you about other demands on your time - currently my main pastime is working on, reading about or talking about cars because many of my other excuses for spending time & money are out of the window this year, and I find it a welcome respite from a stressful job in a stressful year. More power to your elbow, whatsoever it may do.

Thanks for the p/n for the rubber.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Northbrook said:

Thanks for the p/n for the rubber.

Fnaar.


(Sorry! Childish, I know).

[r129sl]

Time for the winter wheels and tyres... Some of them are new. I like these TS830s because they are not directional, so when the inevitable puncture comes along, the spare fits instead of inevitably being the wrong way around.



The job took me about 20mins, I am getting good at it! It also offered a chance to inspect the new brakes, discs, pads, calipers, hoses all round:

Edited by r129sl on Saturday 21st November 20:16

[mercedeslimos]

r129sl said:

Time for the winter wheels and tyres... Some of them are new. I like these TS830s because they are not directional, so when the inevitable puncture comes along, the spare fits instead of inevitably being the wrong way around.



The job took me about 20mins, I am getting good at it! It also offered a chance to inspect the new brakes, discs, pads, calipers, hoses all round:

Edited by r129sl on Saturday 21st November 20:16

Had a set of those for 4 winters in a row, FWD Passat, 235/45/17, unstoppable. Cemented my use of proper winter tyres from October until March. The current set is Kumho i'Zen KW27 in 245/45/18, don't feel as good in 7-10 degrees but it's supposed to freeze tomorrow so soon find out! Porky Mondeo at 1650kg might not help too.

[Olds124]

Asking here as you guys seem to know a lot about these old estates. My ‘95 E300D has an earth fault off fuse 1 on the rear wiper circuit. Short occurs when the tailgate is more than halfway down, suggesting the common problem of a wire break/abrasion on a live going through the hinge conduit, or thereabouts. So far, so normal. What is puzzling me is that when I disconnect the wiper motor at the plug just to its left, there is no short. This would make sense, and suggest a short or other failure in the motor itself, but not when the short occurs dependent on the position of the tailgate. There is an always hot wire (at least when ignition on) to the motor, presumably to activate the wiper park function, this would be on whether or not the motor is connected I think. Does anyone know if some part of the wiring creates a live back through the hinge area when the motor is connected but not otherwise?
Thanks.

[Olds124]

Asking here as you guys seem to know a lot about these old estates. My ‘95 E300D has an earth fault off fuse 1 on the rear wiper circuit. Short occurs when the tailgate is more than halfway down, suggesting the common problem of a wire break/abrasion on a live going through the hinge conduit, or thereabouts. So far, so normal. What is puzzling me is that when I disconnect the wiper motor at the plug just to its left, there is no short. This would make sense, and suggest a short or other failure in the motor itself, but not when the short occurs dependent on the position of the tailgate. There is an always hot wire (at least when ignition on) to the motor, presumably to activate the wiper park function, this would be on whether or not the motor is connected I think. Does anyone know if some part of the wiring creates a live back through the hinge area when the motor is connected but not otherwise?
Thanks.

[DS129]

I suspect you have broken wire(s) in the left hand hinge area, inside the rubber boot.
There is also a permanent live to the closing motor.

[Olds124]

Thanks, yes, that’s what I think has happened. What I’m trying to work out, though, is if there is a short in the hinge area, why the short would go away when the motor is disconnected but come back when it is connected since the fuse is blowing irrespective of the motor being switched on or off (so must be one of the permanent live feeds).

[Northbrook]

Could it be to do with the tightness/slack in the cable when unplugged vs plugged in?

[DS129]

OLDS124 - if you have more than one broken wire the frayed ends can cross-connect and you get all sorts of bad stuff happening.
I had several broken wires, the red permanent live closing motor feed and the black heated window supply just two of several . These connected and caused a constant flat battery problem.
Hope I remember those colours correctly.

[r129sl]

I cannot shed any light here but have the following observations. The wiring through the hinge does not seem to be a common cause of problems; I cannot remember it coming up much in the various places where these cars are discussed. There is an earth to the bootlid; the heated rear window definitely earths to the lid and it may be that other things do, too. I can't help but suspect in your case something loose in the motor, such that when the boot is down a short occurs. It is relatively easy to strip the trim off the boot lid and the inside of the boot although I assume you have already done this.

[Krikkit]

Next time you need brakes I can highly recommend the Mintex (and other aftermarket brands, but I use almost all Mintex now) range of coated discs - that way they don't go crusty as they age, both cosmetically and functionally useful traits.

[dbdb]

I always enjoy seeing updates on this car.

[Olds124]

Thanks for replies. I like the idea that something in the motor might be shorting dependent on its position. I will have it off and investigate further.

[Olds124]

Thanks for replies. I like the idea that something in the motor might be shorting dependent on its position. I will have it off and investigate further.

[Northbrook]

And the motor.

[r129sl]

Yes, I always find everything is much clearer after having it off.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

It took me back to my school days. In a good way.

[Yogioes]

Hi R129SL
I'm curious about your post from 8th Sept - "The fleet this evening. I cleaned them all up last night, got it down to 40 minutes for all four"

I'm about 20 minutes for a quick bucket and sponge wash on one car, probably a bit longer for something the size of the G Wagon.

Interested to hear how your technique to manage all four in 40 minutes (and I'm assuming you are not using child slave labour)