Mercedes W124 E300D estate - progress, or not...
Discussion
Northbrook said:
Thanks both!
Looking at the diagram, it should be around 56.7cm from floor to the top of the bumper. Mine is about 49.5, so I'm about 3 inches too short on my back end.
I measured top of arch to ground and then forgot the number Looking at the diagram, it should be around 56.7cm from floor to the top of the bumper. Mine is about 49.5, so I'm about 3 inches too short on my back end.
but I think it was 26.5in, I'll do it again tomorrow. Blackpuddin said:
Northbrook said:
Thanks both!
Looking at the diagram, it should be around 56.7cm from floor to the top of the bumper. Mine is about 49.5, so I'm about 3 inches too short on my back end.
I measured top of arch to ground and then forgot the number Looking at the diagram, it should be around 56.7cm from floor to the top of the bumper. Mine is about 49.5, so I'm about 3 inches too short on my back end.
but I think it was 26.5in, I'll do it again tomorrow. 
I've got it up!
Well. My Man helped me.
I dropped the car off yesterday morning for three things: (1) change rear springs & install new exhaust hangers; (2) MOT; (3) fiddle with vacuum modulator.
One and a half out of three isn't bad....
Failed the MOT on a track rod end; no big deal, and will be changed & retested on Monday. Man is very busy so missed checking them. No problem to me.
Springs and hangers done. Went well, and the car is noticeably higher at the back (I know it'll settle). They were both surprised to see the difference made by what appeared to be minimal difference in the springs. Good to stop my backside dragging on the ground.
And the modulator. I managed to get myself over there at the end of the day, they kindly put the car on a ramp and I whipped the undertrays off and adjusted by one turn (anti-clockwise to soften). Quick road test showed it was much better, but not there yet. Up again, another turn, and another test showing it as being marginally worse..... Of course, the ATF was warming up and thus expanding. We did another turn but ran out of time to do more. At least they know what to do now.
Unfortunately, we lost the O ring for the modulator cap, so I'm going to try to get another to finish the job off properly.
I had a look around under the car while it was in the air and they were busy.
Handbrake cable looks the worse for wear, but is working fine. I'll get one ordered up.
I'm wondering whether this car has had a towbar in the past. It's got a seven-pin socket tucked away This is a bar across the rear, behind the bumper, has two holes in it which kinda look like towball mount spacing holes, have scrapes behind in the underseal implying they're not factory fit... I'm not sure.
Some numpty wasn't paying attention recently, and ground the bottom of the car on a kerb. I'll have to put some paint on the bare metal soon, because that's the fuel tank.
Inside of the steering damper casing already has some surface rust. It's no more than 18 months old, and the car hasn't driven far.
All being well, I should be able to collect the car with fresh shiny MOT on Tuesday. Granted I've spent time and effort on maintenance, but it's not bad.
Well. My Man helped me.
I dropped the car off yesterday morning for three things: (1) change rear springs & install new exhaust hangers; (2) MOT; (3) fiddle with vacuum modulator.
One and a half out of three isn't bad....
Failed the MOT on a track rod end; no big deal, and will be changed & retested on Monday. Man is very busy so missed checking them. No problem to me.
Springs and hangers done. Went well, and the car is noticeably higher at the back (I know it'll settle). They were both surprised to see the difference made by what appeared to be minimal difference in the springs. Good to stop my backside dragging on the ground.
And the modulator. I managed to get myself over there at the end of the day, they kindly put the car on a ramp and I whipped the undertrays off and adjusted by one turn (anti-clockwise to soften). Quick road test showed it was much better, but not there yet. Up again, another turn, and another test showing it as being marginally worse..... Of course, the ATF was warming up and thus expanding. We did another turn but ran out of time to do more. At least they know what to do now.
Unfortunately, we lost the O ring for the modulator cap, so I'm going to try to get another to finish the job off properly.
I had a look around under the car while it was in the air and they were busy.
Handbrake cable looks the worse for wear, but is working fine. I'll get one ordered up.
I'm wondering whether this car has had a towbar in the past. It's got a seven-pin socket tucked away This is a bar across the rear, behind the bumper, has two holes in it which kinda look like towball mount spacing holes, have scrapes behind in the underseal implying they're not factory fit... I'm not sure.
Some numpty wasn't paying attention recently, and ground the bottom of the car on a kerb. I'll have to put some paint on the bare metal soon, because that's the fuel tank.
Inside of the steering damper casing already has some surface rust. It's no more than 18 months old, and the car hasn't driven far.
All being well, I should be able to collect the car with fresh shiny MOT on Tuesday. Granted I've spent time and effort on maintenance, but it's not bad.
Good work! Talking of MOTs, the one for my S124 300 D is coming up in Feb. It's a mere stripling at 149,000 miles. Annoyingly in an otherwise generally problem-free history the ABS light has started to appear. Intermittent initially but is now more persistent. Any insights on which component is likely to be at fault?
Thanks guys, any idea whereabouts that relay lives? Got to be worth a bash before I go down the ring route.
ETA: after a bit of Googling I haven't found the answer to the location question but I did find something to the effect that the over voltage relay also supplies power to the idle control and cold/warm start circuits. Normally starting and cold running has been faultless on my S124 (bust glow plug excepted!) but the appearance of the ABS light does seem to have coincided with some slightly dodgy cold running and the occasional conk out, which is very unusual for the car.
Also, forgot to mention that the tacho stopped working for 15 mins or so the other day.
ETA: after a bit of Googling I haven't found the answer to the location question but I did find something to the effect that the over voltage relay also supplies power to the idle control and cold/warm start circuits. Normally starting and cold running has been faultless on my S124 (bust glow plug excepted!) but the appearance of the ABS light does seem to have coincided with some slightly dodgy cold running and the occasional conk out, which is very unusual for the car.
Also, forgot to mention that the tacho stopped working for 15 mins or so the other day.
Edited by Blackpuddin on Friday 17th December 10:39
Edited by Blackpuddin on Friday 17th December 10:43
Edited by Blackpuddin on Saturday 18th December 09:00
C8TLNdad said:
The over voltage protection relay, to give it its full name, lives between the battery and bulkhead.
It may be necessary to remove a plastic cover to gain access, and is easy to replace with the bonnet
in its vertical position.
This refers to my E220 petrol, your D300 may be different!
Turns out it wasn't different. New relay was fitted yesterday, the terminals on the old one did look a bit scabby, ABS light and tacho now seem to be fault-free. Will see how she starts later today. Thanks so much for the advice. It may be necessary to remove a plastic cover to gain access, and is easy to replace with the bonnet
in its vertical position.
This refers to my E220 petrol, your D300 may be different!
Car has just passed the 150k mark. Should sell it really as we have a 4x4 that will get us up the hills round here in icy weather but I know I'll miss it so much if I get rid. It's just so practical and comfortable. MOT is coming up next month. I'm hoping it'll get through no worries. Michelin Cross Climates are getting a bit low on the front but apart from that all seems good.
Good to know it's fixed, and at minimal cost. Funny how that relay can cause some unusual faults, but I guess that's how electrics goes.
I've now finished moving house, with the last thing being a carload in this car last weekend. It's been parked up since, but I'd like to get my winter wheels on soon, for variety as much as anything. I've got a set of 15 holes with proper winter tyres on and this is a hilly part of Wales.
I've now finished moving house, with the last thing being a carload in this car last weekend. It's been parked up since, but I'd like to get my winter wheels on soon, for variety as much as anything. I've got a set of 15 holes with proper winter tyres on and this is a hilly part of Wales.
So, have I done any of the things I said I was going to do?
Nope.
It turns out I was knackered from moving house (long story short: decided to do the grunt work myself, had to do 9 trips because I have too many hobbies, drove 6000 miles in six weeks), and the car hasn't been used much.
I did manage to take a dishwasher to the tip. Sadly it would have been quicker just to leave it on the sack truck and walk it there (half a mile away), rather than tip it onto its side and then have the deal with the resultant in-car swimming pool....
Another little milestone today:
I shall have words with the photographer.
Some drama today, though. I drove 40 miles from now-home, thankfully along a good road that I enjoy driving, to pick up a plum tree for the new garden. Thankfully it was still there despite not being reserved any longer (not told they have a two-week reservation limit when it was reserved four weeks ago).....but, before I collected the tree, there was the small matter of the passenger front door seizing open in a supermarket car park!
Happily it was a nice day, and I have this week off, so aside from the panicked run to a nearby Poundland (door stuck wide open) and the need to take the door card off to replace the check strap mechanism (rear doors already done, and neither card is yet back on properly...), No harm done except to my plans.
Driver's door is making horrible noises, too. Both sides only started grumbling a couple of weeks back, but I best get on with it!
Hacksaw will be staying in the car until the check straps are done....
Nope.
It turns out I was knackered from moving house (long story short: decided to do the grunt work myself, had to do 9 trips because I have too many hobbies, drove 6000 miles in six weeks), and the car hasn't been used much.
I did manage to take a dishwasher to the tip. Sadly it would have been quicker just to leave it on the sack truck and walk it there (half a mile away), rather than tip it onto its side and then have the deal with the resultant in-car swimming pool....
Another little milestone today:
I shall have words with the photographer.
Some drama today, though. I drove 40 miles from now-home, thankfully along a good road that I enjoy driving, to pick up a plum tree for the new garden. Thankfully it was still there despite not being reserved any longer (not told they have a two-week reservation limit when it was reserved four weeks ago).....but, before I collected the tree, there was the small matter of the passenger front door seizing open in a supermarket car park!
Happily it was a nice day, and I have this week off, so aside from the panicked run to a nearby Poundland (door stuck wide open) and the need to take the door card off to replace the check strap mechanism (rear doors already done, and neither card is yet back on properly...), No harm done except to my plans.
Driver's door is making horrible noises, too. Both sides only started grumbling a couple of weeks back, but I best get on with it!
Hacksaw will be staying in the car until the check straps are done....
Did you get a Jag in the end, Steve?
Not a huge amount has happened with the car recently. It's mostly been sat on the drive - it's a bit of a faff to get it out, and I've generally not got around to it.
Nor to the door check strap, although I've taken off the easy part in the door shut. Wow. I do need to get it done, so I'm comfortable driving it.
But another job has taken over on top of the list. Because the car won't start!
Whether from age or lack of use, the last few times of starting the car have shown up a very, very, slow cranking speed. Almost too slow to count, if that makes sense.
Battery was duly charged, but it took me a few more days to try again, and the car didn't really want to start (but did). New battery ordered and delivered (Bosch, same as the last one, £80ish delivered - not too bad).
After ninety mins of trying to find the right tools (partly successful), I 'whipped' out the old battery, decided to take out the battery tray for a quick inspect, sheared one of the bolts, removed some dried leaves, and put things back together again with the new battery.
First try: started reluctantly, with a slow starter, but started nonetheless. This on a partly warmed up engine.
Second, and all subsequent, attempts: pas de saucisson. Pas de legume. No clicks, no whirs, no startee.
So.
Could it be the starter? (and, if so, is there any way to tell whether the mounting holes are threaded, or not, without taking it off?)
Could it be the ignition switch?
Probably not the neutral switch - tried that.
Or could it be wiring harness? (The glow plug part of the harness, at least, has been redone...but I don't know whether that would include the starter harness section).
Answers, please, on a new starter motor, wiring harness and ignition switch....installed in the car.
I'll have another look when I'm not 200 miles away from it.
Not a huge amount has happened with the car recently. It's mostly been sat on the drive - it's a bit of a faff to get it out, and I've generally not got around to it.
Nor to the door check strap, although I've taken off the easy part in the door shut. Wow. I do need to get it done, so I'm comfortable driving it.
But another job has taken over on top of the list. Because the car won't start!
Whether from age or lack of use, the last few times of starting the car have shown up a very, very, slow cranking speed. Almost too slow to count, if that makes sense.
Battery was duly charged, but it took me a few more days to try again, and the car didn't really want to start (but did). New battery ordered and delivered (Bosch, same as the last one, £80ish delivered - not too bad).
After ninety mins of trying to find the right tools (partly successful), I 'whipped' out the old battery, decided to take out the battery tray for a quick inspect, sheared one of the bolts, removed some dried leaves, and put things back together again with the new battery.
First try: started reluctantly, with a slow starter, but started nonetheless. This on a partly warmed up engine.
Second, and all subsequent, attempts: pas de saucisson. Pas de legume. No clicks, no whirs, no startee.
So.
Could it be the starter? (and, if so, is there any way to tell whether the mounting holes are threaded, or not, without taking it off?)
Could it be the ignition switch?
Probably not the neutral switch - tried that.
Or could it be wiring harness? (The glow plug part of the harness, at least, has been redone...but I don't know whether that would include the starter harness section).
Answers, please, on a new starter motor, wiring harness and ignition switch....installed in the car.
I'll have another look when I'm not 200 miles away from it.
Sileck reports that the starter harness isn't reworked as part of the glow plus harness job, unless requested. Which I didn't. But it's £45 plus VAT and postage to do it. So it'll likely get done, particularly if I have to take the starter motor off to find out which replacement is needed.
Hmm that's annoying.
Nothing with a fresh batter would point me first to the fuse and wiring on the back of the starter, then (depending on access) taking the starter off and testing it on the bench with the battery direct.
I would say if the starter wasnt giving issues before on noises, bendix gear whizzes or occasional non starts/clicks without turning, I velieve nothing is getting to it.
Nothing with a fresh batter would point me first to the fuse and wiring on the back of the starter, then (depending on access) taking the starter off and testing it on the bench with the battery direct.
I would say if the starter wasnt giving issues before on noises, bendix gear whizzes or occasional non starts/clicks without turning, I velieve nothing is getting to it.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff