93 300D 2.5 Turbo Issues

[cmmwpi]

Hello everyone. I have quite the array of questions for yall to pick at.

Let's start with the car. It's a 1993 300D 2.5 Turbo with 132000 miles on it. I've had it for several years now and had some questions about some issues I've been having with it.

I spose I'll start big and go small.

Ok so almost every morning when I start my car to go to work, the car grumbles and groans and smokes all over the place until I actually DRIVE it, note, revving it does nothing. I'm assuming this is a dirty injector problem? My mechanic supposedly cleaned one of them and he said it would be fine but it only improved slightly. Should I just have all of the injectors cleaned? Or could there be some other cause? Also, sometimes while on inclines with the A/C running, the car will almost aaaaalmost stall out but I cut off the A/C and give it a little gas and it stops immediately.

Next, occasional gear slipping

Occasionally while I'm driving and in the city accelerating/decelerating, or sometimes while turning, or even while driving down the interstate (without cruise control, I'm pretty sure my cruise control doesn't work), the car seems to almost slip out of gear for a bit (rev up a whole lot because I'm pressing the gas) and then sort of drop into gear (and depending on how fast I'm driving, knock/slam into gear). What could this be? Checking my transmission fluid is questionable because someone who was doing maintenence on my car bent the dip still all to shit while pushing it back in so it looks like a gnarled twig off of a tree now.

Next, the Windshield Wiper

Roughly a year ago, I had some electrical gremlins that caused some blown fuses and overdrawing of power and burning up on the motor for my windshield wiper. I had it replaced by my mechanic but I'm guessing he maybe did something wrong? So now the black plastic that is flush with the bottom of the windshield kind of bubbles out near the edges. The main problem is that unless my windshield is pretty darn wet, the windshield wiper will lag or get stuck about midway through a swipe. To fix this, usually playing with the windshield wiper switch will fix it. By "playing" I mean just turning it up higher/highest/lower/off etc. It's very annoying because I fear that the motor is going to burn if it gets stuck like that and I don't want to have to get another one. Has anyone ever had this sort of problem? If it helps, I have one of those pressure point blades that pokes down in the middle, not a Bosch blade.

Next, Funky Dash lights

The funky dash light that comes up the most is the glow plug light. Sometimes while I'm driving, it will just turn on. I thought it was maybe during the winter it was just being strange because it was cold but it's been doing it during the summer too, although not quite as much. It's very common for it to turn on after I make a right turn, hahaha. The other two lights that oddly come up are the SRS airbag light and the "bulb out" light. The SRS Airbag light was kind of freaky. Why would that come on while I was driving? That hasn't happened since the winter though. I'm assuming the bulb out warning light is just some wires grounding out somewhere.

Next, little things

The little windshield wiper jets that stick out of the hood actually stick out a little too far on my car? They poke out at most an inch but thats enough to squirt the back of my car sometimes, hahaha. I've tried simply pushing them back in but they come back out either immediately or gradually. Any idea what's going on with that?

The other small problem is something I posted about in another thread. I only unlock my car from the trunk for fear of the alarm going off if I unlock it from the passenger or drivers side doors. I think it's corroded contacts that tell the car it's unlocked because it doesn't happen all the time, only sometimes. Before you say just disconnect the alarm system, I'd like to leave it in place because Worcester (where I am most of the year) is not exactly a nice place.

My sunroof only opens up, if that makes sense. It only pushes the back end of the sun roof up about 3 inches. Sometimes that doesn't work too well either (it will just stop after only going about 1cm, then I pull it down and push it up again and it usually works then). Any idea why it wouldn't open up or even try to?

I broke down in Boston in October of 09 and since I was away from home, I had the place that towed me replace the radiator (Todisco Towing, DO NOT USE THEM IF YOU'RE EVER IN BOSTON). Well, I always thought it looked a little odd after they fixed it, then when I took my car into my mechanic for a coolant leak, he pointed out that my radiator was for a Gas powered Benz. They had cut the hose in half and put in a plastic extension and spray painted it black (so I wouldn't notice) to make the hose fit. It looks like crap and I have a universal hose on it now. Do you guys think this is ok?


Next, Part Suppliers

Good part suppliers for my car? I was checking out this company called Adsit and they seemed to have a pretty good selection of parts. Are there any companys I should stay away from?
I'm looking for the following parts:
-Steering Wheel Leather (mine is really cracked and gross)
-Stereo/Speakers (only my front 2 dash speakers work, nothing comes out of the rest. The front left one sometimes goes out as well. I don't need replacement Mercedes speakers, would some place like Best Buy have something that would fit with the stock holes/covers so it looks original? The car came with an aftermarket Kenwood CD player that is pretty awful. I figure I could get something at Best Buy to replace that too. I don't want a fancy system, just something with all the original amount of speakers that has a 3.5mm jack for plugging into my phone and running Pandora.)
-Transmission fluid dip stick (As mentioned earlier, someone doing maintenance on my car messed it up good and proper)
-Antenna assembly (not that I even use the radio, but it looks like someone pulled out the metal atenna part but left the black rubber housing. I just want to make it not look like crap/collect water and rust).


Now, while I have your attention, or maybe I don't, maybe you fell asleep from reading the novel I just wrote, BUT if anyone knows a good, reliable place in Boston to get your DIESEL Benz worked on, could you let me know? I saw there was some place called "Auto Mall Service" posted but that doesn't sound very great. A simple google search returned a few places that seemed Mercedes specific (which seems nice) but I prefer some real human (and Mercedes users) reviews.

Before I make this post longer than an encyclopedia with things I'd like to do to the car, I'll let yall see what you can do with some of these issues.

Thanks in advance for any questions answered!

[compress ignite]

1. Rule of Thumb: Never,Ever let anyone who owns a "Towing Company" do ANY work on your
Mercedes.(Towing cars,Etc is not "Rocket Science" [Neither are most tow operators] )
BUT,any Good Independent Foreign Car Mechanic will be too busy actually WORKING to S**w
around with the Idiocy involved with Liabilities of Towing Cars.
2.RUN, Screaming, away from ADSITCO (Unless, you enjoy being ripped off)
3. Go Here: (and start your search for a reputable Independent MB Mechanic)
Massachusetts - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum
[Choosing a Mechanic is Far more involved AND Important than choosing a Mate.
ANY of the Gentler Sex can put up with your Testosterone induced insanity and
raise your children,whilst multitasking 25 or 30 other duties.]

YOU NOW HAVE an Involuntary Cooling system modification...I'd not let my Eyes stray
from the Temp gauge for even 5 seconds when the engine is in operation.

Get another(Correct) Dipstick.

Make a Prioritized list(s) of "repairs" to bring the chassis up to minimum standards.[NOT to be included:Stereo,steering wheel leathers,Etc,Etc.]

Sunroof: Leave it CLOSED ,until you understand how it works.(? Years!)
[Very Complex Mechanism,You will not escape a dealer's service lane for
anything under $1,000.00 USD MINIMUM,If the R.O. Mentions "Sunroof".]


"just some wires grounding out somewhere."
Translated into mechanic's speak: "Unauthorized Car-B-Que" AKA "Total Insurance Loss"

Find your 12 Volt Main Battery...in a Compartment in back of it are some
relays and computer modules...find the OVP Relay pictured below and check it's Two 10 Amp fuses (In the top of the Relay).This MAY be the source of your ABS,Etc,Etc. "Wackiness".

Go Here:
[and Memorize (AND comprehend) EVERY procedure prior to repair
by Yourself or Professionals.]
http://w124-zone.com/downloads/MB%20CD/W124/Main.html

I know I sound like the Car Nazi (I Am),BUT you've operated your Mercedes
in a less than optimum state of repair...AND given your self expressed priorities, I see it being passed onto some other owner in an even worse state.
Prove me Incorrect (?)

It is possible to own and operate your 124.128 inexpensively if you turn your
own wrenches (AND Keep Up with the necessary scheduled repairs).The knowledge to do so
(AND the advice to help in tight spots) is available here and @ peachparts.
Independents are now charging 80 to 100 USD per hour here in the Southeast.If you were to take your chassis in to a good shop and turn them loose you're looking @ $1,500.00 to 2,000.00.(Not including the Sunroof,
Transmission and whatever "Funk" the engine has reduced itself to.)

[cmmwpi]

Ok, so I just typed out a nice long response then Benzworld decided to log me out at some point so it got deleted because it wanted me to log in. Awesome. I will now right an abbreviated version of what I had.

1. I was away from home, had other people with me, and needed a quick fix. I obviously wouldnt have done this normally.
2. I've deleted their catalog.
3. I'll be searching here for a good, honest mechanic.

As it is now, I have no issues with cooling, even on hot days in traffic with the A/C blowing. I've talked to multiple mechanics and they say hoses will just have to be universal/custom but it will cool the car just fine.

My prioritized list of repairs was my first post in order of most important to least important.

I've used my sunroof the way it is (up and down) for the five years I've owned it and never had a problem. I was just wondering why it works fine that way but it won't even pretend to try and actually go back.

I'll try and find this fuse and see if it looks broken in any way.

I appreciate the link to all the maintenance procedures. However, I do not work on my modern car. I don't care how easy it is. On top of that, I don't have any tools, nor a place to work on it at the moment.

I keep my car in good condition. Every day I drive to and from work no problem. When I am home in SC and have a problem, I tell my mechanic to make it work, not "how much will it cost". I am not trying to put a band-aid on these problems and sell the car. I have owned it for several years and will probably keep it for more. Please do not assume this is my beater car that I'm driving into the ground. All I want to know is what is the proper and correct way to fix these issues. I don't want to do stupid after market crap or home done jobs. I am working to get this car to be as close to it was the day it rolled off the line. When something is wrong with my car, I want it fixed and done correctly.

While I like my car, I am no W124 fanatic. Sorry. My babies are my 1957 Chevrolet and my 1958 BMW (which are at home where I have some tools and a place to work on them). My car is my modern work horse. It gets me from point A to point B whether that be a 30 minute trip to work, hour long tirp to friends, a 5 hour long trip to Long Island (which I'm doing this afternoon), or a 1000 mile trip home. It gets me to all of these places with seemingly no complaint in its current condition (and mind you, for some of these trips, the car is fully loaded with people and luggage). Don't take that as me not caring about my car, because I most certainly do. I just don't fuss over every nut and bolt. I would just like my car to be in good shape and not have to worry about a break down. My philosophy with car parts is replace it (with a new part) so you don't have to worry about it anymore.

I simply would like for my car to be in top shape so I can have next to no worry of a break down.

[compress ignite]

You Need Two "Shop foreman level, trained in Germany by Mercedes, Mechanics"
[Who STILL have their Reisepass]
(One up there in the "Great Frozen North" and One @ Home.)
You wish for the German or Austrian national,who will not allow you to slack on the upkeep.
(Whose Nennen Sie zuerst is: Dieter,Heinz,Hans or Agnethe,Anneliese,Clarimond)
[And who have NO REGUARD for your wallet/pockbook]

Show the Selected Warten Sie Direktor these electronic communications we've exchanged
and She/He will take the appropriate actions.You need not bother yourself except to sign
a Blankoscheck.

If your chassis is maintained to the standards set by Stuttgart in the FSM and your New
Warten Sie Direktor,I would be delighted to entertain making you an offer on the MB
when you are no longer in need of it.

1.Inquire when ,last the Sunroof rails and feet were cleaned and lubed with Gleitpaste ?
Reference:http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...d.php?t=249302

[AKHARMON]

NO SOUP FOR YOU!