Backwoods Shadetree Mechanics SUCK!!! - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

Landscape · 11-13-2009, 07:06 PM

I am preparing my 190 2.3 for her first winter as my ride. I bought her in June 2009 and I knew the heat never worked, I was not concerned since I am in Florida and heat is needed only a few weeks a year.

As I begin my testing I discover that I have a vacuum leak. OK, I can deal with that, I think, I'll know for certain in the next couple of days.

ANYWAYS, I remove the vacuum line from the heater valve and apply vacuum to it (not knowing that the default position is open and vacuum actually closes the valve) as I was not getting any heat still I decided to remove the valve and make sure it was working properly.

The heater valve:

was in fact working just fine (especially once I realized that vacuum makes it close

) So next in line was to try and figure out why there was no hot water coming through the heater core. I had my daughter (and the future owner of this fine MB) start the car while I had the downhill side of the heater line disconnected to see what would happen. You can guess my surprise when I discovered that the heated water came through just fine. I shut down the motor and disconnected the uphill side and attached my air gun to blow out any debris that may be causing the flow to be impeded, once cleared I reconnected everything and ran the car up to temp again in the holes of getting heat, alas I was S.O.L.

I then decided I would trace the entire heater line to find where the blockage was, I removed the line after the recirculation pump and was completely surprised at what I found sticking out of the hose

I was so surprised (and wanted to be certain that I wasn't just learning of a new bit of MB engineering) I stopped and went into my office to check my service manual CD to be certain I was actually seeing something out of the ordinary. Once I was satisfied I decided to grab a pair of channel locks and remove it from the hose, this is what I found:

and

I could not believe that someone was too lazy to do the digging to find the actual vacuum leak that they decided the proper course of action was to perform the "lug bolt stopper" method! I don't blame the PO as he was not mechanically inclined enough to do this, I blame the shop that he used almost religiously and I will NEVER take a car to them ever!!!

So tomorrow I begin the trek to find the vacuum failure, wish me well and I'll see you on the other side!

bsmuwk · 11-13-2009, 07:39 PM

Turnpike · 11-14-2009, 02:51 AM

HEY

that looks like the missing lug nut off my car

**eric242340** · 11-14-2009, 03:04 AM

You may well find that the heater matrix leaks like a sieve and the PO did not want to pay for a new one, so the mechanics plugged the system to stop the matrix leaking all over the carpets in the car.

So check this out before you decide to spend money and time and then find you have to remove the whole dash to get at the heater matrix.

Landscape · 11-14-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric242340

You may well find that the heater matrix leaks like a sieve and the PO did not want to pay for a new one, so the mechanics plugged the system to stop the matrix leaking all over the carpets in the car.

So check this out before you decide to spend money and time and then find you have to remove the whole dash to get at the heater matrix.

It doesn't leak, in fact it has always been full of coolant / water. The bolt merely kept it from being able to move so the heater core only got warm through radiational heat.

I do know I have a vacuum issue, just how severe is the question!

**Jippi** · 11-14-2009, 06:47 AM

mercedes lug too...hahah

**eric242340** · 11-14-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jippi

mercedes lug too...hahah

It most probably came from the same car

check your wheels

Sincity · 11-14-2009, 09:21 AM

Or, the original owner was having heat coming from the side vents when AC was being used, and thus plugged the line going to the heater core.

drewprof · 11-14-2009, 09:34 AM

Stuff I would have done!!!!!
temporarily though

Landscape · 11-14-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sincity

Or, the original owner was having heat coming from the side vents when AC was being used, and thus plugged the line going to the heater core.

This is absolutely correct, until I find the cause of the vacuum leak< I also now have heat from the side vents, as well as the defrost vents while I am running the AC.