Vehicle: 1996 MB E320, 1989 BMW 735il, 1995 BMW 320i
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28
Overheating and Engine Problem!!!
Hello
I have a 1996 E320, which until recently was a fantastic car. Recently my car has been overheating in stop and go traffic, reaching upwards of 110 C. Two days ago, it touched 120, causing me to pull off the highway for it to cool down. Once I got home I contacted a mechanic who felt it was the fan clutch. I know for a fact that my fan is always on, but only in high speeds the temp is normal.
Today when I was starting the car in the morning, I heard a loud crash, I popped the hood and smoke rose up. For the next few minutes the car wouldnt start. I left it for half an hour, and now it has. I'm too afraid to keep the car on, and left it on the driveway, until I can figure out what is going on. Any suggestions to what I should do? If there is any significant damage to the engine? And what I may have blown??
could be a number of reasons. are your auxillary fans (the 2 ones in front of the radiator facing the grill, not the one in front of the engine) coming on when they should? (i think at around 100-105) did you check the coolant? coolant sensor? thermostat? water pump? maybe need to do radiator cleaning/coolant flush?
if the water pump has never been changed i would guess that could be the problem? if you plan on keeping that car for a while, i would renew the cooling system by changing water pump/thermostat/all 3 hoses/clean radiator + fill with new mb coolant and since you are doing all this might as well put a new serpentine belt. but if money is not growing on trees right now i would start by checking the coolant temp range with those $3 kits, even wal-mart sells them. have you ever flushed the radiator in the last 5 years? if not then you should. then i would check if your auxillary fans are coming on or not. since it's overheating now that is getting really hot outside and the ac is on all the time in stop and go traffic, i would mainly suspect the auxillary fans.
Vehicle: 1996 MB E320, 1989 BMW 735il, 1995 BMW 320i
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28
thanks for the reply. Well I am certain the auxillary fans are operating, I had new ones installed last summer when my old ones seized up. I usually feel them coming on while I'm driving at around that temp range (100-105). As for the radiator, I havent had it flushed but I had a leak in one of my hoses four months back, where I replaced the hose and refilled coolant. But to play it safe I will do what you think and grab the kits from wal-mart to check the coolant temp.
As for the water pump, since I bought the car 3 years back, I have not changed it, or the thermostat. Also I read in another thread, that a hissing sound out of the vents means its generally low on refrigerant. Lately I too have been getting that hissing sound, maybe I should give that a try too? I doubt though it would be related to overheating, only warmer ac temp.
Vehicle: 2001 E320 - Brilliant Silver/Ash: MBCA member
Location: The Mountain State
Posts: 6,363
I think the 1st thing I would do is check/change the thermostat. I agree with all of Tirona's suggestions too if the thermostat does not help, especially the fresh coolant.
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Ich liebe meinen Mercedes-Benz!
did you use mb coolant or zerex g-05 (gold) when you refilled with coolant? those are the only ones approved for our cars. your radiator could be plugged with gunk. i;m not sure if you need to get the radiator out or not to properly clean it, i think it;s cleaned with compressed air but i;m not sure exactly how it's done.
also thermostat for your car is like $10-15 from autohausaz.com, and very easy/fast to change.
Vehicle: 1996 MB E320, 1989 BMW 735il, 1995 BMW 320i
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28
Very well, I will take a look at the thermostat, replace it as soon as I can. As for the coolant, I regretfully filled it with another brand. I forgot the name now, it was the green one my bro uses for his bmw. It was already in my car when I purchased it. The MB one was a pink colour, no? Next step I guess I should clean the raditor and refill coolant (Proper Coolant!!). I dont know the first thing about cleaning the radiator so I guess I'll show it to a mechanic. Would anybody here be from Toronto, Canada, that would know a good reliable garage for MB, besides the 'stealership'?
the green one is not the right one you want the gold one, buy it from the mb dealer. also zerex g-05(gold) is sold at any autostore and says it on the container that is mb approved, but that;s the only one other than the one that mb sells. i would first start with a coolant flush/refill. dealer charges like $120, but any other place is at least half that price.
musikmann is right, mb recommends changing old coolant every 3 years, not 5 years like i said before.
Vehicle: 2001 E320 - Brilliant Silver/Ash: MBCA member
Location: The Mountain State
Posts: 6,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by AMG POWER
....Would anybody here be from Toronto, Canada, that would know a good reliable garage for MB, besides the 'stealership'?
In a town of that size, there is bound to be at least 1 good Indy shop. If no one answers you from Toronto, I would look for 1 that has former MB dealer technicians either running it, or working there.
For some things, the dealers are the place to go, but for something as "simple" as flushing your radiator, any radiator specialty shop should be able to handle that.
What part of the GTA are you from?
Anyways if you need a good independent mechanic try Charlie McNally
He is at 49 Toro Rd. in Toronto.Phone number 416 398-6799.
you want the gold one, buy it from the mb dealer. also zerex g-05(gold) is sold at any autostore and says it on the container that is mb approved, but that;s the only one other than the one that mb sells. i would first start with a coolant flush/refill. dealer charges like $120, but any other place is at least half that price. 
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