W124 estate niggles; Your wisdom needed to prevent hair loss

[billythetipdog]

What a helpful forum this is! I've just puchased my second E300D estate (94 24v) and need a couple of bits of advice from good users of this forums.

Rear washer/wiper works only when it is inclined-fuse is fine-any suggestions where loose conection likely to be found?
Headlamp washers pump water fine but headlamp wipers refuse to budge!
Orthopaedic seats not inflating, again apart from checking the tubes in the back of the seat, any pointers?
Clonking noise from rear when cornering, any particular bushes prone to wear?

many thanks for reading, your wisdom gratefully received!

Bill

[Bolide]

Rear wash-wipe: broken wire where cables pass through the rubber tube into the tailgate or just inboard of that. Replace the one-way valve (in the tailgate) while you're at it as they always fail. Bear in mind that other wires may have fractured too...

Headlamp wipers: knackered motors, try breakers yard

Orthopaedic seats: don't know, pipe off? Does the pump work?

Rear clonks: you don't give a mileage so difficult to say. It could just be a badly-mounted exhaust or a non-Mercedes exhaust clonking. If it has a non-Mercedes towbar check the clearance on that

You'll need to get it on a ramp and use a big pry bar to detect loose suspension arms / worn bushes. Also with it up in the air, hold it on the footbrake, go between Drive, Neutral and Reverse and see how much wheel movement there is. This will tell you a lot about the general state of things. The camber control arm is a favourite and they're only about £15 each


Nick Froome
http://www.w124.co.uk

[TimN]

Check that you are actually getting power to the wiper motors. There are two sources of power. One is constant, the other last only as long as the button is pressed. Also check that you have a good earth. If the motors are anything like the ones fitted to the earlier 123 series you can actually take them apart, clean them up and regrease them. Some guy regularly sells them on ebay for £70 each if you really want them.

[OlafMaxwell]

Orthopaedic seats....check the pump is actually working.....if not then have a look at the wires underneath the seat, its easy enough to snag them and break them. If they are both working then it is a case of looking at the pipes from the pumps. If both seats are off then look at wiring but I dont know if you have a separate pump to each seat. If you do then look to the power supply or fuses. Just curious though, do headlight wipers work with electric motors or compressed air?? Could it be same source?? Any problems with central locking?

[Keith]

Hi
had the same clonking for awhile on exact same model at around 120k miles. in the end failed its MOT due to worn nearside rear anti roll bar link. Not a big job to replace and part only cost about £15 for a new link, one hours labour. After this clonking ceased.

hope this helps :wink:

Keith

[billythetipdog]

Thanks for the advice, seat problem has been solved! pipe on the underside of the seat had indeed snagged and needed refixing! :D

I'm onto the other problems at the weekend in the light, mileage 101k by the way, the car does have a non-merc towbar so I'll check out the tolerances with the exhaust clearance.
No problems with the central locking though and have managed to get the washers to pump, these seem to be be driven by a seperate motor than the windscreen so assuming wipers also electric

Will post follow up so thanks to you all again!

[andy_k]

there is also a known issue with one of the upper links on estate suspension systems. Merc have released an upgraded part which is vastly superior - ask your dealer he should be able to tell you - the links are about £15 each if I remember correctly.

Andy