1990 230CE - issues aplenty

[Snowdmc]

Hi everyone, have just bought a 230CE with no service history and whilst waiting for my haynes manual to arrive, thought i'd post some questions to people who actually know what they're talking about

1. mileage is 135,000, i take it this is chain driven, therefore no belt to replace? does it need any other maintenance?

2. I can see cracks in the serpentine belt between the teeth - telling this needs doing too, as a relatively competent mechanic, can i do this myself? any tools needed? how does it come off? - i suspect loosening the altenator? (can you see i've never worked with serpentine belts before)

3. Heater is cold, even when engine is warm, it has had a replacement RAD, could this just be an airblock in the heater matrix? - what else do i need to check.

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks everyone

David

 

[television]

Hi everyone, have just bought a 230CE with no service history and whilst waiting for my haynes manual to arrive, thought i'd post some questions to people who actually know what they're talking about

1. mileage is 135,000, i take it this is chain driven, therefore no belt to replace? does it need any other maintenance?

2. I can see cracks in the serpentine belt between the teeth - telling this needs doing too, as a relatively competent mechanic, can i do this myself? any tools needed? how does it come off? - i suspect loosening the altenator? (can you see i've never worked with serpentine belts before)

3. Heater is cold, even when engine is warm, it has had a replacement RAD, could this just be an airblock in the heater matrix? - what else do i need to check.

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks everyone

David

Hi david and welcome to the forum, the adjustment for the belt is on the tensioner.

Re the cold heater, it will be the duo valve stuck, maybe you can free it off.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.413&CT=F&cat=15T&SID=83&SGR=180&SGN=04

item 53 in the above pics.

Malcolm

 

[Snowdmc]

Thanks

Thanks for the welcome, and the advice.

I saw the dual valve you described the other day because the expansion tank is missing its sensor wires and it looks like their connected to a pipe coming from the dual valve (however this pipe stops near to the expansion tank and doesn't go anywhere

also, what would you suggest about freeing it? a light tap with a hammer perhaps, whilst the engine's running?

Rgds

Dave

 

[television]

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=18785


No hammer,check this out.

malcolm

 

[Snowdmc]

Thanks for the help, will reply once done and let you know how it goes

you talked earlier about the serpentine belt, is it relatively easy to do? once you've loosened the tensioner? i guess it will come off, and its just remembering which way on it goes right?

rgds

dave

 

[television]

Thanks for the help, will reply once done and let you know how it goes

you talked earlier about the serpentine belt, is it relatively easy to do? once you've loosened the tensioner? i guess it will come off, and its just remembering which way on it goes right?

rgds

dave

I have the details some where, will have a look for you.

Malcolm

 

[rpe2]

Hi david and welcome to the forum, the adjustment for the belt is on the tensioner.

Re the cold heater, it will be the duo valve stuck, maybe you can free it off.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.413&CT=F&cat=15T&SID=83&SGR=180&SGN=04

item 53 in the above pics.

Malcolm

With the W124's the centre vent only blows cold air, so discount this before you go looking for a heater problem that might not be there. Footwell, windscreen, left and right hand side vents should be hot when the heater is on.

Richard

 

[Bolide]

Draw a diagram of the belt path before removal. In case of any doubt you'll find one printed in the Owner's Manual

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Snowdmc]

thanks for the advice guys, especially witht the middle vent thing, but suspect its still not blowing as hot as it should, however i did notice a difference between the middle and footwell - think i'll run it first with the coolant cap off and pitch up the front corner, so i can release any bubbles which may be in the heater matrix - just waiting for some new HT leads to arrive........

but will keep you all posted

regards

david

 

[Snowdmc]

just thought i'd give you an update of how things are going -

1 - it is chain driven, a simple check of removing the filler cap shows the chain in all its glory

2 - have changed the leads / dizzy / arm and she is running much better, but still a little lumpy at low revs ( could this be the propshaft needing oiling?)

3, serpentine belt has been done, and was easier than expected, remove fan blades and radiator cowling, loosen tensioner bolt and turn adjuster, belt comes off, put new one on and tighten up, and hey presto - had to go slightly past the ideal tension mark and described in the manual, i put this down too the tensioner being old and the spring had stretched a bit - anyone else had to do this?

4. serviced the duo valve as per the instructions on this forum as was very easy to follow, and it was full of gunk and scum - cleaned it all out and its working slightly better, but drivers side is still cold on the two pipes out of the unit, passenger side is roasting hot - could this be a bust duovalve on one side - is it possible to turn it round, as the drivers side would be most useful - or should i stop being a cheapskate and get a new one

5. MOT is due at the end of the month, are there any known failure points with W124's ?

6. how many clicks should the footbrake have? think this may be an mot issue as mine has about 7 before the brakes bite

hope all is well

look forward to some suggestions

Snowdmc