190 - learnin' curve!

[Neophyte]

I'm new to the Merc. fold having just got me a 190 '92 2.6 auto. goes lovely! Got it for £2k with 95k and full MB history and a few imperfections...
Have bought myself a Haynes guide and am gonna learn how to do stuff but I'd really appreciate some advice form y'all:
1, so long as the internal blower is on (which MB say it should be) there's an annoying, intermitant, ****** squeak - just a case of pulling out the central vent and oiling anything that looks 'venty'?
2, the headlights point up too high with the dial thing next to the headlight switch in the standard position and so have to set in 'towing a trailer mode'. Adjustable elsewhere?
3, I've never had an auto before and am quite alarmed by the clunking when selecting gears (both manually and as it changes up or down in 'D') is this normal?
4, Wind noise seems a hell of a lot (my last car was a Citroen ZX (great, if humble, cars by the way) and I'm sure it was quieter at speed... maybe because the engine is so quiet? IF I were to be doing 130mph it sounded like a hurricane.
5, the 'trip milometer' is knackered - why the hell is dash light and that controlled from same knob?!
6, speedo often flickers about (like an old diesel's one) this only started after i drove flat out for a while. Can they be fiddled with, or need to be replaced?
7, Perhaps most importantly.. a good (and hopefully cheap) merc specialist around London? (I dont mind a bit of a drive out if I have to).

Thanking you life savers inadvance!

The zeal of the convert!

 

[mike65]

I'm new to the Merc. fold having just got me a 190 '92 2.6 auto. goes lovely! Got it for £2k with 95k and full MB history and a few imperfections...
Have bought myself a Haynes guide and am gonna learn how to do stuff but I'd really appreciate some advice form y'all:
1, so long as the internal blower is on (which MB say it should be) there's an annoying, intermitant, ****** squeak - just a case of pulling out the central vent and oiling anything that looks 'venty'?

Nope you pull the mesh under the windscreen and pull the blower motor cover from under the bonnet, disconnect the vacume hose at heater valve and take it from there.

2, the headlights point up too high with the dial thing next to the headlight switch in the standard position and so have to set in 'towing a trailer mode'. Adjustable elsewhere?

The lights can be tweaked from behind the units but you should get that done by professionals as Merc lights need careful setting up.

5, the 'trip milometer' is knackered - why the hell is dash light and that controlled from same knob?!

They ALL do that the connector plastic on the cable wears and it pops out.

6, speedo often flickers about (like an old diesel's one) this only started after i drove flat out for a while. Can they be fiddled with, or need to be replaced?

Does it flicker at low speed? Thats a 190e trait.


Mike.

 

[Neophyte]

re. Mike65's response to learnin' curve.

Cheers Mike, the vent thing sounds like a bit of hassle..

Damn, I'll have to pay to get the lights done then..

speedo seems to flicker at any speed. Still, aint too bad and I may just replace cable it if it's cheap - will have a look at where it connects at both ends first...

i think i read somewhere that a wandering rear end is quite common. I think mine (the car's!) does a little but only at 90+ something in the rear suspension worn?

Thanks again,

Neophyte.

 

[mike65]

If your wandering at 90 - slow down!

The rear sub-frame bushes could well be worn, on mine I had a bust spring on one side but it took me while to realise the fact as it cracked right at the top.

Mike.

 

[Neophyte]

re. learnin' curve

True! but after a Citroen diesel with only 68bhp i'm getting a bit carried away!

I'm gonna have to put it in for a 36k service and bite the financial bullet whilst i try and learn me some 'mechanicing'! As long as i get a decent specialist i shouldnt get too ripped-off! no beer this month!

another thing.. ABS - my light has come on and stayed on until i turn the engine off and then re-fire-her up. I think both times it was at night so lights on and as i read somewhere that the abs light comes on if the voltage drops below 10 i'm wondering if my batt. may be a bit knackered. anyway.. is it OK to drive with the ABS light on? I mean some earlier cars dont have ABS... waddya reckon?

Cheers

 

[stwat]

If the ABS light stays on, that means there is a fault in the ABS system. Probably a dodgey sensor.

When the light is on, the ABS system will not work but your brakeing system will still function as a non ABS system. Ie, it will work fine but the wheels will lock up if you stamp on the brakes.

Stu

 

[Neophyte]

ABS 'n' stuff

Cheers!

That's what i wanted to hear! those sensors are about £60 aint they? plus getting 'em fitted.. it could be some time.. who needs ABS anyway?

 

[stwat]

Before buying any sensors you might want to try cleaning the ones you already have. Quite often the connections just need a good clean with some brake cleaner..

Stu

 

[Neophyte]

ABS sensors

It's been ages but someone once said that it's worth having a go at cleaning the ABS sensors... er.. where are they? Thanks!

 

[classicsl]

the ABS on my 88 300SL was playing up with lots of feedback on the break pedal when braking as if the ABS was kicking in when wasnt needed, then the light came on periodically. It turned out that the sensors, like magnets had become coated with all the filings from the breaks and other crap, a good clean sorted them out, been fine since, a zero cost fix on a merc!!??