Overheating problem

[new2mercs]

I have recently acquired a W124 estate, while the car generally drives very well and is excellent on the motorway, it overheats at slow speeds or while driving in traffic. Can anyone suggest what the problem maybe and any good merc specialist in the Berkshire/Wiltshire area?

 

[television]

Its normally the visco coupling that goes on the fan.

We do the carrot test, let the car warm up to 80c and feed a carrot into the blades, if it stops the the coupling has gone

11 in the link

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...+++717.413&CT=M&cat=504&SID=20&SGR=030&SGN=02

 

[Bolide]

I'd replace the viscous coupling but, before you do, try replacing the radiator cap. It may cure or help the problem

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Legoman]

dont forget to check the thermostat , there normally the most common to fail , mine failed in the open position so wouldnt warm up unless stationary , if yours has jammed semi open it would be fine until stuck in traffic. for the price its worth replacing anyway.

 

[new2mercs]

Thanks Malcolm and Nick, the radiator was changed recently - so I presume the cap is new. Any suggestions for a reliable Merc specialist who maybe able to check the couplings for me. Any idea what kind of cost I'm looking at? Cheers

 

[new2mercs]

dont forget to check the thermostat , there normally the most common to fail , mine failed in the open position so wouldnt warm up unless stationary , if yours has jammed semi open it would be fine until stuck in traffic. for the price its worth replacing anyway.

Thanks Legoman, will check thermostat.....an suggestions for an Indie in the area?

 

[Kully E220 Coupe]

Last tim ei checked GSF the coupling was around £80

 

[Bolide]

Thanks Malcolm and Nick, the radiator was changed recently - so I presume the cap is new

I wouldn't presume - just change it

Hill Farm Garage near Winchester know the cars but they may be too far from you

I'd say it was a bad rad cap, a sludged-up rad, a bad thermostat, a bad viscous coupling or a combination of all four

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[kth286]

when you say overheating - how - what is it doing exactly ??????????

 

[87_260E_in_USA]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>overheating

Ah, overheating at idle or while in traffic....I know how you feel and have experienced these issues with my Mercedes, and have realized that my main catalytic converter is clogging up, which has led to decreased take-off power and more gasoline consumption, and, of course, overheating at a short period of idle and in traffic. Believe it, it happens to many automobiles, especially with high mileage. Here in the states most people use low octane gasoline (87 & 89 octane) which produces more carbon deposits in the engine and exhaust system. I use 93 octane which is the highest I can get, and I remove the "reference resistor" for long trips (located under the hood, near the brake master cylinder, a 2 prong device that looks like a fuse holder, wrapped in black plasitc tape). By removing this, it increases the engine timing a few degrees, and I get increased power and mileage.

My pre-cats are fine, but since the catalytic converter is not required any further here in the states, I will be removing all of mine, including the pre-cats.

I have replaced my radiator, thermostat (several, thinking they were sticking or jamming), hoses, cleaned the a/c condenser, and even wired a toggle switch to the a/c fan so it will help cool the engine. This issue is near the end with me, since I will be removing my cats. After all, the cats have more than 250,000 miles on them, and went through one blown head gasket as well. Although spark plugs can make the engine run warmer than normal, I run AutoLite 104 personally, and am very satisfied with them.

Hope this helps you see a new light on your exhaust system and overheating issues. A great test would be to loosen the exhaust flange bolts enough to seperate the exhaust pipe from the headers/manifolds and let it run at idle, and time it, before and after, and when you idle past your first time recorded, you will receive good results.

Cheers,
Archer

 

[new2mercs]

when you say overheating - how - what is it doing exactly ??????????

The temperature just keeps rising while in a stop start situation....like traffic in London. On the motorway the temperature will normally be between the 80 and 100 mark, however this quickly crosses 100 in traffic and keeps rising. I have had it once almost touch 120 and had to pull over and stop for it to cool down!

 

[television]

It will be the viscus coupling, thats what I think

 

[Legoman]

aye id tend to agree with malcolm when you put the symptoms like that.