Tool Tuesday: Diagnostic Blink Tester Impulszahler 124 589 19 21 00

Today's tool tuesday is a diagnostic blink box for use on W201, W126, W124, early R129, late R107, etc. Unit plugs into the diagnostic connectors and will read/erase codes found in the system. Rather than having to count blinks, it will display the number on the screen. Essential tool in owning and maintaining 80s Mercedes! Very cool to see.

Unit is NOT for sale.

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W140: S600 Coupe Maintenance Blitzkrieg V.2

So, a continuation of the maintenance blitzkrieg...

A slight squeak from the rear end and a bit of a cocked steering wheel going down the road. Diagnosed to the rear wheel carrier "metal clad bushings". I don't know why these bushings are as bad as they are, the rest of the suspension is absolutely METICULOUS. Not a spec of rust or cracked rubber on the rear suspension.

 

I just don't understand how these got as bad as they were - either way, 30 mins of work per side and they were out and pressed back in with the correct bushing tool. I do these often and I'm planning on getting some videos out on youtube - so I'll see if I can show the process down the road. 

Next on the list was a center support and bearing kit. It was definitely time.

Whole thing separated - couple hours using the Allen method over the 5-6 cumulative hours from MB. Saving customer's money works all around.

Seeing as the thermostat was done, I changed the oil and cleaned up the engine bay a little while I was waiting for the oil to drain down. I couldn't stand the dust.

Buttoned up and waiting to get picked up

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W140: S600 Maintenance Blitzkrieg

Figured I'd post a picture up of a $70 thermostat found on later M120's. The stat is built into an aluminum housing. The car has 76k miles and at the moment see's consistent road usage. Apparently, in talks with the owner, a Mercedes DEALER decided it was a good idea to use green coolant for a coolant flush in this car some 3 years ago.... We know from experience that's a bad idea - luckily it didn't cause to much havoc in the actual engine. The thermostat housing started pitting badly around the seal and just about welded itself to the water pump.

The actual thermostat was stuck wide open so the car could never get up to operating temp. No operating temp = running rich = fuel fouled oil = bad time.

Keep your cars at operating temp! 

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