As Winston Churchill once said, "Never give up" - well he said more, but you get the idea. Take a vacation here in sunny LA and hit the yards.
From: Barton <barton.fiske@gmail.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:29 PM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Sylvia- 1984 300 SD - could this be the (beginning of the) end?
brian from laverne, ca
Mary (195K) Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's
Mary (195K) Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's
From: Barton <barton.fiske@gmail.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:29 PM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Sylvia- 1984 300 SD - could this be the (beginning of the) end?
Had Sylvia into the local shop for a run down on the broken wiper transmission/carriage and to track down a vacuum link - oh, and also a quick fix for the temp sensor lead which recently detached itself from it's wiring. The diagnosis (from the shop's point of view) is to replace the wiper transmission w/ a used part ($250.00), that I need to replace the vacuum pump ($375), and about 5 hours of shop labor (4 for the wiper assembly alone). Total parts, labor and tax is estimated at $1600.00 - which is *way* more than I want to put into this beast right now. (Maybe had it been trouble free for another year, then maybe...). So, I know it's oft quoted, most expensive car you'll never service, or the cheapest car you'll own if you DIY. I'm pretty sure I can do these things on my own, modulo parts and time.
The point of this post? Probably most of all to moan and whine - then to shamelessly ask if anyone has a spare wiper transmission? I knew I should have taken it out of the donor car, but as I said before, ran out of the all too rare spare time to do it before the wrecking truck came to take it to the atom smasher.
Have started looking online - one or two sources claim to have used wiper mechanisms, have not made any calls or inquiries thus far.
I can't see (much) wisdom in installing a salvage vacuum pump, but think I've read/heard of some people rebuilding them. If the remove/replace procedure isn't too hard, I'm perfectly fine with fitting a new one, or attempting a rebuild if it can be done. It's the wiper assembly that has me most worried - in terms of time to locate one, cost of a used unit (new from MB is $650 list), and whether I'll get it right the first, second, or third time.
Depending on which way this goes, I'm almost ready to put this thing up for sale - and you can be sure this will be the first place it's offered - there's too many new parts in it to scrap it - but it would have to go someone who wants the car and knows how to deal with it. Still need the odo fixed and the locks working...low priority compared to the above....
Wish we had more PAP's with available inventory in the greater Boston area - might make this current predicament seem less vexing...
So that's it for now - thanks in advance for comments/advice/heckling from afar and peanut gallery input.
-Barton
The point of this post? Probably most of all to moan and whine - then to shamelessly ask if anyone has a spare wiper transmission? I knew I should have taken it out of the donor car, but as I said before, ran out of the all too rare spare time to do it before the wrecking truck came to take it to the atom smasher.
Have started looking online - one or two sources claim to have used wiper mechanisms, have not made any calls or inquiries thus far.
I can't see (much) wisdom in installing a salvage vacuum pump, but think I've read/heard of some people rebuilding them. If the remove/replace procedure isn't too hard, I'm perfectly fine with fitting a new one, or attempting a rebuild if it can be done. It's the wiper assembly that has me most worried - in terms of time to locate one, cost of a used unit (new from MB is $650 list), and whether I'll get it right the first, second, or third time.
Depending on which way this goes, I'm almost ready to put this thing up for sale - and you can be sure this will be the first place it's offered - there's too many new parts in it to scrap it - but it would have to go someone who wants the car and knows how to deal with it. Still need the odo fixed and the locks working...low priority compared to the above....
Wish we had more PAP's with available inventory in the greater Boston area - might make this current predicament seem less vexing...
So that's it for now - thanks in advance for comments/advice/heckling from afar and peanut gallery input.
-Barton
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