Does anybody out there know of a good Mercedes forum I can join? I'm bringing my 79 SLC home soon, and have some bugs to work out of it. Since my retirement, it's not going in the shop if I can help it. Last time I searched for forums I ended up with virus on the computer, so thought I'd ask the members this time.

 

Dave I used to have a 300TD and spent a lot of time on the diesel_mercedes group on yahoogroups. I realize an SLC is gasoline but they are some pretty swift folks there that liked all Mercedes, and a guy really into VWs, and there was always someone who knew something about whatever anyone asked. They might be able to point you in the right direction if they can't help you. Nice group of people.

 

Sorry, I have no idea, though I would recommend and internet search - the only way you can get a virus from something like that is if you
1. Use WinDOS, and
2. click on a window that says something like "Click Here to Install a Virus."

So, either don't click that box, or get a Mac.

Back when I had my 190b, there was no internet, and I did just fine using the factory paper manual (which came free with my MBOA membership) and buying those tough to find parts (surprisingly cheaply) at the MB dealer.

- Eric

 

Dave!

I know a guy....
Talk to Rick at Sovereign Motors in Vancouver. He's the shop manager and a member of the german car club I believe. He wrenches on his Porsche on the side but connected to the MB crew too.

Solo out.

 

Benzworld.org is pretty good.

 

Thanks to you all. I'll look forward to doing some MB mingling.

 

They are amazing cars. Notice I didn't say easy to live with. Mine wasn't, anyway.

 

My '61 190b was amazingly easy to live with.

Exceptionally simple and versatile, started all the time, never quit (except for that vapor-lock incident on the 59th Street Bridge ), and couldn't be killed.

I think the guys who designed the Panzers were still working for M-B when they designed that one.

- Eric

 

My 79 450 runs really nice EXCEPT about once every month or two. About ten minutes after starting out it will all of a sudden run rougher and rougher and then finally stalls. Winter or summer. If you let it sit for five minutes, and then start it up, it runs perfectly and doesn't happen again for a month or two. Told the wife I'd bring the car home and try to sell it, but I don't want someone getting it and stalling in a tunnel or bridge or something, so I want to fix it. It's a 4500 higher compression European model with fuel injection of some type. Bit of a pickle, I'd say !!

 

Crud in gas tank coming up against fuel pickup, I'd say.

- Eric

 

Even tried leaving it for just three minutes. Doesn't work. Has to sit for five minutes, and then she's good. Doesn't matter whether your doing 40 mph or sitting at an idle. Just once every month or two.

 

Yes, but have you tried disconnecting the fuel line, blowing backward through it, and then reconnecting it?

- Eric

 

I may have to give that some thought. Trouble is, I'd have to be driving somewhere that I could pull off to the side of the road, get my tools, open the hood and undo the fuel line and blow into it, all within 5 minutes. Otherwise, it's going to start up fine again anyway.
At this point the car's been in storage for over three years, and I've been firing it up and driving it a mile or so every third weekend when I'm on the island. Trouble has only happened twice since it's been there, and I haven't had time to play with it. Once I get it home, though, it's going to be insured, and I'll be taking a much more serious interest in it.
I was sort of hoping a Mercedes fanatic might be able to say "Aha, there's a common fault with these cars, and it's this..."
Sometimes these intermittent problems have to get worse before solving them gets easier.
I'll consider your advise. Maybe if I carry tools up front. At this point I don't even know where the fuel line joins the engine. The carb is some big weird looking thing I'm unfamiliar with. I've always just taken this to the MB mechanic and stuck to wrenching on my sixties rockets. Not looking forward to learning new tricks.

 

I'd put a T fitting in the fuel line with a capped length of hose that you can pull out and blow into.

Keep a pair of Vise-Grips and a screwdriver up front, pull over, clamp pump-side of hose with Vise-Grips, unscrew hose clamp on the end of the extra length, pull out plug (bolt), blow until clear, replace plug and clamp, unclamp line to pump, start engine.

If that does it, then drop the tank and pull the sender (actually, if I recall, most M-Bs have access to the sender through the trunk or back seat floor).

Or just pull out the sender now, and look at the end - if the sock is disintegrated, a clog is a good bet.

- Eric