18
votes
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Second hand car - Engine/Tyres/Etc
The below are very easy checks you can do while buying a used car.(from anywhere for that matter of fact)
Engine
This is the most complicated/expensive part to maintain/replace.
Head Gasket check: ...
- 8,926
10
votes
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What is this box next to my car's battery?
That is your diagnostic connector. You will need a Mercedes-specific tool to read trouble codes stored by the computer.
- 12.1k
10
votes
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Mercedes C180 (W204) dash symbol
The symbol is for "Speed limit assist" and is based of a forward facing camera that allows detection of the speed limit and then possibly displays this on the multifunctional display.
Information can ...
- 216
8
votes
What good is it for an engine to have lower CCs and higher BHP?
There are advantages, but also disadvantages to using a smaller turbocharged engine with a higher power output.
The pro's of smaller, turbocharged engines:
When not on boost (below e.g. 3000RPM) the ...
- 8,815
7
votes
Second hand car - Engine/Tyres/Etc
Tyre depth gauges look something like this (amazon link) - you can buy them in any automotive store. You press the green bit against the tyre and push the middle bit into the tread groove. The slidy ...
- 28.6k
7
votes
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Is it fine to use higher octane gasoline than what is recommended on the fuel cap sticker
It means "at least". You will not cause any damage by using the higher octane fuel. The reason for the RON 95 rating in the first place, this is the lowest octane rating you can run before you might ...
- 140k
6
votes
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What is the best way to remove a stripped head bolt that is deep in the engine?
If the bolt is so obscured that vise grips and welding are not feasible, and so stripped that impact doesn't make sense (I am guessing it is too stripped), I usually do the following. If it's very ...
- 328
6
votes
1983 Mercedes Diesel - Loses Power Over Time
Drop the fuel tank and inspect the contents, looking for jellyfish, fluff, water, dirt, and the bones of lizards...
Paulster2's initial comment was spot on. Although I doubt it is a single "...
- 12.2k
5
votes
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My car's steering wheel rotates to right when I lift my hands off
There are several things that can cause this - the simplest being the road itself! If you are on a cambered road, the car will want to pull towards the edge of the road...
Presuming it's a stronger ...
- 28.6k
5
votes
What good is it for an engine to have lower CCs and higher BHP?
I would like to add two valid points to this discussion as well:
1) When producing engines like this which produce more power with lower CC's, they won't be as smooth as their bigger naturally ...
- 480
5
votes
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How to fix 2007 Mercedes SLK daytime running lights?
After hours of tracing cables, removing panels and taking apart more of the car than I'd like to admit, I figured the issue out. Apparently there's a cable for control current (or something like that)....
- 251
4
votes
2008 MB C300 Will not start
I just repaired the identical car, the ignition does not come on and the wheels are locked and it sets steering column mechanical fault codes.
This means the solenoid that locks the column to stop ...
- 41
4
votes
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Does overheating that goes away under high RPMs indicate a sticky thermostat?
It very well could be the thermostat. However, did you check the obvious things, like coolant levels and make sure you don't have any air pockets? I had an overheating issue that would manifest after ...
- 1,154
4
votes
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Trouble starting car, cold weather. MB A140 W168
A car battery's power will drop with temperature. It would be my first port of call.
Since the car ran fine when you had it jumpstarted with the help of your friend, I would have the battery tested ...
- 39k
4
votes
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Can I use "Designed for BMW" Michelin tyres with a non BMW?
Can you use them? Yes.
Should you use them? Depends on what you are looking for. Most of the times (not always) these special tires are just a modified version of a regular tire.
What makes them ...
- 3,363
4
votes
Automatic car won't start, steering wheel won't turn, key just makes car click etc - but radio works?
There's a lot of good answers and discussion about electrical issues and other complicated things, but to me it sounds like the steering lock is under tension and not allowing the key to turn all the ...
- 13.2k
4
votes
Esp not available message
Ok, so the ESP is the "Electronic Stability Program".
There's a bit of explanation and backstory here from Mercedes. (Which I found quite interesting.)
There are a couple things you can check before ...
- 3,284
4
votes
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Found a set of car keys, now what?
There are a few ethical options available to you.
Leave a note/poster nearby stating that you have found a lost key
Post on social media that you have found a lost key so word gets around
Hand in the ...
- 327
4
votes
Found a set of car keys, now what?
I cannot post a comment so in addidion to Terry:
go to facebook, join a local community (from where you found the key) - something like: buy and sell Philadelphia (no idea if it exists) - post that ...
- 241
4
votes
Can I switch my electronic ignition to one which uses a key?
can I switch that electronic ignition starting with an old-school key?
No. At least, not anywhere near 'easily'.
That ignition switch, from what I can see, has about 13 low-current wires.
At least ...
- 251
3
votes
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Parking brake alarm will not stop
Check to ensure you have enough fluid in the brake master cylinder. A lot of vehicles have the sensor which detects the level of the fluid in on the same circuit as the parking brake. If you find this ...
- 140k
3
votes
What good is it for an engine to have lower CCs and higher BHP?
In addition to size, weight and fuel economy, a small, highly tuned engine is going to be much more ecologically friendly. This is because a large engine producing 350 bhp can do it without being ...
- 18.5k
3
votes
What good is it for an engine to have lower CCs and higher BHP?
There are several advantages to a lower displacement engine over a larger one.
Firstly is weight, an engine of 2,000cc will weigh significantly less than a 3,000cc engine because it will have a ...
3
votes
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Volume of fuel reserve in MB E200 W211 2004
Depending on the class/model, there should be somewhere between 1.5-2.1 USG (~6-8 litres) left in the tank when the light comes on. Here is some interesting reading on this very subject. It seems MB ...
- 140k
3
votes
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Is this repair estimate for misfiring and fuel trim on a '98 Mercedes reasonable?
I'm a little concerned by the proposed fixes. While I don't know the specifics of your Merc, I find it odd that the timing chain would be responsible for fuel trim codes. The ECU swap seems to be a ...
- 39k
3
votes
Timing chain of a mercedes benz
I've checked a number of sources and they all state that the engines in these are Interference Engines so there is a good chance of contact between the valves and the piston crowns. A compression ...
- 23.3k
3
votes
What is the best way to determine if my hydraulic motor mounts are bad?
This would not be a motor mount issue. What you are describing seems to be an issue with the transmission. IIRC, the C230 is a rear wheel drive vehicle. Only a front wheel drive vehicle would produce ...
- 140k
3
votes
1983 Mercedes Diesel - Loses Power Over Time
This sounds to me like the engine/ECU might have a "limp mode" that the ECU uses to keep the engine running, but with reduced power output, when it detects a lack of control over the engine's ...
- 14.3k
3
votes
Does overheating that goes away under high RPMs indicate a sticky thermostat?
It sounds like the issue is with heat rejection.
The tell-tale sign is that the coolant temps rise into the red when the car is at idle (low RPM, little air flow across the radiator), but when the ...
- 39k
3
votes
Accepted
I own a 1989 Mercedes 560sec that has rpm surges for no real reason
There may be a vacuum pipe that goes from the engine inlet manifold to the transmission. I have seen symptoms a little like this caused by damage to this pipe on a similar aged car.
- 20.6k
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