tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82177105450174322822024-03-13T06:09:25.643-07:00Like My Benz?I like it. It ain't fast, but I still love driving it.Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-90900673276712187932008-08-16T19:46:00.000-07:002008-08-16T19:53:49.436-07:00Summer UpdateWell, I haven't had a chance to write anything up lately, but I haven't really done anything to my car recently either. I am planning a couple of projects, and some routine maintenance items in the next couple of weeks, but nothing is set in stone.I'm really waiting on a job to come around. I have a possible one lined up, and if it goes through then I will definitely be doing some intense Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-33517922678245553702008-07-15T14:48:00.001-07:002008-07-15T14:53:38.142-07:00Long time, no oil changeWell, I finally changed the oil again. I looked back and realized that I was overdue for a oil change. This one was at 275,600 miles. Added about two quarts in between changes, so not much leaking or consumption by the engine in that time.Total cost was right at $30. $9 and something per gallon of oil (2 gallons total) of Mobil 1300 Delvac 15W-40, and $9.29 for the filter at AutoZone.I would haveDouglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-61770973709615251202008-05-08T14:12:00.001-07:002008-05-08T14:12:42.105-07:00The Cruise Control is quite fickle.The day after my last post, I tried the cruise while riding down the highway and it worked. Surprisingly, it worked correctly the entire ride and kept me at a constant speed easily. However, the next day, it didn't work. So I don't know if I want to try and bypass the cruise control or just leave it be and use it when it will work. My highest priority right now is getting the A/C working Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-83563512449343513352008-04-08T15:12:00.000-07:002008-04-08T15:10:18.603-07:00Cruise Control ThoughtsWhile changing my oil, I inspected the rest of the engine compartment for any trouble or problems. I'm also still learning about this car, so I traced wiring and followed connections here and there learning about some of the wiring under the hood. One interesting connection was the cruise control plug. It comes from the throttle controller at the front of the engine and runs to a plug just Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-60240357962398450132008-04-07T14:35:00.000-07:002008-04-08T14:34:39.374-07:00Oil Change AgainWell, I changed my oil again, but I got messy this time. I thought this would be a good way to keep up with how often I change my oil and what mileage I'm at when I do. I changed it yesterday and I'm just at 269,900 miles. Everything seems to be doing good, still leaking oil. It was about a quart or two low when I changed it, and I have put about two quarts in since I last changed it. I don't Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-45513723956520492612008-03-25T14:03:00.001-07:002008-03-25T14:03:40.974-07:00Nearly a YearWell, its been almost a year since I wrecked my Jetta. I know this because it was a week before my son was born. So that's an easy way to remember it (I won't say which is easier to remember). Just thought I would post some of my thoughts on how my car is holding up right now and what I'm thinking about doing to it next. Generally, nothing is wrong with it. Meaning, I can drive it everyday and IDouglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-24038367507435244962008-02-17T12:38:00.000-08:002008-02-17T12:53:37.654-08:00Steering rod is fixed! My shoulder is sore.So I got that stupid thing changed out. It was not easy to get it out. I had to knock the snot out of it to get it to come off. 2 hours to get it off, and only 7 minutes to get it back on. Not a terribly difficult job, but took a lot of elbow grease (and shoulder grease) to get the old one off.I had first bought the tie-rod puller that has the jaws and the screw to pull it off. It probably wouldDouglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-49124412755732093832008-02-04T11:57:00.001-08:002008-02-06T13:38:08.170-08:00Steering TroublesTwo weeks ago, while cruising down the highway, I got a horrible shudder from my front passenger tire (like a flat tire). I slowed down and checked for a flat, but everything was good (at first). A few miles later, same thing, only not as bad. I suspected a worn shock or steering component and got out and checked while my passenger turned the wheel from side to side while I checked for a worn Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-13535004910096610452007-12-05T12:08:00.000-08:002007-12-05T12:58:47.485-08:00More Maintenance...I finally repaired my windshield washer reservoir! Which is great, except that we're in a drought right now and it has rained twice in the last two months, so I don't really even need windshield wipers, much less washer fluid. Nevertheless, the silicone gasket stuff worked.Details: I pulled out the pump motor and squirted some sealant around the flat surface that sits against the rubber grommet. Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-77908857411713937122007-11-07T10:44:00.000-08:002007-11-07T10:53:11.785-08:00Fall MaintenanceJust thought I would go over a quick checklist of some items that I'm working on today to get my car ready for the Fall (and winter) months. This morning was the first cold day since I bought my car so it got me thinking about getting ready for winter.I noticed yesterday that a front tire looked low on air. I checked it today and sure enough they are all low on air. 25psi on three and 20psi on Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-46032523020178194652007-11-02T13:49:00.000-07:002007-11-02T14:09:39.229-07:00Tiny fuel linesAs I just mentioned, my injector return lines are seriously bleeding fuel now, thanks to more fuel getting to the engine through some new filters. However, I have visited 4 different auto parts stores to find some 1/8" I.D. (inside diameter) fuel line to replace it with. No one has it, and all I get is confused looks.I shouldn't say no one, because Advance Auto does have 1/8" fuel hose (for Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-85784248413377739542007-11-02T12:44:00.000-07:002007-11-02T13:49:05.587-07:00More MaintenanceYesterday I changed my fuel filters. Yes, two of them. If you own one of these cars, this is no surprise to you, but for me, this is a little different. One looks like an oil filter, the other is a typical plastic inline fuel filter. Apparently, the inline filter was really clogged. It was also installed backwards. Don't know who put it in, but they didn't a good job of it. It uses about 8" of Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-58936121236344202192007-10-03T13:59:00.000-07:002007-10-03T14:12:47.626-07:00I'm still aroundWow, two months since my last post. Work has been keeping busy, mostly I just haven't had the desire to update this blog any.Right now I am in the middle of an experiment to improve the power and fuel economy of my diesel engine. Originally, I was using Lucas upper cylinder lubricant in the fuel when I would fill the tank, but I am trying Marvel Mystery Oil (as a fuel treatment) for a few tanks Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-47401906317033684522007-07-30T10:53:00.000-07:002007-07-30T10:54:51.202-07:00Test for picture upload This isn't really a post, but I wanted to check to see if I could upload pics from Picasa to my blog. Hopefully, this will work.Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-55165688252712481192007-07-24T11:56:00.000-07:002007-07-24T12:26:07.465-07:00Routine MaintenanceFirst oil change on my Mercedes. Routine stuff but I thought I would put it up here and explain any differences or special things I noticed while I did this.General:Not a whole lot different than changing any other cars oil. I have always changed my own oil in my vehicles, so it wasn't a new experience, but this was my first diesel engine oil change. It was also my first cartridge type filter Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-13618437161203778662007-07-09T11:02:00.000-07:002007-07-09T11:11:15.455-07:00Quick UpdateWell, I thought my A/C was gone when it strangely quit on me and switched to heat mode all of a sudden. I notice that it did this shortly after I was accelerating.Apparently the transmission was trying to kick-down into a lower gear, but it didn't. This, in turn, blew the fuse that operates the climate control valve. This fuse also operates a host of other functions in the car, and yet, it is Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-27435170502126698012007-06-28T13:45:00.000-07:002007-06-28T14:05:57.919-07:00Random ThoughtsWell, I was thinking the other day while driving (in my Benz) about the general condition of the car, and also about what I want to do on it in the future. While I was thinking I realized something. The car is mechanically very sound. Nothing major wrong with it, no safety issues, no reliability issues, really a great car.The biggest mechanical issues with the car are pretty minor. One is the oilDouglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-37323652691377830402007-06-22T11:49:00.000-07:002007-06-22T12:40:16.942-07:00Project 1 FinishedI finally have a working 12V socket in my car now. I decided to use the 3-way power source and added a few custom options to it, along with some customized functionality using what was already built-in to it.OverviewI added two more 12V sockets to my center console and changed the configuration so that it wasn't sticking straight up in the air (in front of the radio controls) when I plugged in anDouglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-65258271539993225982007-06-15T13:15:00.000-07:002007-06-15T13:42:34.506-07:00Fixing what ails me.So, I have a 23 year old car. Somethings going to be wrong with it. Right now, that's not much. However, I do want to perform a little maintenance on a couple of things, and do a little house cleaning on some other issues. The following are some issues I have already addressed. I just want to write them down so I don't forget.Issue #1: Wipers don't work.Solution: They actually do work, just not Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-70828340190015658902007-06-11T14:23:00.000-07:002007-06-11T14:30:59.901-07:00And here it is!!!Ok, so I got some pictures of it the other day. Here are a few of the exterior. I will take some of the inside soon and get those up. Especially since I finished my first custom project on it.This is the front.One side,And the other.Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8217710545017432282.post-43415825950852303532007-06-04T10:48:00.000-07:002007-06-04T10:57:36.240-07:001984 Mercedes-Benz 300DSo, I used to own a VW Jetta. It was nice. A 2000 model, 5-speed, 2.0L 4 cylinder. Not a race car, but a good, reliable, fun car to drive. Well, I wrecked it, totaled it actually. Of course, that is only technical since I drove the thing home. Progressive, however, said it was totaled. So I had to find a new car.After a couple of weeks of looking for something to drive I came upon the Benz. Not aDouglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409587317968093591noreply@blogger.com0