Thread: 2006 Mercedes C230 SPORT Restoration

AWSOME!!!!

I wouldn't know where to start on a project like this.

Originally Posted by Rojo

Follow up on the Radiator repair, looks like success, no leaks.

The Mechanic's Hat was on all day today outside a brief visit from fellow CDC member
P-Nut. The Thermostat stuck in the open position causing the engine to run cold. The Computer was fussing turning on the dreaded Check Engine Light. We all know the epoxy job on the Radiator was temporary but a slow leak was weeping enough coolant I had to put some in every few weeks. I made these blocks to put it on so I could fit under it right after I brought it home. I think Mercedes anticipated these cars needing a lot of attention by how they set the Hoods up. You press a red button and it allows the Hood to stand straight up.



Not much room under the Hood. I'm almost use to it sad to say. When its working it is a real treat to drive but bugs seem to crop up every few months. I will work thru them it just takes patience. The black round thing on the left in the second picture is a electrical Pollution Pump. It sits right on top of the Thermostat Housing. You don't buy a Thermostat you buy a whole Thermostat Module. The Serpentine Belt routing is a bit odd too, if you try to reason the correct path you're looking for Advil in a hurry due to the Headache it gives you so I take pictures, prevents a bad experience.



The black round thing in the first picture is the Pollution Pump from the side view. More Serpentine Belt pictures, you can never have enough. You can't even see the Power Steering Pump & AC Compressor, I work by feel removing & installing the belt.



Mercedes installs a fantastic Radiator Drain Valve with a hose barb on the end. You turn the valve with a large screwdriver after installing a hose to your collection pan and out comes all the Coolant. Second picture the Serpentine Belt is stuck between some pulleys, piled up at the bottom of the Radiator. The Horns in the front are mounted to part of the Radiator Support. I had to remove them and unbolt 2 very tight place bolts holding the Vertical part of the Support to swing the whole thing out of the way.



With the Radiator Support swung up on the Engine itself, out of the way I disconnected both the Coolant Hoses from the Radiator along with the Transmission lines. Mercedes uses Quick-Disconnects on the end of the Hoses and Transmission lines. The Hoses have O-Ring seals which is very nice.



You can see the epoxy job could have been better if I pulled the Radiator out to begin with but it goes against my entire being to put a patched Radiator back in. With it out along with the Electric Fan there is room to spare to replace the Thermostat. The new Lower Hose is pictured here to show all the Rubber Molding in the hose.



I had to remove the two side hose connections and the Fan pictured here. The Fan just pops in with 2 plastic latches, clearing the Transmission lines with the Fan while they are still attached to the Radiator is a pain.



A nice new OEM Mercedes Radiator, I should have done this the first time. At that point I would have replaced the Thermostat & Hoses anyway. I hate doing a job twice. Words I live by; "A Lazy Man Does The Most Work", I should have done it when the Radiator was cracked.



The Thermostat failure is right on time. I have 146K miles which is when they all fail. Time does not seem to sway it much one way or the other. And the old Coolant Hoses don't look bad, I thought kinda soft, but the new ones are softer than American made hoses. I know the ones under the Hood are new now, awesome. After cranking up to get the Thermostat to open burping any trapped air I quit for the day. This took 10 hours to complete.