How to Troubleshoot a Mercedes Benz E320

Smell
1. Move to where you are able to smell for a sulfurous odor coming from your engine and then examine your Mercedes Benz E320's battery. Smelling this odor is often a sign that your battery is leaking electrolytes. Should the sulfurous smell persist while your Mercedes Benz E320's engine remains running, you definitely need to examine your engine's exhaust system as well as its fuel systems to ensure that there is no damage to any of the components. If you have determined that the battery is the trouble, visit your local auto parts store and purchase a new battery.
2. Examine your Mercedes Benz E320's ring set beside the head gasket. If you notice any strong, burned gas smell coming from the engine, the Mercedes Benz E320's piston rings have likely deteriorated, or its head gaskets are cracked; both of these situations can cause the leakage. You can resolve or minimize this issue by adding lubricating spray. Utilize specialized lubricant to spray around the piston rings and head gaskets; the spray can loosen and reverse damage from years of wear and tear and make the parts functional again. Unfortunately, if the lubricating spray doesn't work, you will need to replace the Mercedes Benz E320's engine.
3. Smell underneath your hood by popping the hood and taking a whiff immediately as the hood opens after the car has traveled several miles. You will be checking for an odd metallic odor. If you detect the smell, your clutch-bearing system may be burned out and requiring urgent attention. Often, after an E320 has been driven for several years or exceeds 100,000 miles, the clutch-bearing system starts to degrade due to the extreme heat from the friction of operating the vehicle. The extensive heat causes lubricants to evaporate within the system and prevents the E320 from accelerating smoothly. The odd metallic smell coming from the engine could also be the front wheel spindle rubbing against the rims and drums of the Mercedes Benz E320; that is a normal occurrence when running over potholes and obstacles while driving. Seek out a mechanic to determine for sure where the smell is coming from.
Listen
4. Listen closely to your Mercedes Benz E320's front as well as rear wheels. Listen for any strange noises like the sounds of metal scraping. A sound like this can suggest there is an issue with the braking system, especially if the sound happens whenever you apply pressure to the brakes. You will definitely have to replace your brake pads, as a Mercedes Benz E320 is designed to alert the driver that the brake pads have been worn down once a metallic tab encounters the brake rotor. Take your E320 immediately to an auto repair shop or purchase brake pads for replacement.
5. Pay attention to any hissing or popping sound as you drive. Hissing or popping sounds are usually an indication that your muffler has a hole in it. The hissing or popping sound occurs as your muffler is working hard to push out hot air while cool air is entering via the hole. Your E320's horsepower will drop and make the car's acceleration sluggish. Change the muffler right away.
6. Listen for any grinding or clanking metal sounds coming from beneath the hood. After 100,000 miles, the Mercedes Benz E320 has a tendency to exhibit transmission difficulties that can require repair or even replacement.
Sense a Problem
7. Obtain a feel for the way the car is running and be alert for any shaking, abrupt lunges or unexpected pauses in acceleration.
8. Ensure your Mercedes Benz E320's alignment is in sound condition, because tires that aren't properly balanced tend to make Mercedes Benz E320 veer to the left or the right. You may think you are driving straight, but the slight variation in alignment can cause the car to veer. Unbalanced tires place a great deal of stress on the engine by making it work harder. Check your tires by putting a penny between the tire treads; you'll know immediately that the tires are in need of changing if you are able to see President Lincoln's head above the treads. Take your Mercedes Benz E320 to a professional front-end alignment services shop.
9. Check if your shock absorbers are worn out; if they are, your Mercedes Benz E320 will shake or shudder. Shock absorbers allow your E320 to handle the road more easily and provide a smoother drive. The Mercedes Benz E320's manual suggests that an owner needs to replace the shock absorbers about every 150,000 miles.

Continue lendo

DIY BMW 540I Thermostat

1. Slide the drain pan under the radiator petcock. Open the petcock and allow 2 pints of coolant to drain. Ensure that the drain pan is clean, so that you can reuse the coolant.
2. Loosen the hose clamp at the thermostat, using a screwdriver. Pull the hose off the thermostat. Unbolt the three retaining bolts on for the thermostat housing, using the appropriate socket. Remove the housing. Pull the thermostat out of the housing, or engine, if it doesn't stick to the housing.
3. Clean the gasket mounting surfaces, using the rubber scraper and rags. Install the O-ring on the thermostat housing. Insert the thermostat onto the engine, ensuring that the support bar on the thermostat is facing out.
4. Install the thermostat housing and tighten the bolts to 6 lb.-feet of torque. Refill the cooling system.

Continue lendo

How to Copy a BMW Key

1. Locate the motorcycle registration or title. Obtain the key code if available. Make sure the paperwork displays your VIN number.
2. Verify the vehicle identification number (VIN) to that on the bike. The VIN is located on the right hand side of the steering head.
3. Bring your driver's license, registration and key code to the closest BMW Motorrad dealer's parts department to request a replacement key.

Continue lendo

How to Remove W208 Headlights

1. Prop open the hood.
2. Remove the three top mounting bolts from the headlight assembly with your socket wrench.
3. Remove the top fender mounting bolts with your socket wrench from inside the engine compartment near the fender on the side that has the headlight you wish to remove.
4. Disconnect the wiring harness from the rear of the headlight.
5. Pull the headlight toward you as far past the fender as possible. Hold the fender away from the headlight and pull the headlight the rest of the way out. Have a friend hold the fender aside as you pull the headlight, as doing both by yourself is too difficult.

Continue lendo

How to Make BMW Games

BMW Flash Cards
1.
Visit your local car dealership for vehicle information.
Gather information about BMWs from a local BMW dealership, magazine advertisements or BMW.com.
2.
Cut photos from colorful brochures for fun-looking flash cards.
Cut out photos of BMW models, accessories and colors you want to learn about or would like to be able to identify. Cut out the text that matches the photos and keep it with the correct photos.
3. Attach each photo to one side of an index card with glue. On the other side of the same index card, attach the text that matches the photos.
4.
Memorize the information with flash cards.
Gather all the index cards into a pile. Look at the picture on the first card and read the corresponding text on the back of the card. Try to commit the information to memory.
5. Move through the whole pile of cards, memorizing BMW facts.
6. Quiz yourself by looking at the picture side of the card and reciting the facts. Check your answer by looking at the other side of the card.
BMW Memory Game
7.
Match two photos of BMW headlights.
Cut out at least 20 different photos of BMWs and accessories from brochures at a local BMW dealership or print out pictures from BMW.com. Be sure to cut out two identical copies of each photo for a total of 40 photos.
8.
Glue photos to cards or print directly onto the cards.
Glue each photo to individual index cards and gather the cards into a pile once dry.
9.
Play memory with your friends.
Lay the cards face down in front of you and a friend in four rows of five cards.
10. Take turns flipping over pairs of cards and making matches. If you make a match, keep the match and take another turn. If you do not make a match, turn the cards back over to the face down position.
11. Win the game by finishing with the most pairs once all cards have been collected.

Continue lendo

How Do I Remove a Battery from a BMW R1100RT?

1. Locate the seat-release lock under the tail light. Unlock the seat with the ignition key and pull it off the motorcycle's frame.
2. Remove the bolts from the left-middle fairing with an Allen wrench. Remove the left-middle fairing from the motorcycle to reveal the battery tray on the left side of the fuel tank.
3. Pull the rubber retaining strap off the battery tray. Remove the negative wire lead bolt from the battery with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the negative wire lead away from the battery and the motorcycle's frame. Pull the battery out of the tray until the positive wire lead is accessible. Remove the positive wire lead bolt from the battery with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the positive wire lead away from the battery.
4. Pull the battery out of the battery tray.

Continue lendo

How to Remove the Wheel Bearings on a 1982 Mercedes Benz 240D

1. Park the car on a flat and level surface. Ensure the back wheels are chocked. Loosen the lug nuts on the two front wheels. Do not remove the lugs until the car is lifted.
2. Place a jack under the front cross member of the car and raise it high enough to place jack stands under the cross member. Lower the car onto the jack stands.
3. Unscrew the lug nuts on the driver side of the car. Pull the wheel off the axle. Place it to the side.
4. Unbolt the caliper by unscrewing the bolts in the back with a socket wrench. Pull the caliper off and place it in the shock tower. Do not let the caliper hang by the brake line as this will damage the brake line.
5. Pry the dust cover in the middle of the assembly with a flat-tip screwdriver. This will expose the spindle nut.
6. Pull the cotter pin out of the spindle nut with a pair of pliers. Unscrew the nut with the pliers. Place the nut and the cotter pin in the dust cover for safe keeping.
7. Pull the outer bearing out by hand. The race should come out with the bearing.
8. Pull the rotor off the spindle. The rotor may not come out smoothly. Tap the rotor with a hammer to free any rust or sediment holding the rotor in place.
9. Tap the inner bearing with a hammer to loosen the bearing. Slide the bearing off by hand.
10. Repeat steps to remove the bearings on the passenger side.

Continue lendo

How to Keep My Audi Running for a Long Time

1. Have the Audi's oil changed every 5,000 miles. Save your receipts for proof of oil changes. Use only synthetic oil. Audi honors warranties on its cars only if you provide proof of oil changes and that synthetic oil was used, according to the Engine Oil Bible.
2. Rotate the tires every 10,000 miles. When bringing the Audi in to have the tires rotated, also have the alignment checked and fixed if needed. Keeping the tires aligned prevents the steering column from wearing out prematurely.
3. Replace the Audi's spark plugs every 35,000 miles or every three years, whichever comes first. Use this formula for the first spark plug change. Thereafter, have the plugs changed every 40,000 miles or four years, whichever comes first, according to the 2009 Audi Service Recommendations publication.
4. Check the brake fluid, power steering fluid and air filter every 10,000 miles. Change the air filter once a year regardless of mileage.
5. Adhere to Audi's yearly tune-up time line, exclusive to each model. If you are not sure, write down the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) found on the inner driver side door and give it to an Audi dealer. Ask the dealer to look up the service and tune-up recommendations for your Audi.

Continue lendo

How to Replace a Mercedes Mass Air Flow Sensor

1. Disconnect the negative (black) battery cable from the negative terminal on the battery.
2. Remove the wiring harness from the mass air flow sensor by pressing in on the tab on the wiring harness and then pulling it out.
3. Unscrew the bolts on the mass air flow sensor using a socket wrench.
4. Remove the screw on the air hose clamps on either side of the mass air flow sensor.
5. Disconnect the hoses and remove the sensor. Replace the old sensor with the new one.
6. Reattach the hoses to the new mass air flow sensor and secure them in place by tightening the screws on the clamps.
7. Bolt the new mass air flow sensor into place.
8. Reattach the wiring harness and reconnect the negative cable to the battery.

Continue lendo

Instructions on How to Install a CD Player in a Car

1. Remove the old car stereo. The majority of factory-issued car stereos are locked in place by tabs located on the side of the unit. Owners can buy custom keys from car audio retailers or directly from the manufacturer. The clips can also be released by using bent coat hangers or a flat head screwdriver pushed into the tabs to unclip the lock. Gently pull out the old stereo once the clips are released.
2. Disconnect the old stereo. Pull out the black radio antenna from the rear of the old stereo. Push the tab on the side of the wire harness that has all the connecting wires for the power, CD changer and speakers and pull the connection apart. Set the old stereo to the side.
3. Install faceplates if necessary. Some factory-issued car stereos come in customized designs and shapes. Aftermarket stereos are a standard size, and faceplates are available to fit them into the space vacated by a customized radio shape. These faceplates are specific to the car model and available from car audio retailers. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to attach the faceplate. Most faceplates will click into the holding slots for the old stereo.
4. Connect the aftermarket CD player to the car. Make sure that all of the wire connections extend through the faceplate portal. Connect an aftermarket wire harness adapter to the wire harness of the car. Wire harness adapters are specific to car models and available from car audio retailers. Connect the other end of the wire harness adapter to the wire harness of the CD player. Make sure that all connections click into place. Connect the black radio antenna cable to the radio antenna port on the rear of the CD player---check the device instructions---and ensure it is secure.
5. Test the connections. Turn on the CD player. Establish that a signal is being sent to the car speakers by using the unit features one-by-one.
6. Secure the CD player into the dashboard housing. Push the wire connections first into the portal then slide the CD player unit into the dashboard housing. Push it in until it is secure in the housing. If it is replacing a standard-sized unit, it will slide into the clips used by the previous unit.

Continue lendo