How to DIY Troubleshoot a Mercedes


1. Inspect the paintwork for damage. Scratches, dents and corrosion can all be indicative of greater damage elsewhere. Any scratch on the paint can be expensive, because Mercedes often used limited run paints (restricted to certain cars and years of manufacture). Paint needs to be repaired soon, as it can lead to early rust. Any dents in the body panel could mean that the Mercedes was in an accident and could have frame damage underneath. If there is corrosion in the panel then it is guaranteed that there is rust elsewhere, especially on the undercarriage.
2. Open the hood and inspect the engine. There should be no debris in the engine bay or radiator. If your Mercedes is a carbureted model, then inspect the barrel intakes for damage to the valves. Damaged carburetor valves can lead to irregular air-fuel mixes that can damage your piston or sleeves. If your engine is fuel injected, then inspect the fuel lines for leaks (pay special attention to the rubber hoses, as they have a tendency to become brittle with age). Inspect the power lines on the hybrid model for any damage (do not touch damaged ones). Call a Mercedes dealership to repair a hybrid model.
3. Turn the car on and listen to it idle. The hybrid Mercedes should not run the engine while the car is sitting still, only when under power. Non-hybrids should idle around 2000 rpm (if it idles higher than this, there may be a problem with the fuel-air mix). Watch the engine temperature. Even on a hot day, the engine should remain cool in idle.
4. Drive the Mercedes forward and listen for the engine. AMG models should roar when the throttle is pushed in, even at sedate speeds. Non-AMG models should be whisper quiet, even at highway speeds (if you hear the engine, then some of the noise isolation material has fallen off). Mercedes prides itself on providing quiet interiors on their regular cars. The car should easily absorb any bumps in the road. If the car rocks a lot then the shocks may be shot.
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How to Remove the Mirror From a Mercedes Benz 450


1. Park the car in a sunny spot. Try to park the car in an area where the internal temperature of the car reaches above 75 degrees. If you are working in the winter, you can use a small heat gun or hair dryer to warm the adhesive that holds the mirror in place. Allow the Mercedes to sit in the sun for at least two hours.
2. Locate the area where the mirror attaches to the button glued to the windshield. A small screw holds the mirror on this button. Unscrew the screw and set it aside.
3. Remove any electronic wires attached to the mirror by pulling the wires gently with pliers. These wires control the thermometer inside the mirror, the auto dim feature and sometimes a heating mechanism. Your mirror may have some or all of these features, depending on the features included on your Mercedes 450.
4. Turn the mirror gently clockwise to loosen it from the button on the windshield. Set the mirror down in a safe place where it will not get broken, scratched or sat on.
5. Grasp the sides of the button with a crescent wrench. Gently twist the button in a clockwise direction until the button pops off of the glass surface. If this does not work, insert a razor blade between the glass and the button and apply gentle pressure to pop the button off of the glass.
6. Place a small amount of adhesive remover onto any glue remaining on the surface of the glass. Allow the remover to sit for 10 minutes. Then wipe the residue away with a soft cloth. You can also use the razor blade to scrape away the adhesive.
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BMW 530i Troubleshooting


1. Locate and check the Service Advisor for maintenance issues. The Service Advisor is located between the speedometer and tachometer. This gauge keeps track of your mileage and any maintenance issues that need to be addressed in your car. Here you can access the status of your car's brake pads, fluid levels and other general maintenance issues. A service that needs to be updated or is dangerously close to the deadline will be highlighted with a triangle symbol.
2. Review your car's Check Control center for indicator lights or malfunctions. Located above the Service Advisor display, the Check Control center monitors certain functions of the vehicle and triggers an indicator light when there is a malfunction. To address these issues, press the 'check' button on the turn signal lever, and text instructions will accompany and explain any malfunctions that occur.
3. Check your car's Condition Based Service maintenance system for any further issues that need to be addressed. This maintenance system keeps track of the dates needed for oil changes, brake maintenance, spark plugs and locally mandated inspections.
4. Locate your car's Service and Warranty Information booklet for further troubleshooting. If your issues are not addressed in this booklet, consider taking your vehicle to a professional. BMW recommends that your car be serviced and repaired at your local BMW center.
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How to Change the Rear Shocks on an E36


1. Pull back the trunk liner to access the upper shock mounting nuts. Use a socket and ratchet to remove the two nuts that hold the top of the shock to the body of the car.
2. Using the floor jack, raise the rear of the car to gain access to the lower shock mounting bolt. Leave the tire in slight contact with the ground. From under the car, remove the large bolt that holds the lower part of the shock to the trailing arm.
3. Remove the shock from the car and place it a work bench or on a flat stable surface. Remove the nut that holds the upper strut mount onto the shock. Use a pair of Vise-Grips on the end of the shock to keep it from turning while the nut is removed. Remove the upper strut mount.
4. Install the old strut mount onto the new shock in the reverse of removal, ensuring that the washers and bushings are oriented correctly. It is recommended to install new mounts when changing the shocks.
5. Install the new shock by first loosely bolting it to the trailing arm with the bolt. Do not tighten the bolt. Maneuver the upper part of the shock into place so that the two studs slide through the holes in the bodywork.
6. Install and tighten the two nuts that hold the upper end of the shock in place. Tighten the lower bolt to 57 ft.-lbs. with a torque wrench. Repeat for the other side.
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How to Convert to Bluetooth on Mercedes


1. Switch on a Bluetooth-compatible mobile phone and activate the Bluetooth connection on the phone. This procedure varies depending on phone. You may also have to make your phone visible to other devices. Both the Bluetooth settings and the Visibility settings are usually found in the 'Connections' area on the phone's menu.
2. From the SYS menu, activate Bluetooth. The SYS button is in the second column of buttons on the audio control unit in the dash. It's the third button down. Press 'SYS' and select 'Activate Bluetooth'. A checkmark will appear.
3. Register your phone with the car. Press the 'TEL' button on the audio control unit and select 'Bluetooth Phones' and 'Update'. The car will search for your phone. The system can hold data on up to 10 phones. The car will add your phone to its phone list.
4. Select 'Options' and then 'Authorize'. An input menu for the passcode appears. Enter the same passcode you used when making your phone visible. You can use the telephone keypad in the audio control unit to enter the numbers. Press the telephone icon on the audio control unit to confirm on completion of the number entry.
5. The Bluetooth connection will be established. You may have to enter the passcode again in the phone, if it prompts you to do so.
6. Press 'TEL' then enter the number, and then press the telephone icon button to make a call using the keypad on the car's audio control unit. The audio system's hands-free device will call using the authorized phone's radio.
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How to Install a Mercedes 107 Rear Seat


1. Park the Mercedes 107 on a flat, level surface and pull the parking brake. Turn off the vehicle.
2. Open the back doors of the Mercedes. Peel the carpet from the rear floor of the Mercedes. Push a screwdriver under the carpet and pull upwards if the carpet sticks the to frame.
3. Locate the wooden panels on top of the mounting points. Remove the panels by prying them off the car. Set the panels aside.
4. Clear any dirt or debris from the mounting points on the floor.
5. Slide the rear seat into the Mercedes. Align the mounting brackets on the Mercedes seat with the mounting points on the floor. Push the seat onto the mounting points.
6. Tighten the brackets with a socket wrench.
7. Install seat belts. Hold the mounting bracket of the seat belt over the mounting point on the side of the car. Fit into place and tighten with a socket wrench.
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How to Replace an Alternator in an S420 Mercedes


1. Disconnect the cable running to the negative battery terminal. Loosen the nut on the cable clamp running to the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench and slide the clamp off the terminal.
2. Open the hood and look straight at the front of the engine. You will see a belt that 'snakes' through a system of pulleys. This is the the serpentine belt, also called a 'drive belt.' It needs to be removed in order to remove the alternator. Draw a diagram of the belt path and orientation. You will need this diagram when reinstalling the belt.
3. Remove tension on the drive belt with a socket wrench and a 14mm socket. The tensioner is on the driver's side of the engine, near the front of the engine. The tensioner bolt protrudes out of the engine's pulley system at a 45 degree angle, with a little bit of a hex shape at the top of the bolt and a small hole in the middle of the bolt. Turn the bolt counterclockwise to remove tension on the belt.
4. Pull the belt off the pulley system.
5. Remove the electrical connector running to the alternator.
6. Remove the alternator. Remove the upper and lower alternator mounting bolts. The alternator is mounted on the front of the engine.
7. Install the new alternator. Installation is the reverse of removal. Make sure that you orient the drive belt properly when installing it.
8. Attempt to start the engine. As long as the battery was not drained entirely when the alternator failed, you should be able to start the engine. If the battery is dead, you may need to install a new battery. To do this, remove the cable clamps on the battery terminals following the procedure in Step 1. This time, you'll be removing both the positive and negative cables. Always remove the negative cable first and attach it last. Once the cable clamps have been removed from the terminal, remove the battery from the battery holder and drop in a new battery. Then, reconnect the battery terminals and tighten the cable clamps.
9. Check to make sure that the battery light does not stay on once the Mercedes is running.
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How to Use Regular Gasoline in a Mercedes


1. Park your car so that the gas tank is adjacent to the pump.
2. Turn off your vehicle, as pumping gas while the engine is running can be hazardous.
3. Open your gas tank and unscrew the gas cap so that you can insert the fuel pump.
4. Select your method of payment on the pump. If using a credit card, swipe it and follow the on-screen instructions. If you're using cash, go inside and pay the attendant before pumping your gas.
5. Select regular unleaded gasoline by removing the pump in the corresponding holster.
6. Place the nozzle into your gas tank. Press 'Start' or pull the lever to begin pumping gas.
7. Pull up on the nozzle's lever to pump gas into your Mercedes. Read the meter on the pump as the gas flows into your tank so that you stop at your desired amount of money or gas.
8. Remove the nozzle from you car and place it back in its gas pump holster. Screw the gas cap back into your vehicle and close the tank.
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How to Diagnose a Faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor


1. Connect a OBDII-type engine code reader to your car using the connection port underneath the steering wheel area. Turn the ignition to the 'on' position but do not start the engine. Let the code reader connect with the car computer to see if it will generate a code for a faulty mass air flow sensor. Confirm whether the sensor is actually triggering a malfunction code or not. Erase the code stored in the computer using the reader tools. Turn the car off and disconnect the code reader.
2. Raise the hood and locate the air filter box. Open the air filter box and pull out the old air filter. Use a shop vacuum to suck up all the debris, dust and dirt inside the filter box. However, do not poke the vacuum into the cavity going to the mass air flow sensor.
3. Turn off the vacuum and use a screwdriver to disconnect the hose clamp holding the intake hose to the bottom of the mass air flow sensor going toward the engine. Pull the hose off and place it clear of the sensor. Carefully disconnect the wiring to the mass air flow sensor itself. Use the screwdriver to carefully push the connection tab free if the wiring junction uses a snap-lock to connect. Place it safely clear of the sensor unit.
4. Use a screwdriver with a star-shape, or security Torx bit if the sensor is secured to the air filter box with screws having star-shape heads. Use a regular screwdriver if the screws are Phillips-head or flat-head style. Carefully loosen and remove the sensor screws and put them in a safe place to avoid losing them. Use the shop rag to carefully twist the sensor back and forth by hand until it comes free from the air filter box.
5. Move the sensor unit to a clear workspace. Put a shop rag underneath it and do not touch the sensor mechanism inside. Attach the spray nozzle to your bottle of mass air flow sensor cleaner and spray the sensor clean with five or six good sprays. Spray downward so the excess hits the rag underneath. Examine the wire inside without touching it to confirm it is clean. Let the unit air dry on the rag for 30 minutes.
6. Reattach the sensor, without touching the inside wire mechanism, to the air filter box and following the above removal steps in reverse order. Install a new air filter in the air filter box and close it up. Confirm you reconnected the sensor wiring, re-installed the sensor's screws, reattach the air hoses and re-tightened the hose clamps. Check for missing tools as well. Close the hood and restart the car. Let the engine warm up and drive it to check if the sensor gives off a trouble code again. Replace the sensor unit completely if it does.
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How to Set the Timing on an Audi


1. Put your key in the ignition and start the engine. Shut off all accessories in your car.
2. Exit the car and place wheel chocks under the front and back tires of your car. Enter the car and apply the emergency brake firmly. Put the transmission in neutral and gradually bring the engine to a warm idle speed of 925 rpm.
3. Exit the car and open the hood to your engine. Allow the engine speed to decrease. Find the engine control module on the right side of the engine and engage the warm idle speed control to keep the engine warm. The engine control module will look like a large computer chip.
4. Attach a timing light to the battery by placing the red clips on the positive terminal before you place the black clips on the negative terminal. Attach the timing light clamps to the spark plug wire labeled Number One.
5. Shine the timing light on the pulley connected to the engine's crankshaft. Compare the timing index to the timing marks on the distributor housing. The distributor housing is connected to the engine's camshaft and oil pump. The distributor housing will have a cap in the middle of it and metal on the outside of it. The metal will have a dent or marks on it; those marks are the timing marks.
6. Ground the carburetor switch with jumper cables by placing the red clamps on the switch and the black clamps on a metal ground.
7. Rotate the metal part of the distributor housing with your hand until the timing marks line up with the timing index on the pulley. This will set the ignition time to the factory recommended ignition time of your Audi.
8. Remove the timing light from the battery and spark plug wire. Remove the jumper cables from the carburetor switch. Shut off the warm idle speed control and close the hood to your engine.
9. Enter the car and put the transmission in park. Exit the car and remove the wheel chocks.
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