W126, BENZ AID - COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Since my 240D's alternator clearly wasn't charging anymore, I figured I first better replace the voltage regulator. The old regulator was clearly shot, and I got the new one in. Now the alternator is charging fine, but it is also making an intermittent loud squealing noise - especially when accelerating. Any chance this noise will go away or diminish as the new brushes "break in", or is it time for a new alternator?

I recently changed the glow plugs and reamed out the carbon on my 1984 300D with 129,000 miles on it. At this time, I also did a valve adjustment as I was told all of this would help with hard starting in the winter. Well, it has helped and the car has more power also. The valves were very tight and I had never adjusted them over my 15 years of ownership. Anyway, now my fuel mileage seems to have gone way down. I used to get around 22-24 with daily driving and around 28-30 on the highway. On a recent trip, I was getting 20 MPG on the highway. Any ideas as to why?

At the end of a from a trip of about 4 hours, I noticed a very harsh knocking sound coming from the right rear wheel area of my 1984 300D every time I took off from a stop. It sounded like the axle or wheel would fall off. It stopped after I arrived and parked it over night. At the end of the return trip, it started again and continued every time I took off from a stop. The next evening, I got under the car and checked axles, U-joints, drive shaft carrier bearing, wheel bearings, differential oil level and could find nothing definitive.

Looks like I am in need of a starter change....woke up this morning and my 83 300SD will click but not turn over. It is usually sluggish on cold mornings, but early this AM I turned the key to nothing. I have a starter coming in and wanted to know if there are any special techniques or tools required to change this part? Looks like I am going at it from the underside, any help before I get dirty would be appreciated.

Brad