Owner of a 560SEL Carat Diamond needs help

[AD Benz]

Hi every one. Iam new to this forum,i just bought 2 days ago a very rare Mercedes 1989 560sel beautifully modified by Carat Duchatelet and its a diamond series written on its badge in the trunk,i live in the United Arab Emirates. The problem is i bought the car and its not starting as is,its a Japanese import and it stayed for around 8 or 9 months in the showroom which imported it. I bought it as it is because the price was filthy cheap for it,a normal 560sel 1988 to 1991 Japanese import without leather costs nothing less than 6000$. My car is Dark blue color with leather Grey interior with the following: -Tv -VHS (located were the fist aid kit in the back) -Fridge (there is a compressor for it inside the trunk) -Graphic equalizer and stuff with gold trimming around it on the roof -Rear sunroof -Separate 4 seats with different design -Cd (there is a special place to put like 6 cd in a sliding drawn -middle console with electric wooden table and a lot of stuff -Rear seats are heated,slide forward+backward + up and down -A weird switch under the steering wheel -carat small steering wheel -2 tone horn -dash board trimmed with alcantara thats all i remember really from the outside: -AMG full body kit with bumpers and side skirts -Rims are BBS i think with dark blue color in the middle only -the car is too low,i think it got a lowering suspension kit -Exhaust in the back is an after market -white front signals Thats really all i remember,the car is now at my friends body shop,i am waiting to get a reservation day to enter my car to get fixed because of a unassembled fuel distributer part. The only problem i have is in the Fuel Distributer,it cranks but doesn't starts according to the dealer i bought it from,and he says maybe it could be 1 of the fuel pumps,and there is a leak from under the radiator probably the pipes or the radiator itself,my concern is in this fuel distributer issue really,some people tell me it can get washed and no need to replace it,is this true ??? Here is the picture of it http://germanstar.net/Mercedes_Fuel_Distributors.htm Can this part be opened and renewed or washed ? Is this an easy fix or something that i can do my self ?if so,i would really appreciate to do it my self,till the car enter the garage next week,i would really appreciate your help,because i don't know what to do,i don't know a lot about Mercedes engines,i know about GM's since i own a 1996 caprice. The car is standing outside in the baking sun,the whole fuel injection set up is dis assembled from the engine but all in 1 piece,and the fuel distributer is dis assembled too. The car reads 136000KM on the gauge,i really really need help please,the mechanics tell me go to an electrician,and the electrician tells me its a mechanic issue,and 90% of them do not know how to fix or work on Mercedes or injectors or computers or sensors or what ever,thats why my car have to wait at a very well known reputable Mercedes specialist for next week,but if its a simple issue i can do,why not. Tomorrow hopefully i will post the cars pictures to let you see it,and a lot of thanks

To remove this ad, register today or login if you already are registered!

[BENZITCH]

Hard to daignose from this far away. Not running in 9-10 months makes it questionable that it is only a fuel problem, especially coming from a dealer.

Interesting car.

[AD Benz]

By the way i got the pictures,but i don't know how to upload them ???

[BENZITCH]

Originally Posted by AD Benz

By the way i got the pictures,but i don't know how to upload them ???

Send me an airlines ticket starting In Philadelphia Pa USA ending at the nearest airfield near where you are.

I will be able to show you how to upload photos when I arrive.

Maybe even get the 91 up and running.

Bruce

[cool_lagoon]

easy to up load, just click on advance (the box underneath quick reply box then you'll see the attachment button. Would love to see your 560sel.

on the no start there are 3 areas you need to check, the electrical system, the fuel system and mechanical system. If you have already determine that it was the fuel distributor, there are available repair kits but you need to be careful in dismantling the distributor making sure you do not change any calibration position it could be the rubber diaphragm is busted, if you could not find the repair kit then get a good surplus or even brand new replacement for the fuel distributor and yes it is the common culprit. I still have my 560SEL 1991 and that was a common problem for a car seating for a long time in the garage, what is mileage?

[AD Benz]

Thanks every one for your reply

BENZITECH and cool lagoon

By the way the 560 carat is working and its so smooth in everything

Here what the specialist did to the car :

-Changed the fuel distributor with a second hand one

-A rely under the wipers was missing,he said if i tried starting it up the RPM will go up to full and the engine may cook its head.

-Another missing fuel part was fitted

-Exhaust sensor had a problem now fixed

-1 of the fuel pumps replaced

-I bought a new BEHR radiator

-They adjusted the fuel and air mixture

-Gearbox oil was low,so oil was added

When i started it for the first time,it cranked straight ahead and smooth,no hesitation or vibration or anything.

Problems :

The gearbox seems weird,if i put it into reverse it makes a strange rattling bumping noise from the back,the mechanic said maybe the exhaust is hitting because its not well connected in the back or maybe he predicts the Reverse clutch is something might needs to be changed because they tend to be weak on these models.

He told me however that some water went into the gearbox,because the original radiator was messed up and some how the water interfered with the gearbox fluid,my friend had the same problem in a 2004 chevy lumina ss (pontiac GTO in U.S) and he ended up rebuilding the whole thing.

My only problem now is this gearbox,when iam driving inside a parking area it doesnt respond or move hardly,reverse it and the car moves kind of up and down hardly

Iam really scared of this,what are your suggestions please

Shall i change the transmetion oil only and see how it will be or this will make more damage

And now in drive it hardly moves,i have to press the gas padle to make it move, if u hit hard on the gas peddle a hard knocking noise from the back apears and u feel the gear is on,all this happened when i was leaving the parking area and after 2 hours of cruising the streets i came to find a parking and it happened again.

Please help me guys what shall i do ?????? and a lot of thanks again

[cool_lagoon]

first thing is first, you have to go through the sequence before deciding to take down the transmission, you don't have to change transmission unit, all transmission can be repaired refurbish or rebuild for as long as the housing is intact and no crack or deformity what so ever.

1. Check the transmission dip stick and find out first the status of the automatic transmission fluid (reply what color, smell and volume)
2. after diagnosing the ATF, if everything is normal then we move to the cable adjustments (but without the first step we won;t be able to get any hint).
3. Next is the modulator valve (located underneath the transmission left side. You'll need a pressure gauge to adjust to the right pressure. (will provide you the detail specification of the pressure needed by your transmission, (you will need to give me the transmission number, writen on the right side of the transmission starts with a 722.???? .

If all this adjustments does not work out that's the only time you may want to decide to take down the transmission to rebuild, will also send you the complete file of how to rebuild and measure your transmission.

I still maintain my 560 SEL under show room condition (my own personal museum of good models).
The transmission of a W126 and first generation of the W140 shares the same transmission until the mid 90's when the transmission of a W140 was shift to the electronic type.

Fixing/rebuilding a transmission is pretty straight forward and quite easy if you have the proper tools and ramp, knowing how to dismantle is not a problem either is reassembling for as long as you follow the step by step procedure.

Many have had the wrong notion that it is very hard to fix a transmission that is the very reason why the transmission specialist like myself charge a hand and a leg for service fee.

If you really intend to rebuild the transmission seriously i will guide you free of charge. But if you do not have much knowledge about it may i suggest you let a transmission specialist fix yours 9though it will cost you but you won't have to go through the mess. Where are you located?

[AD Benz]

Cool Lagoon,thank you very much my friend for your reply

I will go down now and check the oil color smell and level and i will photo all of this now,i will put all of the pictures on a zip file or i may find out a way for this URL to stick the pictures on this post.

Again i really appreciate your help,i am afraid this specialist guy might rip me off for the gearbox

[BENZITCH]

Also look at the nylon bushings on the transmission shifting rods.


I guess no plane ticket for me!LOL

[AD Benz]

Benzitch,thanks a lot i wwish its the nylon bushes as you said.

Cool Lagoon,i checked the oil level its full,the color is brownish black,its kind of black or burned color.and for the smell it smell burned or a weird burn smell.

For my location,I'am not in the states,i am in the United Arab Emirates

I know ATF's are suppose to be red in color,am i correct ?

By the way from i changed the fan with its clutch with a second hand one,because the original one had 2 blades from the fans broken + i changed the radiator to a new BEHR radiator.

Now i was running it and i find it's leaking

The leak apears to be some where from the middle or the side,couldnt locate it really from were the leak is.

And there are air vents infront over the legs for the driver and the passenger,they are getting the engine heat directly over my feets,it's really anoying,how can i close them ???

By the way,here is the pictures.

[AD Benz]

here are the pictures

[AD Benz]

d

[cool_lagoon]

if your located in Dubai I can recommend a mechanic there, would have to confirm if he is still around that area, they were trained from the plant and they should be able to fairly help you but you need to find out how much they will charge you.

On your ATF condition, its bad and if you did smell a foul odor from the dip stick the inner clutches is definitely toasted. and you did mention about the leak was it the radiator or the transmission>? for the transmission you will definitely need to bring it down, driving it now will only cause more damage.

After taking it down and examining the parts is the only way to determine if your tranny can be rebuild, vital parts within the housing should be check, in fact if you rebuild the tranny it will come out just like new since the internal parts that are no longer worthy are change to new like inner and outer disc, brake bond for forward gears and reverse (although seldom does this part need change and they do not wear out easily even if you did run it over 350,000 Kilometers.

The tranny is definitely neglected by the previous owner to take down and rebuild would be the best and prudent way to do. pictures would play a vital role so i may come up with a suggestion.

[cool_lagoon]

those rear seats don't look too comfortable at all, the space is too tight and the wood veneer on the knee and leg area seems to be a hazardous wall in case of a sudden brake. Now a days we have the LCD monitors and wireless remote for TV, DVD, play station amenities.

I notice you need a lot of leather upholstery cleaning and detailing. The front and rear bumpers are no longer original. this would be a nice project to work on but you would need to asses first the mechanical as well as electrical issues before you move on to the aesthetic/ accessories part.

[cool_lagoon]

strange your vehicle originated from Japan?

[cool_lagoon]

are the veneer on the leg part table tops?

[AD Benz]

y

[AD Benz]

Yes,the car is a Japanese import,I am located in the capital Abu Dhabi,sure i can go to dubai at any time,i would love to know if you have some people who know about this car,so from the oil looks like its cooked oooh.

The dash showed me the the yellow color low coolant level and the temp was up too,and i found water under the engine,it was water,i dont know from were it is really

An for the seats,Man this is 1 big safe quite comfy couch !!!!

the driver seat is massive,and the rear seats got no space because i got the driver seat all the way back,but the seats are really massive and comfy,this thing is so quite and i barley feel harsh bumps from the surface of the road

[AD Benz]

I know that the tables are folded up and closed electrical,and the side curtains and the rear curtains are also electrical.

There is strangley a battery located in the trunk in the right side,same battery location for the W140 1992-1998 models,this batter is for running the Fridge compressor in the trunk and the other electrics i think like the TV and the kenwood stereo sound system in the roof and the rear sun roof

[AD Benz]

t

[AD Benz]

you can notice the fridge compressor and the extra battery in the trunk,these are the pictures which i have,i need to finish from fixing it mechanically,then i will clean and polish it.

what do you guys think of my car ?

[BENZITCH]

Originally Posted by AD Benz

you can notice the fridge compressor and the extra battery in the trunk,these are the pictures which i have,i need to finish from fixing it mechanically,then i will clean and polish it.

what do you guys think of my car ?

Pretty cool car. Needs some help though. Can't imagine someone being that tough on a car like that. BUT

As a side note

I have one of those Carrat over head consoles with CLARION equipment mounted in it. The color is grey.
If anyone is interested.