Extremely stupid new owner questions
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 32
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From: Kansas City
W201
Extremely stupid new owner questions
Hello gentlemen,
A few days ago I purchased a '93 190E with a bad transmission, and I have some really embarrassing basic questions about it.
First of all, where are the interior buttons/levers to open the trunk and fuel door? I have looked through the car and through the owner's manual, but it only seems to have instructions on how to open them from the outside.
Second, how does one open the hood? I pulled the lever under the dash and I have attempted pulling on the handle sticking out of the grill, but to no avail.
The owner's manual states to pull out the handle completely, but it feels as if I am about to break it or rip out the grill with it.
I could probably eventually figure out these silly things on my own, but I would rather just embarrass myself and ask before I accidentally break anything.
Thanks for any help!
A few days ago I purchased a '93 190E with a bad transmission, and I have some really embarrassing basic questions about it.
First of all, where are the interior buttons/levers to open the trunk and fuel door? I have looked through the car and through the owner's manual, but it only seems to have instructions on how to open them from the outside.
Second, how does one open the hood? I pulled the lever under the dash and I have attempted pulling on the handle sticking out of the grill, but to no avail.
The owner's manual states to pull out the handle completely, but it feels as if I am about to break it or rip out the grill with it.
I could probably eventually figure out these silly things on my own, but I would rather just embarrass myself and ask before I accidentally break anything.
Thanks for any help!
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
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Fintail 1964, W201 & Sprinter
Hi and congrats on your purchase!
Don't worry, most people would have trouble finding these things if they have never driven a merc ;-).
For the hood, you need to pull the large lever under dash on left of vehicle, the hood should pop up. Then you need to pull the latch in the grill to release the hood to lift it (going by memory, it's been a while since I had my last 190e).
For the petrol tank, is there a small lever on the flooron the routside front corner of the drivers seat? If so that is it. Or else a lever under the steering wheel but further out towars the side of the car... again, it's been a while, just trying to be helpful ;-) - enjoy and hope you find it.
Don't worry, most people would have trouble finding these things if they have never driven a merc ;-).
For the hood, you need to pull the large lever under dash on left of vehicle, the hood should pop up. Then you need to pull the latch in the grill to release the hood to lift it (going by memory, it's been a while since I had my last 190e).
For the petrol tank, is there a small lever on the flooron the routside front corner of the drivers seat? If so that is it. Or else a lever under the steering wheel but further out towars the side of the car... again, it's been a while, just trying to be helpful ;-) - enjoy and hope you find it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Scottsdale, Arizonai
'85 190E 2.3-16 '99 C280 '11 GLK350
This is a fun question. There is no interior button or lever to open either the trunk or the fuel door. Both are vacuum actuator locked and unlocked by the driver's door lock. When the ignition key is used on the trunk lock, all the doors and fuel door are unlocked.
Since the trunk opens with a key, in the event you lose the vacuum system, you can still open the fuel door. Inside the trunk, there is a pre-cut plastic flap in the trunk paneling by the fuel filler pipe. Access the flap and you'll see the lock actuator rod, which you can pull to unlock the filler.
As for the hood, the interior lever releases the first latch via a wire cable in the dual latch system. Pulling the extended grill tab releases the second catch, but shouldn't be an effort to unlatch. If it is, you may have some obstruction or failure in the latch system.
The easiest solution is to break the plastic grill insert (not the chrome surround or the thin metal trim) to access the latch. The insert is relatively cheap, just like the hood star.
Since the trunk opens with a key, in the event you lose the vacuum system, you can still open the fuel door. Inside the trunk, there is a pre-cut plastic flap in the trunk paneling by the fuel filler pipe. Access the flap and you'll see the lock actuator rod, which you can pull to unlock the filler.
As for the hood, the interior lever releases the first latch via a wire cable in the dual latch system. Pulling the extended grill tab releases the second catch, but shouldn't be an effort to unlatch. If it is, you may have some obstruction or failure in the latch system.
The easiest solution is to break the plastic grill insert (not the chrome surround or the thin metal trim) to access the latch. The insert is relatively cheap, just like the hood star.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 32
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From: Kansas City
W201
Thank you all for the input.
I already figured out my hood issue, someone at some point bolted the latch to the bottom of the radiator support instead of on top of it, and one of the nuts was stripped, so it was just hanging on with one bolt, and thus flexing up and down.
I already figured out my hood issue, someone at some point bolted the latch to the bottom of the radiator support instead of on top of it, and one of the nuts was stripped, so it was just hanging on with one bolt, and thus flexing up and down.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,719
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From: Scottsdale, Arizonai
'85 190E 2.3-16 '99 C280 '11 GLK350
Hopefully you've also resolved these new owner head scratchers . . .
1) How do you dim the interior lighting?
2) Why is there no heated air through the center dash vents?
3) Those door speakers are "subwoofers?"
1) How do you dim the interior lighting?
2) Why is there no heated air through the center dash vents?
3) Those door speakers are "subwoofers?"
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, Arizonai
'85 190E 2.3-16 '99 C280 '11 GLK350
Simple. Mercedes did not want drivers to get drowsy while driving in the cold weather, so the center vents only broadcast "unheated" air. It will give you fresh or air conditioned air, but no heat.
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