W203 with 125,000 Miles - things starting to go...
05-02-2017, 06:58 PM
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W203 with 125,000 Miles - things starting to go...
2001 C320 with 125,000 Miles. After a quick diagnosis today it looks like it's due for a steering pump, water pump, O2 sensor, oil filters, full fluid flush.. and that's to start.
Is there a list of known items that pop-up around this time that anyone can point me to? Took the car in for a high pitched noise which was the steering pump going...
Is there a list of known items that pop-up around this time that anyone can point me to? Took the car in for a high pitched noise which was the steering pump going...
05-02-2017, 07:17 PM
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Also, anybody have any tips for purchasing steering/water pumps online?
05-02-2017, 07:37 PM
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2003 C320 Sport Coupe
Thanks
Ok, I have an older lady who owned my 2003 c320 and mentioned its bulletproof nature, she was meticulous, so just gathering potential fixes and problems. Sounds like your own her level too
05-02-2017, 07:44 PM
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Those aren't "known issues", that's maintenance for a car with 125K miles on it. Pumps wear out and leak/make noise.
The O2 sensors have a degradation of performance over their lifetime, due to the design of the sensing element. On old cars, it was actually scheduled at a certain mileage interval to replace them. Now it's assumed they are ok enough unless you have fault codes, as the computer will compensate for wear to a point.
Full fluid flush, again I would call maintenance, but in general at that age you are looking for more problems than you will prevent. I'd leave it be unless you are having issues. You're already getting new coolant with the water pump, p/s fluid with that pump. Oil changes are regular. Trans fluid, if you aren't sure about its history let it be, if it's been flushed at 80k and is due then have at it, do a full conductor plate service or just leave it alone. What other fluids, brake fluid?
At this age, drive it, fix things that break as they go. It's an old car.
I like to check rockauto.com for a baseline to compare part prices to. Some of the vendors on here are very good though and will be right in the same ballpark, such as FCPeuro or whoever you prefer.
The O2 sensors have a degradation of performance over their lifetime, due to the design of the sensing element. On old cars, it was actually scheduled at a certain mileage interval to replace them. Now it's assumed they are ok enough unless you have fault codes, as the computer will compensate for wear to a point.
Full fluid flush, again I would call maintenance, but in general at that age you are looking for more problems than you will prevent. I'd leave it be unless you are having issues. You're already getting new coolant with the water pump, p/s fluid with that pump. Oil changes are regular. Trans fluid, if you aren't sure about its history let it be, if it's been flushed at 80k and is due then have at it, do a full conductor plate service or just leave it alone. What other fluids, brake fluid?
At this age, drive it, fix things that break as they go. It's an old car.
I like to check rockauto.com for a baseline to compare part prices to. Some of the vendors on here are very good though and will be right in the same ballpark, such as FCPeuro or whoever you prefer.
05-03-2017, 05:30 PM
#6
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For your noise from the "water pump" I would start by replacing your idler pulley and I usually go ahead and do the tensioner pulley and serpentine belt while I am at it. That cured my "water pump noise" that actually wasn't the water pump at all.
I bought mine at 100,000 miles and things I have replaced:
> valve cover gasket
> oil and filter (obviously)
> transmission fluid
> differential fluid (rear pumpkin only at this time)
> liftgate struts
> motor mounts (are starting to go, have replacements in my garage need to find time to do it)
> AC temp sensor (behind dash under driver footwell - can reach up there to replace)
> blower motor and fan
> Defrost stepper motor/arm broken (haven't replaced - planning to tackle that one eventually - any one of the 4-6 motors/arms can break and require removing dash to access some - but not all - of them)
I bought mine at 100,000 miles and things I have replaced:
> valve cover gasket
> oil and filter (obviously)
> transmission fluid
> differential fluid (rear pumpkin only at this time)
> liftgate struts
> motor mounts (are starting to go, have replacements in my garage need to find time to do it)
> AC temp sensor (behind dash under driver footwell - can reach up there to replace)
> blower motor and fan
> Defrost stepper motor/arm broken (haven't replaced - planning to tackle that one eventually - any one of the 4-6 motors/arms can break and require removing dash to access some - but not all - of them)
