When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
2003 SL55 AMG, 1989 348 Challenge, 1987 Testarossa, 1992 F40, 1989 Mondial t cab, 2001 X5 4.4 Sport
Stranded in Durango, CO.
Hi guys
We took the GLC on a road trip from Phoenix to Vail, CO. As we are leaving Durango and heading on our last leg to Phoenix, we started the car and got 'Coolant Level Low'. NAPA was next to the hotel. Got some approved coolant of the right spec. My wife filled it up while I was doing other things and off we go. We get about 5 miles out of town and the coolant light is back. Turns out she didn't put the cap back on. Fortunately it wasn't lost. Filled it back up. Put cap on and off we go. CEL comes on and it starts running rough. I suggest we go back. Stop at Autozone and they can scan it.
It looks like multiple misfires, but there is a CPU fault and a low power supply. Oh, by the way...... the coolant is low again. I'm thinking that the low battery may be causing the misfires, but there is also a coolant leak. Are there any common coolant leak locations. It's Saturday 9/13. There are no MB dealers here and the 2 shops that say the do Mercs are closed. If anyone is local and has some suggestions or has a place we can take it to as all my tools and lift are at home, I would appreciate any help. Send a PM if you can help. Thanks. Attached are the scans from AutoZone.
That's unfortunate! Durango is the worst place to have problems with your Mercedes...not a lot of places to take it....that's more of a Toyota or Subaru type of town!
I picked up my GLC43 from my folks who live in Durango and drove it home to the east coast...nice 3 day drive...
They didn't want the GLC43 any longer because there were no reliable places to maintain it! They either had to drive it up north to the Denver area or down south to the Santa Fe area (that's where the GLC43 is from, Santa Fe)
So they got a Toyota Highlander and told me to come and get the GLC43!
Anyway, that being said, the best place to reach out to Animas Imports LLC
29420 US Hwy 160E
Durango CO 81303
970-259-2880
When I was there, I talked to Dana Lashbrooke. He's the owner. It also looks like they go by the name of Animas Automotive.
Nice guy. Really knows his stuff. He completely rebuilt the wiring on the GLC43 due to mouse incursion! I've been driving the GLC43 now for almost 2 years and no problems from his wiring repair!
Heck, my dad still brings his 2005 E350 to him, so he may even know him by name!
Looking at the folder of paperwork my dad gave me with the GLC43, I do see another invoice from a company called:
Stones Garage
113 Co Rd 250
Durango CO 81301
970-247-9786
I don't know too much about them, but the invoice I'm looking at says that they replaced the lower oil pan gasket on the GLC43 and the price looks rather reasonable...
They also look like they go by the name "Affordable Automotive"
Unfortunately, that seems to be all there is in Durango...It's not much...but you may have some luck with.
Good luck!
Hey, I am on my way out there (in an airplane). We may change our destination as we have tickets to the funeral (Kirk) and may go to Moab and then to AZ...
2003 SL55 AMG, 1989 348 Challenge, 1987 Testarossa, 1992 F40, 1989 Mondial t cab, 2001 X5 4.4 Sport
I appreciate you guys reaching out. Thanks to the guys who PM'd. It helped me to think this through.
After the Autozone codes (cleared up after everything dried), the truck transport debacle that never worked out (I think the Russians have taken over that biz and they suck and are a bunch of criminals.) and the lack of any shops...... I fixed it in the hotel parking lot.
I could see no leaks and there was never a puddle under the car. I thought that maybe when the cap was off that maybe a lot of fluid was lost from the cap being off and it sucked in some air in the system. We bought 2 gallon of coolant and gradually added coolant, ran the car, watched the bubbles come out......level would drop. Add more coolant... repeat. After doing this 4X, level stayed up and temp was stable.
Car is fine. Drove back to Phoenix without incident. I still can't believe it puked almost 2 gallons of coolant.
Had the same thing happen with my 2012 Jeep Overland with the 5.7L Hemi. Upper radiator hose blew off and I thought I lost only a little bit of coolant...but after one gallon, it's still taking coolant! Almost 2 gallons later, and burping the air out (the 5.7L has a purge port that makes this easy) the Jeep drove without overheating...Th entire issue was my fault because I was very averse to overtightening the radiator hose given that it clamps to a plastic fitting...didn't want to crack the radiator inlet by overtightening!
But good for figuring that out! Heck, I've replaced water pumps and alternators in auto parts parking lots before...so I have a bit of reference to your situation!
Ed
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
