Epic tale of dragons, suffering, perseverence, and friendship! Sorry you didn't get the car. Glad you have friends.
Kyle On Jan 17, 2017 12:18 AM, "Curley McLain via Mercedes" < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > I got there Thurs morning to pick up the car. It started and idled and > revved up ok in the parking lot. Very solid car that had been maintained, > but sat for the last 2 years (according to seller) It may have sat for 4 > or 5 years. > Dash was uncracked. very quiet and smooth running. Under 100k miles. > > I drove it 3-4 blocks to the gas station to dilute the stale gas. As I > turned into the station, it started to miss. I put 10 gal of gas in it, > and figured that would straighten it out, or it needed a filter. I let it > run in the parking lot a while and it seemed ok. Took off to buy some new > tars, and it acted like it ran out of gas. Restarted, repeat. etc. until I > got to pep boys. NO filter there. There was a oreally across from the gas > station, so I headed there, again running 100' to 100 yards at a time > before it died. Made it there to oreally. No filter, but they will have > one at 3 pm. So, I waited the 3 hrs. got the filter, thne drove around to > find a place I could get the back tires up on a curb so I could crawl > under. Changed filter. Had a gas leak. Took it out and tried again. > This time, no leak. no improvement. > > So I pulled off the air cleaner. discovered the lines out of the fuel > distr are 12mm. no 12 mm wrench along... I cracked the fuel line before > and after the dealie by the distr. (pressure regulator?) Good flow and > good pressure at both places. It seems like there is good clean fuel to > the distr. I got it running again, but still missing. Decided to try to > get it back to PO or at least to oreally. It missed and sputtered going > down the street, then took off like a raped ape for a second or two, it > seemed to be running on all 8 cyl. It seemed for a second that it had > passed whatever (was causing the problem) and would be ok. Then it died. > It would not restart. After several restart tries, I pushed it back so > cars could get around and stop at the stop sign. > > finally called AAA. while waiting an hour for them, I remembered the > 300TE and how it acted when the coil died. It was very similar, and I > thought it was fuel starvation. So when the tow truck came, I had him pull > it to oreally. No coil for the car there, and none in Fla. I bought a > generic coil and put it in. Still no improvement. > > I had contacted Dan and he recommended a place for diagnosis. It was > about 7 blocks away, so I decided to try getting there. It was now dark. > I got it running fairly well, so I thought it might be able to make it to > the shop. it was about the same distance to that shop or to the PO. PO > said he would not be around Friday. I got a few blocks, and it died in an > intersection. I pushed it out of the intersection and kept trying to > restart with no luck. I was passed by 4 empty roll offs and 3 empty tow > trucks, but none seemed interested in a fare. I finally called for a tow. > Then a guy stopped and offered to tow for $40 while the place I called had > a $75 hook up charge, So I hired him and cancelled the other guy. I > debated taking to the shop or just towing back to the PO. I went ahead and > took it to the shop. > > Then I had to carry my stuff the mile or so to the closest hotel. Got > there, and they said my reservation was for jan22, no rooms, etc (take a > hike) The desk guy was the first rude aussie I ever encountered. After 40 > min on hold on their 800 number, I noticed the nasty aussie dude was gone > and two ladies were at the counter. I went up and explained the problem to > them and asked if they could help. It turned out one was the General > Manager. She found a room for me. > > Over night I was thinking about the situation, and if I should spend money > to fix the car or just take it back. I got up early and walked to the shop > where the car was before they opened. Explained to the owner what > happened, and he said it would cost a min of $105 to diagnose, then it > could be a fuel distributor or any number of items.($$$ to $$$$) Before > starting the work, I decided to check with Dan. He said he would haul me > up to Manfred's. That was a big point of decision. I decided to cut my > losses, called the tow truck again, and waited. > > When the truck came, I had him haul it up to the PO. I took some pictures > to prove to the PO i had returned it. Sat in the dead car and pondered > what next. So I called a friend who used to live in the St. Pete area > because I figured he might be in FL now. He was but was in far S FL > camping on Marco Island. I walked to the end of the block where a little > food stand was next to a handrolled cigar factory. I got a pork sanwich > and a lime ade. THAT was super! It was a GREAT cuban sandwich. Walked > back to the car and was gathering up my stuff for the walk back to the > hotel, when the PO drove in. We made peace, I ended up with my money back, > and he left. He said it is likely some little stupid thing is causing the > problem, and I agree, it probably is some little thing. I think there is a > screen somewhere at the engine. It could be that screen is plugged, but > without the right tools and testing equip along, it is hard to troubleshoot > on the roadside. > > I had also tried calling another guy I know who is very good with M116 > engines, although 500 miles away. I think he could have helped me diagnose > it over the phone. But he was away, dealing with the effects of his > deceased son. (that is a horrible thing to have to deal with) > > Gathered up my stuff and walked back to the hotel. No reservation this > time. NO room....SOS. SO I said I would sit there until there was a > cancellation. aAfter an hour or so, the manager came by and she said she'd > get me a room. I had to wait maybe another hour until they got a room > ready, but I got my room and went to sleep. After a while, I went out to > get some food, then crashed for the night. > > Dan was kind enough to haul me along up to Manfred's. Manfred and June > truly rolled out the southern hospitality. They were most kind. > > Manfred was kind enough to haul me to gainesville so I could ride the dog > home. > > Riding the dog is a trip! > > So, no car. With the other obligations I have, I figured out before I > went to pick it up, that i'd probably not have time to start on my projects > until fall/winter of 2017. So maybe it is ok to not have the car sitting > around. > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
