Benz electric window battle

[DrEntropy]

After about a decade with the right rear window in Diesela taped up with aluminum duct tape, decided to take it apart and FIX it. Got the regulator out to find it all bent from straining against a window track felt that had been more like a C-clamp than a seal. Four hours of faffin' around with a 16-oz "soft blow" hammer, pry-bars, silicone lubes and bearing grease. Disassembled the motor, lubed it and tested with a 12V power supply. Got it all back together again and went to complete the "Ten Times Test"... five cycles through and on number six it stalled half-way up. Thumped the inner panel a couple times and it completely closed. Pulled the switch back out and will NOT attempt to use that window again. Problem solved.

 

[Gliderman8]

Try resetting the ECU code for a non-operating window... oh wait, you have to get the reset code from the dealer

 

[NutmegCT]

Did a 1984 Mercedes have an ECU?

 

[Gliderman8]

Did a 1984 Mercedes have an ECU?

I wasn't serious Tom... just virtually pulling docs leg

 

[DrEntropy]

Try resetting the ECU code for a non-operating window... oh wait, you have to get the reset code from the dealer

Local "dealer" seems to have dropped all models made before 1989.

Can you imagine?!?

 

[JPSmit]

I may have pointed you in the direction of these before but, this guy is a genius.

 

[LarryK]

Most dealers don't want anything 10 yrs or older, except to sell. Places here charge double time for older cars.

 

[DrEntropy]

I may have pointed you in the direction of these before but, this guy is a genius.

Not so much genius as experienced. I've seen a couple of his videos.

Diesela's regulators are the alloy type, managed to beat this one back into submission. I'm certain the motor is tired, the brushes are down to nubbins.

Most dealers don't want anything 10 yrs or older, except to sell. Places here charge double time for older cars.

We didn't take in anything (usually) built after 1985, work was by the hour, book times were only a suggestion.

A guy with a Corniche convertible INSISTED we fix the intermittent wiper feature, diagnosed it to be the timer device. A $600 "black box" (likely just a 555 timer chip and input/output plug) 5"x5"x3"... it was seemingly put in at factory before dash and windshield were installed. Explained to him it'd be easier to just flick the wipers on and off again. In the end it cost him over $2K for me to R&R the facia and instruments to swap out that box. He was happy as a clam to pay up.

 

[Popeye]

Sounds like an adventure - alloys can become quite brittle, and breaking them is no fun.

However, I was under the impression that Mercedes did a good job of parts support for older models. (Assume at a price!) Is this not the case? (Given an infinitely deep wallet, can one buy a new window regulator?)

 

[DrEntropy]

They're available, but: that window is seldom used, my twisting and beating were judiciously applied so as to NOT crack the thing, the alloy would either be straightened or there'd have been a wood "clothes prop" to keep the glass in position as I hunted down a used one.

As it is, the thing works so far. Now I may be inspired to fix the A/C, its only been dysfunctional for a decade.
I just got a replacement console A/C & heater control from an Ebay ad a few weeks ago. That requires pulling half the dash apart to deal with! Maybe I can find the faulty wiring for the radio while I'm in there. That's got about ten splices in four extra feet of junk wires and "wire nuts" as connections.

 

[LarryK]

R-134a conversion is not cheap, R-12 is like gold.

 

[DrEntropy]

R-134a conversion is not cheap, R-12 is like gold.

Hence the decade-long hiatus!

 

[LarryK]

I watch craigslist and have been buying 12. $30 a can.

 

[DrEntropy]

I'll need to pay attention to CL then. Rather just change out the receiver-dryer and vacuum it down than go thru the drill (and expense) of conversion to 134a. We'll see.