I met my in-laws for lunch at Eastgate Shopping Center yesterday. After lunch and since it was a clear hot day, we decided to go to the flea market in Raleigh for a few hours. Of course, I leave my car while I ride with them.

When it was time to pick up my car, the water was up to the middle of the front bumper (inches away from the passenger side fender gills) and the water was still rising.

Obviuosly, water flooded in when i opened the door. I could not close it properly either. The car started and I drove on the sidewalk to dry land! I could not have done that in a big S-class.

So now the aftermath. The carpet is wet (i had to use a coffee cup as bailer) and the sun is not due to come out until Thursday.

And the biggie...the alternator is dead.

Do you guys recommend replacing the alternator or do you think the replacing the voltage regulator will do the trick?

Here is a news link regarding the flood.
Rain drenches central NC :: WRAL.com

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

That`s too bad, at least your 190 wasn`t totaled, but that is nasty water when things flood. better pull the carpet and seats out to get things dried out. You have the electric seats? there will be problems with the motors etc...

I have a carpet upholstery shampooer I got a walmart called the little green machine. that would be good to suck out the water in the carpets and off the floor.

With the Alternator down so low, it got soaked with Silt laden water, and that will grind away at the bearings etc... could be just the VR need replacing and you would be good to go for a while.

Looking at the news link, you did have some serious amount of water dumped on you. some of the cars looked like stacked up Cord Wood.

If this is one of your Summer showers, hate to see what you get in the winter.

Out here in the west there is a different story. we have this heat wave cooking things, and that bad fire in Arizona that killed 19 Fire Fighters yesterday.
A wildfire burns homes in Yarnell, Ariz. on Sunday, June 30, 2013. An Arizo...

YARNELL, Ariz. (AP) —



Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

good point about the silt on the bearings. i will have to carefully check it out. thanks.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

x2 on the shampoo and VR.

I'd just run the alt with a new VR, but expect it to fail in the back of your mind eventually.

Did any water get into the rear diff?

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Seats and carpet are easy to pull in a 190. I'd get those out and put a fan running inside the car. Good excuse to perform a through cleaning on the interior.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

good tip. thanks. i will pull the carpet in the fall when the mower biz slows down.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I would pull the carpet now, or they will not dry out for a long time and will mildew.

what about the water trapped under the carpet and the floor insulation? think about rust.

Dry out the seat tracks and or electric motors. also think about the silt in the tracks once it dry`s and some corrosion starts. of course if your yr 190 has the electric motors they will most likely be toast anyway.

I have seen a few 123`s I tried to pull the front seats. the captive nut on the clip for the rear bolts will get so rusted it and the bolt will just spin.
this is another good reason to take things apart. I would add a dab of Anti-Seiz to the threads.

Isn`t there a electric vac pump under the rear seat for the door locks?


Simpler=Better..... is there a front Differential too? you mentioned the rear diff. Just funning with you.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

x2 on pulling the carpets ASAP.

When I drive in reverse I like to think of my rear diff as being the front diff ....or something like that....

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I doubt the car is a 4matic .
X10000 on removing the carpet ASAP!!!!! ALL the electronics will be junk by fall...pull everything apart and rinse with distilled water NOW!!!
The seat/window switches too!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I built a PVC can to vacuum out my cell phone... Wish I had one big enough to evacuate your car...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Definitely get that carpet out ASAP. Make a day out of pulling the seats and carpet. You can literally have the stuff out and put back in an afternoon. If the carpets are still soaked, get a bunch of towels, put them over the carpet, and walk over it until the towel is soaked, then use another towel till the towel doesn't get wet. Then put the carpets in front of a fan.

Get the floor dried up, vacuum out any excess water, etc. You do not want that water sitting there. AS everyone has said, it will rust the seat bolts, rust the seat tracks, ruin the motors, etc. Not to mention rusting the floor, it's just all bad.

Glad you were able to get the car out of the water. Good luck with getting it all sorted out!

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1984 Mercedes-Benz 300D

Ben, its only (4) 10mm bolts per seat and then 1 bolt per seat belt. The floor carpeting just snaps in. If you hustle you can have it out in 30 minutes. Leave the side and tunnel carpeting in and run the fan as they will drain down and dry with the air circulation.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

does anyone have a good source of carpet for the car? i might as well change it

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

here are some pictures....where i am holding my hand was the height of the water.

Attached Thumbnails

         

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

i pulled up the carpet and installed an oscillating fan. it isn't supposed to be sunny until the 4th so that will have to do.

i might remove the center console tomorrow and totally remove the carpet. i am just too freakin' tired right now to do it.

thanks to everyone especially those who encouraged me to remove the carpet.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo