W126 560SEL...A couple of questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Vladamir · #1 09-04-2006, 11:24 AM

Hi,

Just acquired a 1986 560SEL with 107,000 miles and a full MB Service history.

It would appear that the car has been sitting for quite a few years due to the death of the previous owner and the fact that his widow was not ready to sell the car.

The car drives well and oil pressure is good etc etc, however, almost all of the warning lights on the dash are lit up, ie ABS, Low Washer Fluid, Low Coolant, Low Oil Pressure and Low Coolant......the car coolant is fine and runs just below 90 and the oil pressure is good and the oil is just below max.

Therefore makes me think its electrical...any thoughts on what this could be?

Secondly, and I need to check this in more detail, but after driving the car home, I noticed that there was a trace of oil leaking from one of the wheel nuts on the rear wheel....smelt and felt like engine oil, which it obviously couldn't be....dark golden colour....any thoughts??

Many thanks

Vlad

jdc1244 · #2 09-04-2006, 08:11 PM

That all the fluid indicator lights and the ABS light are on is strange. What about the low brake fluid light, the front pad wear light, the SRS light, and the charging system failure light? The oil can icon is the low crankcase oil level light, btw – as you noted the oil pressure is monitored by the dash gauge.

The first thing you should do is replace all the stock fuses with brass/copper alloy fuses. The alloy fuses can be bought on most of the online stores and eBay.

As for the oil on the wheel I’d inspect the diff/rear axle assembly and rear calipers for leaks. If everything is dry and intact back there I would not worry about the oil.

Snibble · #3 09-04-2006, 08:27 PM

To add to JDC's comments... I'd also look into getting a new timing chain and tensioners installed with the mileage you currently have. Especially since the tensioners were not oiled since sitting out for a while without having oil circulating.

Gilly · #4 09-04-2006, 08:29 PM

I was waiting to see what anyone else had to say about this. Actually the only one that made sense was the ABS light, this is probably a blown fuse in the OVP. Or it could be a bad wheel speed sensor too.
The other things are all pretty unrelated, but hey you COULD have a bad washer level sensor, oil level sensor, and antifreeze level sensor I guess. I see nothing related here. Maybe bc the car was sitting so long??
I'd tackle them one at a time.
Gilly

davestlouis · #5 09-04-2006, 08:52 PM

I would be inclined to see if the lights extinguish themselves as the car comes back to life, as long as it seems mechanically intact. I would agree with the recommendation about the timing chain too, better safe than sorry. Getting it up to full operating temp then changing every fluid you can change wouldn't hurt either. Tires are likely to be dried-out and flat-spotted or at least out-of-round from sitting...the fuel districubor could also flake-out on you too...thanks for Bosch K-Jet fuel injection, but if it's running now it's probably OK. Neat car if you can chase all ot the gremlins away.

Vladamir · #6 09-05-2006, 03:11 PM

Thanks guys.....I'm going to pull all of the fuses out and clean them up and see if that makes any difference.

Just out of interest, where is the OVP located in a W126....I'm familiar with W124's but this is my first W126.

Interestingly I found a big multi pinned relay in the trunk of the car...looks new as its boxed....its not an OVP, or least I don't think it is as the OVP on a W124 has a fuse on the top, whereas this one is about 3" long by 2" high.

Many thanks

Vlad

MikeTangas · #7 09-05-2006, 11:06 PM

The OVP is located just inboard of the master cylinder. Should be the only silver colored piece on that side, easy to locate with its red flip top. Under the flip top you will find one, maybe two depending on which series OVP, 10 amp blade type fuse(s).

MikeTangas · #8 09-05-2006, 11:07 PM

I just noticed you're located in England. If the cra is RHD I am not sure where the OVP resides. The part will look the same on either side of the pond.

Gilly · #9 09-05-2006, 11:42 PM

At any rate, you'll see the OVP (with the fuse on top) between the double firewall, in the rear of the engine bay. I think it's near the mono water valve.
On the relay you found it's maybe a fuel pump relay or ac compressor (Klima) relay. The Klima realy says "Klima" on it, the fuel pump relay will have the cylinder number on it (6 ZYL or 8 ZYL) and also an RPM listed, which is the fuel safety cut off rpm.
Gilly

Vladamir · #10 09-08-2006, 12:15 PM

Fuse on the OVP is fine, however, is there any way to check to see if the OVP is functioning correctly, ie on some relays you can take them out and if nothing happens they are faulty.....also in the in the case of W124's I know that they suffer from internal break down between the soldered joints which does not effect the fuse on the top of the relay....is this the case for W126's and if so what are the symptoms?

On my W126 when I take the relay out and start the car up, nothing changes, ie all the warning lights light up, however, the car starts and runs just fine.

I also had a look at the fuses in the fuse box and they were all corroded, however, having cleaned them its made very little change.

The relay that I found in the trunk turns out to be the big relay that lives next to the air-con relay that has Klima stamped on the top....any idea what my relay looks after.

Any idea's or tips.

Many thanks

johnlo · #11 09-09-2006, 08:19 PM

i have a 90 560 sel when i remove my ovp the car wont turn over at all- you can leave the ovp in and take out the fuse and it wont crank either. but with it plugged in it starts but runs really rough- wont idle at all though- does this mean my ovp is ok? mines not red topped its black? part #'s match up but not color?