260e electrical problems

[Hooli]

Hi,
i'm new to this part of PH as i only got a merc last week. its a bargain barge 1990 260e & ive just got a couple of problems i've been unable to solve.
they are
clock doesnt keep time
temp gauge never goes above 50c
oil pressure gauge is always on max

now im not worried about the clock, it sometimes keeps time, it sometimes doesnt. so i guess its just worn out.
im pretty certain the car runs at the right temp, from how hot the heater is to the fact it does the right sort of mpg. that along with the fact it sounds fine & doesnt leak at every pore also suggests the oil pressure is infact ok.
what i cant do is find the temp sensor & the oil pressure sensor. i've got to be missing something obvious as i know my way around engines ok but i just cant see them. could someone please tell me where they are?

[iluvmercs]

Hi Hooli.

Welcome to the MB Section

2 of the 3 problems you've described may not be totally electrical. I'm not sure about the clock not keeping time - that's not something I've heard of before.
As for the oil pressure, it should be at 1.5 - 3 bar at all times while the car is switched one. I used to run a 230E, where it would be a 3 bar all the time. My newer E320 (still W124-series) is at 3 bar whilst the engine revs are off idle, and whilst at idle will be at 1.5 bar. It's all correct, according to my trusted Merc Specialist.
Finally, you described the engine temp guage not going above 50 degrees. I would get this checked. I had the same problem on my 230E, and it turned out to be the thermostat, IIRC. It was a few years ago, so I'm afraid I cannot remember how much it cost to repair

Hope this helps!

Darren

[Hooli]

the oil pressure is definatly a fault with the gauge system - it reads full without the engine running.
i hear what your saying about the thermostat but the heater gets too hot for me to think that. 50c is barely warm when it comes to heater output.

[Parrot of Doom]

Lots of guys here running those cars:

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php

You'll find a wealth of info on there.

[Hooli]

Parrot of Doom said:

Lots of guys here running those cars:

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php

You'll find a wealth of info on there.

ahh excellent cheers

[bolide]

The oil pressure gauge pinned at 3 I've seen on a couple of W124s. It's a gauge fault

I've never seen a Mercedes clock that keeps anything but perfect time so I can't help with that

Temp gauge problem may be caused by a failed thermostat. Or possibly a bad sender or dash voltage regulator?

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Edited by bolide on Saturday 29th December 21:58

[Hooli]

im suspecting the sensor for the temp, i just havent found it yet. was hoping for a suggestion of where it is.
ive read on another forum that disconnecting the sensors makes the gauges read max, which could be the problem with the oil pressure gauge. the gauge cant be stuck as it drops to the bottom when the ignition is switched off.

if the 'stat was stuck i wouldnt expect a decent hot heater as they normally stick open in my experience. also a stuck stat would tend to give hot heater when motoring dropping to cold when parked in my experience & the heather is a constant temp - which leads me to think the engine is at the right temp, its a gauge/sensor fault.