i got estimate for $ 12000 because they (mercedes dealer) couldn't pinpoint bad high fuel pressure sensor what cost around $80 with the tax ,exactly same car GL 450
Tain't nothing bad about that. All makes have fan boys. I've been with Citroën for so long, barely any other make matters. But, I have warmed to the Mercedes W123/124 and W210 wagons. 🍻
@@NonNone-qm4zi When you and your buddy are finished rubbing helmets. Maybe you can tell me why one needs their own channel to be able to tell the difference between entertainment (which this creator is very good at) and the diagnostic expertise of a master mechanic. You fan boys are really something sometimes.
@@giggiddy his diagnosis was spot on in this video. Rule everything out and replace a DI injector. PCM appears to be the ultimate fix, but I would not have left that injector in there either
I never get bored with any of your video's. My vote is to continue doing what you have been doing. Grab any free vehicle that you have an interest in. We benefit from your thorough and meticulous diagnosis. Happy Christmas!
Depends on the owner's financial situation, sometimes donating a car and deduct a fair market price from your income is more beneficial than dumping the car at auction to recoup couple hundred bucks. Keep in mind that IRS has no idea about the mechanical situation of the vehicle and only check for the year and mileage in case of an audit.
Waldo, I can't quite explain why but you are my favourite car guy by a mile (or km). You're cognition/delivery is based on sound reasoning and logic, making everything so transparent and easy to follow. I reckon we are learning more from you than just car fixes!!! Please do as many series as you wish on as many interesting cars as you get your hands on AND stuff on your house, trailer, heavy equipment - the whole ensemble is varied and interesting. I was ill recently and rewatched all your videos again.Fantastic. Merry Christmas and thank you from Bonnie Scotland
Great to see someone really troubleshooting . My late father and I used to work together on them. He passed on his knowledge and for that I’m thankful. So for me having the E 350 4 matic is somewhat a trip down memory lane. I’m amazed how well it does in the snow here in New Hampshire. Again it is great to see someone who will dig deep for answers.
Waldo I'm curious how much did all those parts cost and what would the difference be if all were purchased from the dealership? I have a college professor acquaintance who likes Mercedes but isn't mechanically inclined, this he spends lots on repairs, even at the Euro repair shop. Merry Christmas and a happy New year.
This may sound funny, but be careful kicking off wheels when they are stuck on the hub. I've been doing it long enough to see all kinds of crazy things happen. Simple solution: just thread one lug bolt back in a couple turns to act as a tether from the wheel going crazy once removed. It's also a bit easier to donkey kick it from the back, much more leverage, and almost 100% successful for me at least. My coworker had a wheel bounce back up and hit him in the chin. I had a stuck wheel fall off while I was turning the opposite wheel with it up in the air, the wheel fell off the hub on an angle, ricocheted back and put a big old dent in the fender.
It was very informative to watch I had a misfortune, I was diagnosed with ovaian caancer. I also created a channel and am trying to move in that direction, but so far not very successful(n55
A guy I know built a road for off road vehicles , he told me the most amazing thing he experienced was "taken for a run in a GL , he told me "it was almost as good off road as the G wagon " . Thank you for the videos , Happy Christmas from Scotland !
A couple of things for you to know. 1. On the m278, it's usually the camshaft sensors that push the oil into the harness. Replace them 2. With that cylinder scoring, the mechanic recommended engine replacement because it'll burn lots of oil which will also damage the cats. Usually it doesn't misfire, it's an oil consumption concern.
This video was so good, from the thorough explanation of each diagnostic procedure, to properly recording the screen for the ECU clone, to successfully fixing the free car. Well done.
Your level of being brave and scared to take on any project Waldo is on another level. Looking forward to episode 2 when you do thorough maintenance work.
Very good choice on those blizzaks. I have the same model and I have trouble losing traction in the snow even when I attempt to lose it just to see where the limit is. The grip is incredible.
Thanks for the videos over the year. It is a big inspiration for doing things better as an engineer. 3 videos for next year: gooseneck , update on all cars and machines and free car video series !
One helpful tip when diagnosing a dead miss is to not swap the plug and coil together when testing to see if it moves. Swap the plug and coil to different cylinders each so that if it moves, you immediately know what the problem is.
One of my favorite videos. You are so calm by what we see. I'm 62 and I cuss and throw shit when working on a car. Love that you have the tire changing equipment too . Keep up the free car fix.
Wow, misdiagnosis is a big problem for customers. Glad you are doing videos on how to fix problems on these cars. Nice Christmas present for you. Happy Christmas and holidays.
Modern cars require a different kind of mechanic. There are still plenty of mechanical bits to work on, but really you need the brain of an electrical engineer added in. So much of modern mechanics is not just to read error codes, but using tools to then isolate what that code means. A mechanic who can do amazing things with a classic car might be pretty hopeless solving issues with a modern car (the reverse is also true). Thanks for the great story telling. You do such a great job explaining what you are doing and why. Right up there with Ed China and Ant Anstead... there are few TH-cam channels or car repair shows where the hosts do a great job of really getting into the thought process required to get to the bottom of a problem. You do that amazingly well. Happy Holidays
A couple things to help you out. I did exactly that repair on a customers car last week. Firstly, the programming code for the injector amounts is on the connector of the injector itself (check the instructions that came in the Bosch box). That needs to be updated into the ECU. Secondly, oil wicking happens not only from the camshaft adjuster solenoids, but also from the camshaft positioning sensors. It is recommended to replace all four of each. While you're at it, the front timing covers usually leak and contaminate the ancillaries below like the alternator, which I had to replace once on another car because of that. Also very common for this engine is a bad PCV/AOS combo for partial and full throttle. Those are two different components. One is the black plastic box on the bank 2 valve cover with the hose leading to the intake pipe and the other one is the cover plate and centrifuge behind the bank 1 cylinder head. Also, have a look at the engine mounts. They are always toast on these vehicles.
Yup he will be misfiring on that new injector. People now a days think you can just put on a new part & go. Almost everything needs to be coded. They are amazed that you have to reset the battery resistance in the FT sam when you replace a battery or it will cook it.
Like 3 decades ago I had the engine rebuilt for my 1970 429 SCJ Torino. The machine shop explained that they could bore and shelf the cylinders so I could have liners like a diesel engine. The engine was rebuilt again in 2021 and they same machine was able to remove and replace the liners after a broken ring scored the liner pretty bad. The beauty is that my engine was able to have 7 liners honed and one replaced, yet besides the original over bore, the cylinders don't get any thinner from traditional boring or honing from multiple rebuilds. Great vid Waldo
You ARE the man. I wasn't sure when I first started watching the channel, but when I saw how well you did with the little 53 series DD I became a believer, and ever since I've enjoyed watching you do the kind of stuff I did 50 or so years ago when the cars were way (way) easier to work on. Merry Christmas!
Another great video! Others have said it and I agree: your channel is my favorite car channel. Your explanation style gives enough detail to be interesting without being boring, you find really interesting vehicles to work on, and you do a great job with the video itself. You have a really great editing style…without all the blaring hard rock that so many car and “maker” channels resort to. I watch all of your videos without skipping through (I can’t say that about other channels).
255/55/20 tires can't have the same diameter than 275/55/20 55 is a % of the width so you should have a bigger sidewall on narrower tires to compensate.
The sidewall will be the same height on diameter matching tire. It will just be a 60/20 instead of the 55/20. you need a larger % of the narrower width to reach the same sidewall height. You're close.
@@kirkstrope676 You give two opposed informations in your sentence. You can't have a same sidewall height on a narrower tire if you keep the original perimeter.
Yea you can. A 255/60/20 is the same height as a 275/55/20. The sidewall will be the same height on both tire. The overall height is the same on the same 20inch rim. Therefore the sidealls are the same. 151mm on one and 153mm on the other
The middle number is not the sidewall height. It is the sidewall height as a function of the sectional width. Aka the % of the width that is the height
Keep your hand off the bead breaker bar after it makes contact with the tire, that secondary motion where the bead actually breaks and that snaps forward will literally break your hand if you're holding on to it when working on the wrong tire, I've seen guys lose fingernails and break fingers etc, once it touches the tire you no longer touch it stay safe.
Thanks for just staying on format during the holidays. I remember watching Motor Week in the 90s and I just don't know why but you give off that good feel yet knowledgable vibe when talking about your cars that reminds me of that show. Love it and keep doing what your doing!
I live in France, near Paris and I have to drive a tiny Kia (so tiny that you can't see or buy in the us) So seeing you in your barn, with snow around, repairing big mercedes cars, is a trip of his own for me. :) My suggestion would be to add a car review to your videos, not a mechanical review, but a quick tour of the car. That GL450 is more than 10 years old, but it's still a dream car for a lot of people.
At one point in the video you can see the exterior temperature display on the dash, and it shows 16°F. which is -9°C. Waldo is working in his shop under rather frigid conditions!
Awesome video, I was captivated the entire time! I have delusions of one day picking up a 2005-2006 W211 CDI, but no time for it right now. These videos help scratch the itch. Merry Christmas!
We bought a used 2006 merc e350 4-Matic wagon in 2014 with 67k on the clock….pampered the hell out of it over the next 9 years and the engine failed catastrophically at 120k miles …never liked that car but my wife liked it…so we junked it and happened to stumble on another used 2015 e 350 4matic wagon with just 39k miles in cherry condition.. she’s thrilled but I’m wary…don’t trust the newer generation of Benz’s. I owned an 88 420 sel for 36 years and put 350k miles on it …it was bombproof.
Except this is the salt-belt, we want them to be able to be removed in an emergency with a flat on the side of the road with hand tools if needed. Did you see how difficult it was to remove them, imagine fighting with that on the side of a dark snowy road, in the middle of nowhere.
@@tdotw77 maybe work them more often then? this is what i was though never put any lube on spark plug and lug bolts thread and only hand tight oil filter. Lube would alter the tension in the bolts way over spec if you use the factory torque setting.
Honestly love seeing your videos! A lot of attention to detail without the "fluff" you'd get from dealer or "pro" shop channels. Also, funny to imagine I've probably seen your cars around as a fellow New Hampshirite. Keep up the great content! Always learning something from you.
Well done, yes, I heard the cylinder scoring is a problem on these turbo engines. It is a problem with the Alusil coating and can lead to high oil consumption...
Well Waldo, I have to say I find your videos therapeutic, you are always wearing a smile and nothing seems to phase you my friend, keep up the good work, and of course you can make these kind of videos, they are really good !!
It would have been interesting to see the signals from the new ECU. I am pretty sure you are right with the interpretation how the signals should look like. Still, better to verify ;)
I do think a lot of these engines get condemned because of visual bore scoring. MB does have a bulletin showing you to identify "severe" scoring from normal scoring. If you examine the bores of a perfectly running M278 or M157, I am told they will all show some scoring. It's the compression that matters. And some of them WILL drop compression in severe cases, and also present with an audible tick from piston slap. And I would seriously consider just doing the other injectors at this point. Don't forget to code them in.
Most people do not care to take the time nor do they job correctly. It is a shame the other guy got the push around. I hope you do something good for others for the generosity of the car given to you. Great video always. Thanks and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Very important with those lug bolts that you break them loose by hand, and apply final torque with a torque wrench. Never use an impact tool with those. It appears they already lost their chrome cap, which means they’ve been run in and out with an impact tool. That is a big no no. Edit: you should check the cam position sensors for oil intrusion. I’ve seen plenty of those engines leak oil into the harness from those as well.
Thanks for the quick video before Christmas Waldo! I enjoy watching your content, there just something entertaining about the way you speak and present your repairs on camera. I bet you'd be really great company to have as a friend. Thanks again!
Absolutely goated video, Waldo! You are definitely my favorite car TH-camr out there. I study computer engineering in college and it was so nice to see the oscilloscope taken out - turns out what I’m learning right now can actually be useful in the future. Your steps to problem-solving is very inspiring.
Videos like these inspire me to do my own repairs.. But as soon as I even look at an engine bay some plastic or some screw always breaks..You make it look so easy!
I love the step by step walkthrough on troubleshooting and fixing. Your videos inspire me to want to do the same kind of repairs once I have the space to accommodate this kind of work
Or, they just wanted to sell them a new engine. I needed a timing chain repair on my Cadillac STS and took it to the stealership. They said it needed a new engine. I took it to a reputable independent repair shop and they fixed it for $1200 and it has run fine for a year now.
Yes!!! More Mercedes content, baby!!! I love it! I think you should give this car to a lucky viewer... Sure would look nice in the garage parked next to my E550.... 😉 Merry Christmas, buddy!
Warning about anti seize: literally says on the bottle "not for use on wheel lug nut or stud applications". Use something like blue Loctite. It will also not affect the required torque value.
This is the salt-belt. We anti-seize them to be able to remove them again. I put anti-seize on all 8 lugs on all 4 wheels.....never lost a wheel or had one lug loosen up on a 9000lb diesel truck. Warnings are to protect the company from lawsuits....it also says 'don't injest or inhale' too!
@@tdotw77 I live in the salt belt too. may be different if you're talking about a semi or something, but not on passenger stuff. for me, on the hubs sure but not the studs
@@Ben-in6qh but he won't clean it off before he sells it. don't know about your people but I know for sure most people aren't going to re-torque down the road. lucky if people even check their air, muchless rotate or torque on a regular basis
That joy when you feel when one of your favorite TH-cam car creators picks up the same model of car you own. Well almost, mine were the first Gen. I'm on my second gl450. The oil filter and cooler leaked on both of them. The fix is relatively straightforward. I'll have to check the wiring harness for oil. Thanks for the tip
So many videos telling how bad BMW, Audi and Merceders are. I had a BMW and Merceders, and drove them both to half a million kilometers. My latest BMW is now at 300.000km dealing with only the regulair service. Had some problems with the Merc on the injector that was solved with a new copper sealing ring of .50ct. Previous BMW had a broken turbo on 300.000 km (Garrett) and is now on 800.000 km according to the last time I spoke with the new owner. Seeing this video I would say many bad mechanics that do not know how to deal with a bit more advanced engines. Good to show videos like this!
I’ve been a European auto tech since I was like 19. I started on Mercedes but moved to BMW. Just liked BMW engineering compared to newer Mercedes. I can’t stand Audi engineering and despise those cars.
Good stuff. I'm beginning to appreciate these Mercs more and more. Thanks for showing that it is possible for a DIYer who's smarter than the average bear and willing to make the effort can own and repair them. Keep up the good work!
I am impressed how much you know about engines and cars in general. It looks like there is not a car item, you DON'T know anything about. Kudos! AND you got the same big machine tools as a real shop.
This was a great video as always! The only note I have is with anti-seize on lug nuts/lug bolts is that any lubricant will drastically change the reading of a torque wrench and it’s super easy to way over tighten them. It’s hard to find an exact number online about what the true reduction in torque you should use is based on the lubricant used (which anti-seize is) but do a little searching yourself as it’s an interesting topic! My suggestion is no anti-seize on the bolts/lugs and just clean them well and torque to spec and they should come off without too much drama in the future. I have seen broken wheel studs on vehicles from previous owners and every one has been over tightened with lubricant on them.
Fantastic work on saving another Benz, Karl would be really proud of you! Its a Yes for the Series! Thanks for the entertainment, kept me well engaged!😃
I pray whoever is reading this, that every ounce of fear, anxiety, and discouragement will be taken away. May God bring healing to your body as well, pain or discomfort must go! May God comfort you with his love and refill your heart, with His peace and strength. In the Name of Jesus Amen!
I have a GL too over here in the UK 🇬🇧. We don't get enough snow so I took mine to Norway to test it out in the snow and can report that it is absolutely unstoppable.
Diagnostic work done correctly is really, really interesting to watch. Thanks and keep up the great work. Also your example of how to use the software repair is helpful to anyone trying this at home.
Love these cars, and I really love this M278 engine. My family has a GLS550 and a CLS550 with this engine (they’re both 2017s, so they’re past the years of the big issues like bore scoring and oil in the wiring harness.) Love watching your Mercedes videos Waldo!
Imagine replacing that engine and still having a misfire on cyl 5. Great job.
HAHA
Good point! That's what would've happened 😂
yeah, but then the mechanic would've have said "the engine was broken anyway, you need a new car" =))
The exact same thing is currently happening to my buddy with a ford car. The dealership said it needs a new engine. Just needed an ecu.
i got estimate for $ 12000 because they (mercedes dealer) couldn't pinpoint bad high fuel pressure sensor what cost around $80 with the tax ,exactly same car GL 450
I think Waldo is a Merc Fan boy.
And that's a good thing
If he was a toyota fanboy, he wouldn't have a channel because it would take too long for his cars to need repairs
Gotta get mileage out of the special tools
Fan boy is a pejorative term. As in dogmatic, irrational, fanatical, cultish.
I don’t see anything like that in Waldo’s videos.
Tain't nothing bad about that. All makes have fan boys. I've been with Citroën for so long, barely any other make matters. But, I have warmed to the Mercedes W123/124 and W210 wagons. 🍻
This is a master class in diagnostics and critical thinking. Learned a lot from this video. Thanks man.
No its not. I see you're quite easily impressed. Great entertainment tho.
@@giggiddy I almost subscribed to your channel. Not a single video there though.
@@mph5896 LOL.. 👍
@@NonNone-qm4zi When you and your buddy are finished rubbing helmets. Maybe you can tell me why one needs their own channel to be able to tell the difference between entertainment (which this creator is very good at) and the diagnostic expertise of a master mechanic. You fan boys are really something sometimes.
@@giggiddy his diagnosis was spot on in this video. Rule everything out and replace a DI injector. PCM appears to be the ultimate fix, but I would not have left that injector in there either
I never get bored with any of your video's. My vote is to continue doing what you have been doing. Grab any free vehicle that you have an interest in. We benefit from your thorough and meticulous diagnosis. Happy Christmas!
Waldo is to mechanics as physician assistants are to brain surgeons. (I hope I don’t have that backwards, it was meant to be a compliment).
Oil change before fixing the misfire. Hats off to you for being so optimistic. And glad that it worked out :)
It's to find metal that's why
Thank you Waldo for that Christmas upload 💪🏽
Free wtf, this is a great and nice looking car!
It is a beautiful car, until the air suspension fails.
@@Nick210 It even has air suspension for free?
Depends on the owner's financial situation, sometimes donating a car and deduct a fair market price from your income is more beneficial than dumping the car at auction to recoup couple hundred bucks.
Keep in mind that IRS has no idea about the mechanical situation of the vehicle and only check for the year and mileage in case of an audit.
It's a mechanics car. Only a mechanic can keep it own the road doing free labor to it.
@@Nick210overblown issue, yeah the struts and compressor will need replacing at some point but not a reason to not have air suspension.
'Yes' to a free car series. Merry Christmas to you as well in beautiful New Hampshire!! 🎄🎄
Merry Christmas!
Cmon waldo ive waited so long for you to fix your garage your knowledge and talent deserve good working place
I thought the excavator he got was to start digging the new foundation for his new shop...wishful thinking!😅😂
Waldo, I can't quite explain why but you are my favourite car guy by a mile (or km). You're cognition/delivery is based on sound reasoning and logic, making everything so transparent and easy to follow. I reckon we are learning more from you than just car fixes!!! Please do as many series as you wish on as many interesting cars as you get your hands on AND stuff on your house, trailer, heavy equipment - the whole ensemble is varied and interesting. I was ill recently and rewatched all your videos again.Fantastic. Merry Christmas and thank you from Bonnie Scotland
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Hes CIA, Robocop, Superman and the Joker all in one.❤❤❤
I find Waldo’s videos really helpful . The funny part is
I don’t have the confidence to do it.
Dude, you are the Mercedes GOAT.
Great to see someone really troubleshooting .
My late father and I used to work together on them.
He passed on his knowledge and for that I’m thankful.
So for me having the E 350 4 matic is somewhat a trip down memory lane.
I’m amazed how well it does in the snow here in New Hampshire.
Again it is great to see someone who will dig deep for answers.
i love my e350 wagon
0:34 If only you had a gooseneck trailer, haha. great video as always!
I see what you did there 😄
Maybe it'll be our gift for sometime in the new year ...actually finishing it finally, before it rusts back into the ground!😅👍🏻🛠️
@@pernillenielsen8083 Yeah. I think Matt meant "Goose Step" trailer.
@@williamking6531 Are you picking on the squareheads?
Waldo I'm curious how much did all those parts cost and what would the difference be if all were purchased from the dealership? I have a college professor acquaintance who likes Mercedes but isn't mechanically inclined, this he spends lots on repairs, even at the Euro repair shop. Merry Christmas and a happy New year.
This may sound funny, but be careful kicking off wheels when they are stuck on the hub. I've been doing it long enough to see all kinds of crazy things happen. Simple solution: just thread one lug bolt back in a couple turns to act as a tether from the wheel going crazy once removed. It's also a bit easier to donkey kick it from the back, much more leverage, and almost 100% successful for me at least. My coworker had a wheel bounce back up and hit him in the chin. I had a stuck wheel fall off while I was turning the opposite wheel with it up in the air, the wheel fell off the hub on an angle, ricocheted back and put a big old dent in the fender.
I always found it better to leave one bolt on the hub loose and use a rubber mallet to pound the tire off.
100%
also if you are in a shop use a soft face mallet instead of kicking
be safe folks!
Yup thinner tires are a must in the snow, my winters on steel rims are 20 cm narrower and higher profile than my summers, on a 4 wd golf.
It was very informative to watch I had a misfortune, I was diagnosed with ovaian caancer. I also created a channel and am trying to move in that direction, but so far not very successful(n55
A guy I know built a road for off road vehicles , he told me the most amazing thing he experienced was "taken for a run in a GL , he told me "it was almost as good off road as the G wagon " . Thank you for the videos , Happy Christmas from Scotland !
The G Wagon is a notorious pile of shit, at least in the United States.
A couple of things for you to know.
1. On the m278, it's usually the camshaft sensors that push the oil into the harness. Replace them
2. With that cylinder scoring, the mechanic recommended engine replacement because it'll burn lots of oil which will also damage the cats. Usually it doesn't misfire, it's an oil consumption concern.
All the best Waldo for 2025. I’m looking forward to seeing more videos from you in the new year.
This video was so good, from the thorough explanation of each diagnostic procedure, to properly recording the screen for the ECU clone, to successfully fixing the free car. Well done.
Your level of being brave and scared to take on any project Waldo is on another level.
Looking forward to episode 2 when you do thorough maintenance work.
This channel is like if Samcrac had a technical education. Awesome content!
Or just an education 😂
or actually completed anything lol
Love the series idea. Great video and Merry Christmas
Thanks, Merry Christmas!
Even with its problems, getting that car for FREE is insane!! Loved the video and your step by step diagnosis proces
Very good choice on those blizzaks. I have the same model and I have trouble losing traction in the snow even when I attempt to lose it just to see where the limit is. The grip is incredible.
I agree, the grip is seriously good!
@@WaldosWorldI wish I had someone to give me a free car... possibly a 59 Cadillac coupe!!!
They are great at start, but they lose thread very fast and overall the longevity is ass.
@ I’ve had mine for five winters, still great. I am careful to not run them when the weather is hot bc I know warmer weather will chew them up.
I watch every one of your videos from the day you started, and you still have the best videos, love your channel.
Thanks for the videos over the year. It is a big inspiration for doing things better as an engineer. 3 videos for next year: gooseneck , update on all cars and machines and free car video series !
Waldo, you've given us hours of quality entertainment this year. Merry Christmas to you and your family
One helpful tip when diagnosing a dead miss is to not swap the plug and coil together when testing to see if it moves. Swap the plug and coil to different cylinders each so that if it moves, you immediately know what the problem is.
One of my favorite videos. You are so calm by what we see. I'm 62 and I cuss and throw shit when working on a car. Love that you have the tire changing equipment too . Keep up the free car fix.
Wow, misdiagnosis is a big problem for customers. Glad you are doing videos on how to fix problems on these cars. Nice Christmas present for you. Happy Christmas and holidays.
Modern cars require a different kind of mechanic. There are still plenty of mechanical bits to work on, but really you need the brain of an electrical engineer added in. So much of modern mechanics is not just to read error codes, but using tools to then isolate what that code means. A mechanic who can do amazing things with a classic car might be pretty hopeless solving issues with a modern car (the reverse is also true). Thanks for the great story telling. You do such a great job explaining what you are doing and why. Right up there with Ed China and Ant Anstead... there are few TH-cam channels or car repair shows where the hosts do a great job of really getting into the thought process required to get to the bottom of a problem. You do that amazingly well. Happy Holidays
A couple things to help you out. I did exactly that repair on a customers car last week. Firstly, the programming code for the injector amounts is on the connector of the injector itself (check the instructions that came in the Bosch box). That needs to be updated into the ECU. Secondly, oil wicking happens not only from the camshaft adjuster solenoids, but also from the camshaft positioning sensors. It is recommended to replace all four of each. While you're at it, the front timing covers usually leak and contaminate the ancillaries below like the alternator, which I had to replace once on another car because of that. Also very common for this engine is a bad PCV/AOS combo for partial and full throttle. Those are two different components. One is the black plastic box on the bank 2 valve cover with the hose leading to the intake pipe and the other one is the cover plate and centrifuge behind the bank 1 cylinder head. Also, have a look at the engine mounts. They are always toast on these vehicles.
U know ur sh1t❤
Why does a company that has made engines for 100 years make engines with these design problems?
Yup he will be misfiring on that new injector. People now a days think you can just put on a new part & go. Almost everything needs to be coded. They are amazed that you have to reset the battery resistance in the FT sam when you replace a battery or it will cook it.
Like 3 decades ago I had the engine rebuilt for my 1970 429 SCJ Torino. The machine shop explained that they could bore and shelf the cylinders so I could have liners like a diesel engine. The engine was rebuilt again in 2021 and they same machine was able to remove and replace the liners after a broken ring scored the liner pretty bad. The beauty is that my engine was able to have 7 liners honed and one replaced, yet besides the original over bore, the cylinders don't get any thinner from traditional boring or honing from multiple rebuilds. Great vid Waldo
The old laptop being a Thinkpad W520. I see a man of vintage Thinkpad culture. Nice.
You ARE the man. I wasn't sure when I first started watching the channel, but when I saw how well you did with the little 53 series DD I became a believer, and ever since I've enjoyed watching you do the kind of stuff I did 50 or so years ago when the cars were way (way) easier to work on. Merry Christmas!
Another free video series would be nice.Thanks for sharing and taking us along
Another great video! Others have said it and I agree: your channel is my favorite car channel. Your explanation style gives enough detail to be interesting without being boring, you find really interesting vehicles to work on, and you do a great job with the video itself. You have a really great editing style…without all the blaring hard rock that so many car and “maker” channels resort to. I watch all of your videos without skipping through (I can’t say that about other channels).
255/55/20 tires can't have the same diameter than 275/55/20
55 is a % of the width so you should have a bigger sidewall on narrower tires to compensate.
The sidewall will be the same height on diameter matching tire. It will just be a 60/20 instead of the 55/20. you need a larger % of the narrower width to reach the same sidewall height. You're close.
@@kirkstrope676
You give two opposed informations in your sentence.
You can't have a same sidewall height on a narrower tire if you keep the original perimeter.
Yea you can. A 255/60/20 is the same height as a 275/55/20. The sidewall will be the same height on both tire. The overall height is the same on the same 20inch rim. Therefore the sidealls are the same.
151mm on one and 153mm on the other
The middle number is not the sidewall height. It is the sidewall height as a function of the sectional width. Aka the % of the width that is the height
You’re right - these tyres have a 3% difference in diameter. 255/60/20 would bring it to within 0.3%
Keep your hand off the bead breaker bar after it makes contact with the tire, that secondary motion where the bead actually breaks and that snaps forward will literally break your hand if you're holding on to it when working on the wrong tire, I've seen guys lose fingernails and break fingers etc, once it touches the tire you no longer touch it stay safe.
The tire popping into place was fantastic 😂
*pop*... *BLEEP*
Thanks for just staying on format during the holidays. I remember watching Motor Week in the 90s and I just don't know why but you give off that good feel yet knowledgable vibe when talking about your cars that reminds me of that show. Love it and keep doing what your doing!
I live in France, near Paris and I have to drive a tiny Kia (so tiny that you can't see or buy in the us)
So seeing you in your barn, with snow around, repairing big mercedes cars, is a trip of his own for me. :)
My suggestion would be to add a car review to your videos, not a mechanical review, but a quick tour of the car.
That GL450 is more than 10 years old, but it's still a dream car for a lot of people.
Agreed! Would love this!
At one point in the video you can see the exterior temperature display on the dash, and it shows 16°F. which is -9°C. Waldo is working in his shop under rather frigid conditions!
@@LectricLadmy brother is also in New Hampshire and I know he only does winter car repairs if it’s a dire mechanical situation!
Awesome video, I was captivated the entire time! I have delusions of one day picking up a 2005-2006 W211 CDI, but no time for it right now. These videos help scratch the itch. Merry Christmas!
We bought a used 2006 merc e350 4-Matic wagon in 2014 with 67k on the clock….pampered the hell out of it over the next 9 years and the engine failed catastrophically at 120k miles …never liked that car but my wife liked it…so we junked it and happened to stumble on another used 2015 e 350 4matic wagon with just 39k miles in cherry condition.. she’s thrilled but I’m wary…don’t trust the newer generation of Benz’s. I owned an 88 420 sel for 36 years and put 350k miles on it …it was bombproof.
Happy Christmas to you too Waldo, and thanks a lot for every lesson you give us throw all your videos. You are amazing! :)
It is absolute pleasure to watch your videos. Such a thorough and detail work! Keep doing what you are doing! True professionalist!
Anti seize should not be used on lug nuts, the torque spec they have is a dry spec, not a wet one.
Go to bed dude. You are drunk.
Except this is the salt-belt, we want them to be able to be removed in an emergency with a flat on the side of the road with hand tools if needed. Did you see how difficult it was to remove them, imagine fighting with that on the side of a dark snowy road, in the middle of nowhere.
You most certainly can use anti seize, just reduce the torque by between 20 to 30%.
@@tdotw77 maybe work them more often then? this is what i was though never put any lube on spark plug and lug bolts thread and only hand tight oil filter. Lube would alter the tension in the bolts way over spec if you use the factory torque setting.
@@Rasputin-p4e he is correct
Honestly love seeing your videos! A lot of attention to detail without the "fluff" you'd get from dealer or "pro" shop channels.
Also, funny to imagine I've probably seen your cars around as a fellow New Hampshirite. Keep up the great content! Always learning something from you.
Returning this vehicle back to its owner fixed would be a great Christmas gift and great content for the channel.
The guy obviously didn't want the car, and giving it away I doubt he's in need of it back
Waldo doesn't everything right ! Really go's the extra mile I really appreciate watching his videos wish he was my mechanic
One of my absolute favourite TH-camrs, thanks for another great instalment, I’m looking forward to part 2 already. Have a great Christmas Waldo! 👍
Would love to see more videos like this. Have a great Christmas Waldo !!
I had that ECU diagnosed right from the get-go as soon as he said there was oil around the ECU I knew it was bad
Good for you
Well done, yes, I heard the cylinder scoring is a problem on these turbo engines. It is a problem with the Alusil coating and can lead to high oil consumption...
A free car series would be a great idea Waldo, have a happy Christmas and see you next time 👍🏻🏴
Merry Christmas!
Europe just came back from work and had some takeaway. My fav Mercedes youtuber posted. What a blessing
Waldo’s humble approach to repairing and installations makes him one of the best DIY youtuber's
Well Waldo, I have to say I find your videos therapeutic, you are always wearing a smile and nothing seems to phase you my friend, keep up the good work, and of course you can make these kind of videos, they are really good !!
It would have been interesting to see the signals from the new ECU. I am pretty sure you are right with the interpretation how the signals should look like. Still, better to verify ;)
I do think a lot of these engines get condemned because of visual bore scoring. MB does have a bulletin showing you to identify "severe" scoring from normal scoring. If you examine the bores of a perfectly running M278 or M157, I am told they will all show some scoring. It's the compression that matters. And some of them WILL drop compression in severe cases, and also present with an audible tick from piston slap. And I would seriously consider just doing the other injectors at this point. Don't forget to code them in.
Merry Christmas to you too, Waldo, and God bless you with your honest work and guide 🌲🎁😊
Merry Christmas!
Most people do not care to take the time nor do they job correctly. It is a shame the other guy got the push around. I hope you do something good for others for the generosity of the car given to you. Great video always. Thanks and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Very important with those lug bolts that you break them loose by hand, and apply final torque with a torque wrench. Never use an impact tool with those. It appears they already lost their chrome cap, which means they’ve been run in and out with an impact tool. That is a big no no.
Edit: you should check the cam position sensors for oil intrusion. I’ve seen plenty of those engines leak oil into the harness from those as well.
Thanks for the quick video before Christmas Waldo!
I enjoy watching your content, there just something entertaining about the way you speak and present your repairs on camera.
I bet you'd be really great company to have as a friend.
Thanks again!
Great video 👌🏻
Merry Christmas from 🇬🇧
Merry Christmas!
Absolutely goated video, Waldo! You are definitely my favorite car TH-camr out there. I study computer engineering in college and it was so nice to see the oscilloscope taken out - turns out what I’m learning right now can actually be useful in the future. Your steps to problem-solving is very inspiring.
Merry Christmas Waldo...May God be with you and your loved ones!
Merry Christmas!
Videos like these inspire me to do my own repairs.. But as soon as I even look at an engine bay some plastic or some screw always breaks..You make it look so easy!
Fantastic. Love your channel. Keep 'em coming!
2.7 tons? You’re telling me a high end soccer mom suv probably weighs more than my medium size pickup? I know my place now
Yeah 😂
Makes sense en pickup is just a bed. This is full interior…
I love the step by step walkthrough on troubleshooting and fixing. Your videos inspire me to want to do the same kind of repairs once I have the space to accommodate this kind of work
Great video Waldo!
I'd love to see more free car vids - and I love how you're shedding the light on how these things can be fixed without getting fleeced!
Or, they just wanted to sell them a new engine. I needed a timing chain repair on my Cadillac STS and took it to the stealership. They said it needed a new engine. I took it to a reputable independent repair shop and they fixed it for $1200 and it has run fine for a year now.
An example of why I never go to a dealer for anything other than warranty work.
Sabotage isn't unheard of either.
The way you tell the story and do your thing is really cool.
Yeah aint it❤❤
0:24 I grew up in northern VA, just drove down these roads to go to the family Christmas party lol Small world.
You should be proud of yourself! That’s an amazing outcome. All in all dirt floor makeshift barn. Love it!
Yes!!! More Mercedes content, baby!!! I love it!
I think you should give this car to a lucky viewer... Sure would look nice in the garage parked next to my E550.... 😉
Merry Christmas, buddy!
I think that anyone who owns a German car should also have a spare. That was my experience during 20 yrs. with MBs.
Merry Christmas!
Loves Your videos and Yes for a free car series and Merry X-Mas to You, Sir!
Greetings from Denmark
Looks like you need a gooseneck trailer.
Merry Christmas, Waldo , good job with fixing, I do have a similar style of diagnostic and fixing stuff as you do ! God bless you , Brother 🕊️
Warning about anti seize: literally says on the bottle "not for use on wheel lug nut or stud applications".
Use something like blue Loctite. It will also not affect the required torque value.
had to do a double take when he did that. we joke about doing that but absolutely never will I put a lubricant on a lug nut.
But when you are taking them on and off and actually checking them like he will they'll be just fine
This is the salt-belt. We anti-seize them to be able to remove them again. I put anti-seize on all 8 lugs on all 4 wheels.....never lost a wheel or had one lug loosen up on a 9000lb diesel truck. Warnings are to protect the company from lawsuits....it also says 'don't injest or inhale' too!
@@tdotw77 I live in the salt belt too. may be different if you're talking about a semi or something, but not on passenger stuff. for me, on the hubs sure but not the studs
@@Ben-in6qh but he won't clean it off before he sells it. don't know about your people but I know for sure most people aren't going to re-torque down the road. lucky if people even check their air, muchless rotate or torque on a regular basis
That joy when you feel when one of your favorite TH-cam car creators picks up the same model of car you own. Well almost, mine were the first Gen.
I'm on my second gl450. The oil filter and cooler leaked on both of them. The fix is relatively straightforward. I'll have to check the wiring harness for oil. Thanks for the tip
ya you finally uploaded a vid. thank you sir
2 weeks doesn't merit a finally lol
love his thoroughness
Merry Christmas, stay safe. Yes to the free car series.
Problems with the tire machine and the impact? It didn’t even sound right. Maybe you need to take a look at your air compressor.
Yeah, the temperature was so far below freezing that there might've been some ice restricting the line somewhere 🤷♂️
Merry Christmas. Congratulations on truly diagnosing the real problem.
So many videos telling how bad BMW, Audi and Merceders are. I had a BMW and Merceders, and drove them both to half a million kilometers. My latest BMW is now at 300.000km dealing with only the regulair service. Had some problems with the Merc on the injector that was solved with a new copper sealing ring of .50ct. Previous BMW had a broken turbo on 300.000 km (Garrett) and is now on 800.000 km according to the last time I spoke with the new owner. Seeing this video I would say many bad mechanics that do not know how to deal with a bit more advanced engines. Good to show videos like this!
its pretty well known that many (not all) german car's have robust engines, its everything surrounding it that goes bad and needs replacing.
I’ve been a European auto tech since I was like 19. I started on Mercedes but moved to BMW. Just liked BMW engineering compared to newer Mercedes. I can’t stand Audi engineering and despise those cars.
Good stuff. I'm beginning to appreciate these Mercs more and more. Thanks for showing that it is possible for a DIYer who's smarter than the average bear and willing to make the effort can own and repair them. Keep up the good work!
Doooode you got a sweet sweet ride, can't wait to see you fix it up. And we know where you'll start, all the fluids!
I am impressed how much you know about engines and cars in general. It looks like there is not a car item, you DON'T know anything about. Kudos!
AND you got the same big machine tools as a real shop.
Holy cow I have two of those and I was praying you made a video of this car!crazy as hell you did! This is so crazy bc this is such a random Benz
This was a great video as always! The only note I have is with anti-seize on lug nuts/lug bolts is that any lubricant will drastically change the reading of a torque wrench and it’s super easy to way over tighten them. It’s hard to find an exact number online about what the true reduction in torque you should use is based on the lubricant used (which anti-seize is) but do a little searching yourself as it’s an interesting topic! My suggestion is no anti-seize on the bolts/lugs and just clean them well and torque to spec and they should come off without too much drama in the future. I have seen broken wheel studs on vehicles from previous owners and every one has been over tightened with lubricant on them.
Fantastic work on saving another Benz, Karl would be really proud of you! Its a Yes for the Series! Thanks for the entertainment, kept me well engaged!😃
I pray whoever is reading this, that every ounce of fear, anxiety, and discouragement will be taken away. May God bring healing to your body as well, pain or discomfort must go! May God comfort you with his love and refill your heart, with His peace and strength. In the Name of Jesus Amen!
Beautiful post! All praise and glory to God.
Thank you for this!
@Zaltic Your welcome believe my friend!
Sir this is a car repair video, not an evangelist chat room
Keep the free car serious going....also the full maintenance videos are the BEST!
díky za videa která mají vysokou úroveň. Přeji pěkné vánoce a zdravím z České republiky👍👍👍
Waldo you're quite the mechanic, very impressive amigo, Merry Christmas to you....Javi G.
I have a GL too over here in the UK 🇬🇧. We don't get enough snow so I took mine to Norway to test it out in the snow and can report that it is absolutely unstoppable.
I love the content. Good, easy to follow, classy and productive. Well presented with much detail. Keep it coming Waldo.
Diagnostic work done correctly is really, really interesting to watch. Thanks and keep up the great work. Also your example of how to use the software repair is helpful to anyone trying this at home.
Love these cars, and I really love this M278 engine. My family has a GLS550 and a CLS550 with this engine (they’re both 2017s, so they’re past the years of the big issues like bore scoring and oil in the wiring harness.) Love watching your Mercedes videos Waldo!