Operating Temperature for 1997 C280

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Tom Royer - 14 Jul 2005 12:56 GMT

I have a 1997 C280 with 156K miles on it.

Lately, it seems to be running hit: the temperature
indicator is consistently in the upper third of the
gauge. And when in heavy traffic in hot weather,
the temperature will climb towards the red line.

Any indication of the normal operating temperature
or ideas of what to do about this.

Thanks in advance.

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Josh - 14 Jul 2005 13:38 GMT

Around 80-90 or so. Sounds like it may be time for a new thermostat (pretty
inexpensive). Also, is your aux. fan kicking on?

Josh

>I have a 1997 C280 with 156K miles on it.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance.

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Tom Royer - 14 Jul 2005 16:15 GMT

> Around 80-90 or so. Sounds like it may be time for a new thermostat
> (pretty inexpensive). Also, is your aux. fan kicking on?

Thanks for the response. I was thinking about the thermostat,
but it may be the aux fan since my usual cure when the
temperature climbs is to turn on the heater.

> Josh
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>> Thanks in advance.

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T.G. Lambach - 14 Jul 2005 18:47 GMT

Does the electric fan run when the engine gets into the upper heat range?

Pull over, open the hood and look if it's running.

If not, why not.

It has a temperature sensor, a fuse, a relay and fan motor; any of these
could be defective.

But if the fan is running and the engine is hot then the radiator may
need to be cleaned, inside and outside. This will be especially so if
the engine runs hot while at speed, not just in slow traffic.

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John Mauel - 14 Jul 2005 22:34 GMT

>I have a 1997 C280 with 156K miles on it.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance.

I just had this exact same problem with my '94 E320. The fuses for both of
the auxiliary (electrical) fans had blown, a 30A and a 15A. (spade type, not
the usual pointy cylinder type) When they started up again for the first
time, there was a great cloud of dead bugs and bug parts flying out of the
radiator. I am assuming that this surfeit of dead bugs was the reason both
fuses blew in the first place.

Another symptom I had was that my AC, although it worked fine while driving
down the road (good air flow) would stop cooling as I slowed down for a
traffic light.

Hose out the bugs (not too much water pressure, it will bend your radiator
vanes), make sure that the fans turn freely, and check the fuses.

John M.
'94 E320 runnin' cool

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