Looking for some advice on a w123 230e with the 102.980 engine. The car has been in storage for a while and appears to have suffered a timing chain problem - the engine will only turn on the crank pulley through about 60 degrees - and then locks solid. The most likely cause is bent valve(s) I guess. Has anyone had experience of this and know whether the head survives this sort of problem - ie would it be new valve(s), gasket set, and timing chain or is there more to it than that? And any tips on the best place to buy parts from - other than the MD of course.
w123 engine problem advice
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slade1
MB Enthusiast
If you take the off the oil filler cap I think you will see the timing chain, turn the crank and see if the chain moves.
Bellow
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Timing chains are pretty resilient. I'd take a guess that a valve has stuck open - and can probably be freed.
Get the cam cover off and investigate further. A stuck valve will be obvious. Remove the spark plugs as well. The possibility of coolant having flooded a cylinder and causing a hydraulic lock can't be discounted. Whatever else you do - be very gentle. Don't force anything.
Get the cam cover off and investigate further. A stuck valve will be obvious. Remove the spark plugs as well. The possibility of coolant having flooded a cylinder and causing a hydraulic lock can't be discounted. Whatever else you do - be very gentle. Don't force anything.
Bellow
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Much can be ascertained by removing the cam cover. Unless a valve is actually bent, and any stuck valves can be freed from above, there's no reason to remove the head. A freed stuck valve can be checked for truth (ie, sealing) with a compression test.
The small amount of liquid required to hydraulic lock a cylinder is probably less that can be seen to be missing from the cooling system. Removing spark plugs nails this in seconds.
