Recently, I became the proud owner of a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 8V Grey Market, boasting a respectable 105k miles on the clock. My initial week of ownership was smooth sailing, until a minor transmission hiccup arose. It necessitated replacing the transmission coolant lines, filter, and gasket – a repair stemming from the previous owner’s less-than-transparent vehicle history (a story for another time, perhaps involving a 1991 Mazda Miata and General David Petraeus).
Following the transmission fix, a new concern emerged: my ’85 Baby Benz started creeping past the 85 degrees Celsius mark in traffic. A quick visual inspection under the propped hood revealed the main cooling fan – the large, yellowish, 5-bladed one – was indeed spinning, but seemingly not with the vigor expected. Hesitantly, I could stop it with my hand, suggesting insufficient airflow. Being a novice in the realm of Mercedes-Benz w201 mechanics, I consulted a more experienced friend. His diagnosis pointed towards a faulty fan clutch and potentially a failing water pump.
Armed with this advice, I ventured into the world of aftermarket parts. My online shopping cart included a $70 water pump from Autozone, a $40 electromagnetic fan clutch, a $25 thermostat, and $25 worth of Mercedes Blue Coolant. To handle the installation, I enlisted a local mobile mechanic, quoted at $100 beforehand. However, the seemingly straightforward job stretched into a four-hour ordeal, much to the mechanic’s chagrin.
Installation complete, we encountered an unexpected snag. The factory Engine Cooling Fan Sensor, designed to screw into the side of the original water pump, was incompatible with the new, albeit exact replacement, water pump. An unplanned trip to procure a $35 Engine Cooling Fan Sensor became necessary – a minor setback compared to the potential engine damage from overheating.
This led to a crucial question: On a Benz 190e W201, does the Engine Cooling Fan Sensor located on the water pump directly control the fan clutch engagement, or is there another sensor involved in this process? Post-repair, the car undeniably ran smoother and cooler overall. However, the large yellowish cooling fan’s rotation still seemed less forceful than anticipated – not quite at the ‘keep-your-hands-away’ velocity one might expect.
Reflecting on past experiences, I recalled a similar water pump issue with my 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback (albeit one significantly modified with an ’03 SVT Cobra S/C swap). In that instance, a water pump replacement alone rectified both the overheating and fan performance. The Benz 190E W201, however, presents a slightly more nuanced cooling system puzzle, highlighting the specific intricacies of maintaining these classic German machines.
