MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
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In this guide (9 sections)
- Diagnostic Scan Tool
- Mercedes-Benz Offset Engine Mount Tool
- Radio/Cluster Removal Tool
- Mercedes-Benz Transmission Fluid Dipstick
- Spark Plug Wire Puller Removal Tool
- Oil Filter Removal Tool
- E-Torx Socket Set
- Before you buy: which of these to spend on, and which to borrow
- Why You Must Have a Good Diagnostic Scanner
If you own a Mercedes-Benz, there are a few specialty tools you’ll need to add to your toolbox for car maintenance. These are must-have tools for doing troubleshooting and repairs on your Mercedes-Benz. You will find most of these tools on Amazon at reasonable prices; links are provided.
Here is the list of Mercedes-Benz specialty tools that you must have for DIY Mercedes-Benz Repair
Diagnostic Scan Tool
You can’t own a Mercedes-Benz and depend on the dealer to diagnose every warning light or message on the instrument cluster. You need an excellent diagnostic scan tool. While no one can deny that the Mercedes-Benz Star Scanner is the best, it requires a yearly subscription and costs thousands. On top of that, a PhD is required to operate and utilize it to its full capabilities. But don’t worry, as there is a better alternative that is also much cheaper: the YOUCANIC Full System Scanner. The Best Scan Tool for Mercedes-Benz every owner should have.
Mercedes-Benz Offset Engine Mount Tool
Engine mounts on Mercedes-Benz typically fail around the 100,000-mile mark. They cause excessive vibration in the cabin and the steering wheel. You will surely know when they fail. Instead of paying several hundred dollars to have an auto repair shop replace the engine mounts, you can do it yourself in a few hours. This repair requires that you have a 16 MM Engine Mount Offset Wrench. Without this tool, don’t even try replacing the engine mounts.
Read the Article: How to replace the engine mounts on a Mercedes-Benz
Read the Article: How to check if engine mounts have failed.
Radio/Cluster Removal Tool
Removing the radio or instrument cluster on specific Mercedes-Benz models takes 5 seconds. That’s only if you have the correct radio removal tool for Mercedes-Benz. If you don’t have these tools, you could damage the dashboard by trying to remove the cluster or radio. This tool is frequently used on the radio, but in some Mercedes-Benz models, it is also used to remove the instrument cluster.
Mercedes-Benz Transmission Fluid Dipstick
When Mercedes-Benz introduced the 722.6 5-speed transmission, they said it was sealed for life and required no maintenance. Then reality hit, and we learned the lesson quickly. Not only is it an intelligent decision to service the transmission at 60,000 miles, but this transmission can also leak oil, especially at the 13-pin connector. You need a transmission dipstick to check the transmission fluid level. Low transmission fluid levels can cause problems, including being stuck in gear or limp mode. If you have the Mercedes-Benz Transmission Dipstick Repair Tool, you can quickly check the transmission fluid level.
Read the Article: How to troubleshoot Mercedes-Benz Transmission Problems.
Here’s how you can use this tool to check your transmission fluid level.
Spark Plug Wire Puller Removal Tool
Replacing the spark plugs on a Mercedes-Benz can get expensive, but it is easy with the right tools. Mercedes-Benz installed two spark plugs per cylinder, so now you have to do double the work when you replace the spark plugs. Replacing the spark plugs is a do-it-yourself project, but make sure you have the Spark Plug Wire Wrench Puller, or you will end up damaging the spark plugs, the coils, or the wires without this tool.
Oil Filter Removal Tool
If you don’t trust any mechanic, why not replace the oil yourself? Who else but you can ensure you are using the correct oil and filter? Removing the filter is easier than on a Honda or Toyota if you have the oil filter housing removal tool. This tool makes removing the oil filter easier than making a bowl of cereal.
E-Torx Socket Set
Instead of using a hexagonal bolt head, Mercedes-Benz uses a female Torx star head for optimum torque transfer. Whether they used them because the E-Torx bolt heads look sophisticated or to deter you from fixing your car, we don’t know. 🙂 You will find that many bolts on your Mercedes-Benz will require you to use Female E Torx Star Socket Set.
Before you buy: which of these to spend on, and which to borrow
Two of the tools on this list are worth buying properly rather than cheaply, and the reason is the same for both. The E-Torx sockets and the triple square bits engage a fastener by its internal flutes, and a soft imitation deforms before the bolt moves. Once a bolt head is rounded out, the job stops being the job you started and becomes an extraction, often on something you cannot reach with a drill. On the handful of fasteners where these are the only tool that fits, the cheap set is the expensive option.
The opposite is true of the single purpose tools. An offset engine mount tool or a radio removal set gets used once and then lives in a drawer, and the parts store loaner programs described in our article on free car repair services cover a surprising number of them for a refundable deposit. Buy what you will reach for repeatedly, borrow what you will not.
One caveat on the transmission dipstick, since it is the tool on this list most likely to be used wrongly. The level it shows depends on the fluid temperature, so a reading means nothing without knowing the temperature it was taken at and the figure that applies at that temperature. The dipstick gets you access, not the answer; the specification for your transmission comes from the service documentation. Checking it cold and topping up to the mark is how a transmission ends up overfilled.
Why You Must Have a Good Diagnostic Scanner
Mercedes-Benz cars are now equipped with at least 20 control units. Some flagship models, such as the S-Class, can have up to 50 control units. If one sensor fails, you may have Christmas lights on your instrument cluster, along with several Visit Workshop warnings. As scary as these problems seem, they are very easy to diagnose. Just one sensor could impact multiple control units, so you get several warnings. Ultimately, they all may point to a single defective ABS wheel sensor. Instead of going into panic mode, get an OBD II scanner next time, plug it under the dash, and follow the on-screen prompts. Within minutes, you will usually know what is causing those warnings. The best scanner you can use is the Mercedes-Benz Star Das C3 or C4. While it is the most advanced scanner for Mercedes-Benz used by the dealer, it also is pricey and has a learning curve. The easier-to-use and affordable scanner we recommend to anyone, even if you have never used an OBD II scanner before, is the YOUCANIC full system scanner.
