Actually, I think it could! I think the nozzles need to be either cleaned or replaced. But that's just my guess. Nozzles are kinda on my mind now, since I want to do it on my wagon to try to improve the fuel economy. About a year ago, I sold a 123 wagon I'd been driving for almost 5 years, mostly on homebrew biodiesel, and it got as good, or better, mileage as it was rated for when new, and it was pushing 500K. Odo didn't work, but i did a job for a week where I could track the miles pretty accurately with google maps, came up at 26.9 mpg, it was rated for 26 when new. (84 300TD) The new owner still calls me and is very happy with it, rust and all. That's why I sold it. I would have been happy to keep driving it, but my wife had a different opinion. So I found an '85 123 wagon with a cleaner body, and am working on getting it right, and mostly the reason I'm selling this little sedan. I took the Darth Vador-like Otter Box case off my Iphone3 and got some better quality photos which I'm adding here;
I think this car has great potential, but does need the TLC, like the hood pad replaced, missing 3 out of 4 lift pads, could possibly use an adjustment of the vacuum shift modulator valve, but the under pans are in place so I can't just slip under and tweak it like I did on the wagon. It shifts a little soft, but when you use the shifter it goes into the gears quick as it should. And of course, the adjustments are there so different drivers can get the shift style they want, so I will let the new owner make that choice.
I've done the necessary things to get it road worthy after it's history,
Changed oil and filters immediately when I got it,
Air filter changed,
had trans fluid changed via a machine that gets the torque conv. too,
New tires -(old ones out of date & round),
New belt tensioner and shock, and serpentine belt,
front wheel bearings checked and adjusted,
Center link and left tie rods replaced,
Both shifter linkages replaced, real PIA job, for those who know,

The AC does not work, estimates are $1009.75, and $454.90 (you don't need to replace all that!) Biggest difference was used vs new compressor, ($680.75 vs $175.00) and first one would replace the receiver Drier at $140
So I'll leave that choice to the new owner as well. I'm sure whatever choice I'd make, the new owner might have preferred the other! The way life usually works!
Thanks Darryl, for stepping up to be the new owner! I told you on the phone I thought it might need the master cylinder replaced, but it's passing all the tests. It holds foot pressure, with engine on or off, and fluid level is staying where it should. I had found it down on fluid once, and couldn't find any streaks on the tires, so assumed it was the master cylinder. That was Nov. or Dec. and it hasn't been low since, so I don't know what happened, other than the car is getting used to being driven again.
Oh yeah, the heater fan has developed an intermittent squeak, and the antenna stopped retracting, though the motor still tries.
But the cruise control works! That's hot! It worked on my old 84 wagon too, but not on this 85. Dang!
That's all I can think of for now, except with a good wash and wax, or a detailing, i think it would look really nice.
And of course, I have records of what I've done for it, but nothing from previous owners. They did give me 3 service manuals that will go with the car; engine 601, Chassis and body model 201, tempmatic climate control model 201, and a model specific Performance products catalog, spring/summer 2001, neat to look through, good systems diagrams, part no.s, etc...

Bob

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