trap oxidizer replacement - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

d.delano · #1 10-19-2004, 03:09 PM

I am the third owner, got the thing with zero service records. How would I go about taking advantage of the free trap oxidizer fix from MB?

jksoft · #2 10-19-2004, 03:19 PM

Here is a link to another ongoing thread regarding this subject.
Newly acquired 300D - trap oxidizer

d.delano · #3 10-19-2004, 06:17 PM

thank you

Hatterasguy · #4 10-19-2004, 06:31 PM

I'd talk to a good dealer and see what they say. If it was a recall for emissions they have to do it.

d.delano · #5 10-19-2004, 06:46 PM

First of all, I wonder if my '85 300DT W123 even has a trap oxidizer? Does it? It's not a CA model.
Second, how can I quantify or confirm the existence of damage to my turbocharger? Will the dealer replace that if any discovered damage was caused by the trap oxidizer? I'm battling a bad problem with low power on hills and am just trying to get some insight. I know these cars are slow, it's just that NOTHING is this slow. My '78 Datsun 210 could pull a hill, this MB can't. Must be something wrong. I hear turbo whine all the time so am I supposed to assume the turbo is fine? Not fine? I know, I know.. get a boost gauge and check. Any insight in the interim would be appreciated. Thanks

Hatterasguy · #6 10-19-2004, 07:06 PM

I am not sure about the 617 but the trap ox on a 603 looks like a big foot ball sitting on the left side of the engine. Do a search their have been a few pics floating around recently. If your car has a trap ox and it damaged the turbo you are very lucky! Part of the recall at least on the 603 is that the turbo would be replaced if the trap ox hurt it. Just have a dealer run your vin.

psfred · #7 10-19-2004, 07:47 PM

If it's a 49 state car, it won't have a trap oxidizer.

Most likely the boost signal line from the rear of the intake manifold to the ALDA (altitude compenator) on the injection pump is plugged or broken, or the overboost switchover valve in the line (on the firewall) is blown. All of these are very common on that car/engine, and will reduce you to the power of an underfueled normally aspirated engine (read wimpy!).

You should be able to do 0-60 in around 13 sec, top speed should be around 115 or so mph (maybe higher), and it should climb hills easily.

Peter

d.delano · #8 10-19-2004, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psfred

If it's a 49 state car, it won't have a trap oxidizer.

Most likely the boost signal line from the rear of the intake manifold to the ALDA (altitude compenator) on the injection pump is plugged or broken, or the overboost switchover valve in the line (on the firewall) is blown. All of these are very common on that car/engine, and will reduce you to the power of an underfueled normally aspirated engine (read wimpy!).

You should be able to do 0-60 in around 13 sec, top speed should be around 115 or so mph (maybe higher), and it should climb hills easily.

Peter

Thank you for your answer. My car will only do 80 max on flats, downhill 90 is about all it's got. Does NOT climb hills easily. Will slow from 80 to 45 then it shifts to 3rd where it pulls 50 the rest of the way up the hill(typical case). Got a pic of the switchover valve? How do I test it? How much to replace? Already cleaned out the banjo bolt, was one of the first things I did. Muchos Gracias

soydrivermatt · #9 10-20-2004, 01:38 PM

On my '85, the EGR had a cracked line that leads across the engine, and leaky connector going to the Air Recirculating Valve on the turbo, neither of which was enough to affect the engine shutoff, but were enough to mess up things at the vacuum amplifier to where it didn't send the signal to the ALDA to increase fuel, with those problems dealt with it's like a different car, huge increase in power, and the transmission downshifts without hitting the kickdown switch on hills.

lrg · #10 10-20-2004, 04:35 PM

The '85 cars were actually fiited with traps for a few states, so it was not literally a "49 state" car. Spotting the emissions car is easy. If your air cleaner is on top of the turbo it'a a non trap car. If the air cleaner is in the right (passenger side) front corner of the engine compartment it is (or was) a trap car. Simple as that. There are other differences but the air cleaner location is a dead giveaway. By the way, this applies to the '85 cars only.

d.delano · #11 10-20-2004, 05:04 PM

so I need to check:

1. overboost switchover valve (how do I identify this?)
2. vac lines in/around IP, turbo, ALDA, intake, etc
3. vacuum control valve? (where is this?)
4. IP vacuum valve
5. vacuum amplifier? (first I ever heard of this one and I have been lingering on this forum for awhile- possible that someone is using alot of different names for the same things?)
6. Air Recirculating Valve on turbo? (where is this one?)

Air cleaner is located on passenger side, but I can't rightly say that it is in the front of the engine compartment, more like on top of the turbocharger. So it's a non-trap car. Need some further direction guys, and thanks as always. My car's a dog!

psfred · #12 10-20-2004, 07:03 PM

Disconnect the banjo bolt and blow down the line. If it doesn't hold pressure, find the leak and fix. The line goes to the vacuum amplifier to the tranny modulator, the EGR controller, and the ALDA -- the switchover valve is a rectangular box, the line goes "through" it on the way to the ALDA. Usual failure is for the interal valve to blow out so boost is always vented out the top. You can temporarily bypass it, but I would fix it personally, it's much cheaper than a new engine....

If the system holds pressure, you need to verify that you are getting boost with a boost guage installed while driving (you won't get any unless the engine is under load).

If you have at least 8 psi boost, you need to adjust or fix the ALDA -- if no boost, the turbocharge is kaput or the wastegate controller has failed open.

Do you get any smoke at wide open throttle?

Peter

vwbuge · #13 10-20-2004, 09:07 PM

Check out this thread. In it you will find pictures of the motor with the catalyst/trap ox.

emissions swap...part one

d.delano · #14 10-21-2004, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psfred

Do you get any smoke at wide open throttle?

Peter

Nope. Barely any smoke at all as a matter of fact. City drivin' is fine, just them thar hills bring my poor car to its knees. Just purged and changed filters. It's probably another pesky vacuum problem or a plugged tank screen.