My 240d turned into a monster!
 

Ok, I bought a 1983 mercedes 240d last month to drive to college in to fall. it was pretty sad looking cosmetically, the auto trans shifted horribly, and the power brakes were, um, not power any more.
This is my 4th mercedes, third diesel, so I know about vacuum. I ixed the trans by replacing the modulator, the brakes by replacing the blocked vacuum main valve. Shortly after, I had to replace the vac pump as it failed mid-trip one day. SO...It drove beautifully! I was so impressed by it that I vowed to paint it and keep it 'til the wheels fall off. I spoke too soon.
Last week, on the interstate, I needed fuel. I exited and pulled into a station, upon which the car began to vibrate badly (the exhaust pipe and was banging against the frame) and stalled. I restarted the engine and managed to get it to the pump. I fueled it, primed it (thought that might be the prob) and hoped for the best. Nope. It still shook, stumbled on acceleration, and threatened to stall at every light. Also smoked worse than my father...and that's saying something.
so, here I am, safely at home after a traumatic trip back (seems to run better once you get it to speed) I tested each injector by pulling the line and seeing if it changed the engine idle. this test said #1 was not working right, didnt change a thing when I pulled it. I replaced it with a junkyard part, and no change. I replaced the fuel filters with no change. I have no leaks. So, I have 1)NO power. even less than is expected from a diesel 2)lots of white, raw diesel smoke 3)hard cold starting, easier when warm. 4) rough, shaky idle and stalling when in Drive or reverse if you don't give it accelerator pressure. Could the JY have sold me another bad injector? this seems an unlikely coincidence. Is my IP bad (please say no...poor college student here! haha) or the timing? any advice would be much appreciated. I want the car I had LAST WEEK back!

Did it run all the way out of fuel? Do you think that caused it to start? I would start out with a compression test.

No, it had just under 1/4 tank. A compression test...ok. I really have major fear of that IP. But, it is delivering fuel bc when I pulled the line off of injector 1 it squirted everywhere. but the engine note didnt change, so it's something to do with #1 i think. Have a feeling this is gonna cost $$$ if it's the IP

How many fuel filters did you change or clean ?
Have you tried using Diesel Purge according to the directions ?

er...no
 

I changed the main and the prefilter. What is Diesel purge, and where can I get it/what does it do??

It is a cleaner for exactly the parts you are worried about...
May have to mail order it...
Do a search in the archives... lots of people's reports about it...
Sure made my 240 run smoother....

Ok
 

I did throw some lucas fuel injector cleaner into the tank,but no dif so far, I'm about to go start the beast up and give it another scrutinizing

If you use the DP according to directions then it is not diluted... does a good job sometimes...
Have you considered cleaning the tank filter ?
Have you checked your tank vent ?

I don't know ya'll - I hate to say it
 

but I'm wondering if he lost a cylinder? The way it happened does not sound right to me.

banging against the frame is the part that concerns me. I doubt if a fuel related problem would make it do this unless the engine mounts are failed in a bad way.

GEEEZ Jim, we were trying to be optimistic.... and check out the smaller things first... and you go straight for losing a cylinder ? :D
Of course these are old cars with old and tricky engine mounts... still hoping for something simple and cheaper...
On the other hand... what part of his description would indicate a cause for a cylinder going ?

Chriss.. how long since you set the valves ?

ok...I just revived her...
 

and she's still very sick. #1 is definately NOT working properly. the pump is making pressure, but when the line is removed, it appears that either fuel is not injecting or it IS injecting and not burning. Which I suppose would mean a bad cylinder. I wonder...can I remove the injector and move it/the line in such a way as to SEE if it is SPRAYING? I believe I'll try it... this is getting pretty worrisome... if it's not burning, that would explain the raw smoke

I've never set the valves
 

so I dunno

Just for the hell of it, switch #1 and #2 injectors. Confirm the problem stays with #1. Report back.

WHOA... lets slow up a bit...

There are other things which could have happened...
You can pull the injector ( carefully and following directions on the forum )
You can also pull the pre combustion chamber..
From what you have said... there is the possibility that the pintle ball or the end of a glowplug has burned off and is clogging the 7 tiny holes in the precombustion chamber enough to cause the symptoms you describe...

Go and adjust your valves first... the other , and worse, possibility is that you have burned a valve... thus are not getting compression and power from that cylinder...

yes
 

if the switch changes nothing given your circumstances the only thing i can think of is a cylinder wo compression. compression can be lost by a broken piston or rings, a broken valve or valve spring a stuck valve or a bad head gasket. of those, bad rings dont usually come on suddenly so i would not think that way. the hole in the piston seems remote. a broken piston is a possibility. i would suspect first a stuck valve, then broken spring, then broken valve. the pistons and rings would be last on my list. it appears that you have eleminated all other possibilities by your investigation already. good luck.