um...yeah..i think i used the vacuum ends. (they need an oops icon here)

is this something that can be replaced (by someone other than me)?

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Troy

1983 300D Turbo
1981 240D

I doubt that it was ruined by vacuum. In fact, it probably wouldn't hold vacuum due to the design of the shaft seal. Here is a good post about alda:http://engine.articles.mbz.org/diesel/alda/ Mine used to leak and I have had it apart several times. This is something you could check out easily enough. It should hold about 15psi easily. Check the system from the intake manifold end and you will also verify the overboost valve. If you had a clogged line at the intake end, your overboost protection valve may be clogged also.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

It's gone.

I had another experience today. I started up in the morning with no problem. Drove to work and pretended to work for about 4 hours. Got in the car to go to lunch and it would not start again. I called the mechanic and he said I probably didn't clear out enough of the honeycomb when I dropped the cat last night and it was not allowing enough exhaust to escape. I had a friend meet me at work with a drill and a saws-all. We drilled holes in the cat on the engine side and when that didn't work we cut a nice wedge in it. It took about 30 seconds of cranking it to get it going, but it started and I had decent power.

I then called another friend who can weld. I drove to his place and we removed the cat and put a straight pipe on. It seems to be better now. It seemed to pick up nicely and it kicked ass on the highway. The real test will come tomorrow when I drive it for a bit.

After replacing the cat and with the engine cold I tried to start it and it didn't seem like it wanted to start again. Again it took about 30 seconds of cranking to go. I think I am not purging the svo long enough. I’m going to increase my svo purge time. Hopefully this will help.

I'll take a look at that web site. It seems pretty interesting. I'd at least like to test the alda to be sure it's working properly.

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Troy

1983 300D Turbo
1981 240D

I would recommend not using the SVO system until you figure out whether you still have a starting problem. If the car starts and runs fine for a few days, start using the SVO again. Then see if everything is still okay.