83 240d - been sitting 7 years. Now what?
 

This old 123 has been waiting for me for 7 years now. I bought it from a friend that's in the Navy. He left it at his dad's house when he went to sea. Never came back for the car. Anyway, the dad traded me a running car for it about five years ago, then friend found out and bought it back - he loves this car!

Anyway, another couple years went by and he called and told me to come get it if I'd help clean up around the parents house.

Towed it to my house, has been sitting in back yard long time. I'm ready to part with it now. Tired of mowing around it.

Put an ad for $250. Guy came out and put a little battery on it, but it just clicked. Question: Will the engine lock up just sitting there? It was running fine when parked - 7 years ago. I'm in East Texas - so weather not real hard. Anyway to free it up?

Automatic trans. Knob climate controls.

Pic (took pic today) here: http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d81/bighat/mb6.jpg

Where in E Texas?

Need to be clearer on 'nothing happened'. Did the starter engage? If not, the problem could be electrical. If the starter angaged but the engine did not turn,
put a socket and long breaker bar on crankshaft and see if you an turn it by hand. If not, pull the injectors and fill the cylinders with penetrating oil and let sit for a couple of weeks and try again.

83 240
 

Longview, East Texas - off I-20, about 60 miles East of Canton.

After I reread my post, I see that it was very unclear.

Indeed, I think the engine locked up. Engine just made a click. Did not budge, probably locked up after so many years just sitting.

Anyway, You think I should take out the glow plugs and spay some kind of lubricant down into the cylinders? What should I use -WD-40. ? Which way does the engine turn - when facing the car.

Thanks for the help.

Bighat....
no cattle

Look at the fan to see which way it needs to turn to pull air through the radiator, that's the easiest way to see which way the engine turns. I would use PB Blaster or something like that in the glow plug holes assuming you can get them out, then let it sit a day or two at least. Then if you can get it to turn over you need to make sure that you use fresh fuel and probably replace the filters when you try to get it started, any fuel in it wil most likely be very bad at this point. I would also change the oil and see what it looks like, replace it with cheapo Wal-Mart Diesel oil for now and if it runs replace that stuff after a little bit of use to flush any junk out. First thing is to get it turning over though. Good luck!

If you decide to sell, let me know I might be interested

Standing in front of car, engine rotates clockwise. 27mm socket

before that
 

just put one hand on the fan belt to make it not slip and turn the blade. if it isnt locked up you should be able to turn it with the fan blade.

this will work on a 240 because it has a fixed blade.

tom w

If the guy's battery was weak sauce the starter would have just "clicked"

By weak sauce I mean...too small and too dead :)

Before you start tearing the engine apart, how about you find a better battery to test with.

[QUOTE=t walgamuth]just put one hand on the fan belt to make it not slip and turn the blade.

This confused me a bit, "put one hand one the belt"

I guess it did me some good to try and sell it. At least now it's in my driveway - If I don't sell it soon, maybe I'll start tinkering around with it.

How's the interior?:)

Interior is a bit rough, carpets are moldy. Back seat upper is very dried, torn and ugly. Dash has a few cracks. Body fairly straight. $250 or trade for something not broke!

Here are some pics:

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d81/bighat/mb6.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d81/bighat/mb3.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d81/bighat/mb7.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d81/bighat/DSC00040.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d81/bighat/mb8.jpg

I can tell that's a leather interior from the wear. You don't see leather on W123s too often, mostly they have MBTex.

Pinkomino sun dried seats, MBTex.

Yeah thats not leather thats MBtex. Our '83 has tex and mine has leather, there's a distinct difference in apearance.

seats still look better then my SD :D