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  #1  
Old 10-08-2006, 06:48 PM
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New 300D owner, serious fuel / trans problem, help

Hi guys, just got my '84 300 turbodiesel sedan today. 197k on the clock.

Everythings pretty much fine except for this problem I had on its first drive home today. First of all, it would not do a 0-60 run. Period. It would get hung up somewhere in between and just not go any farther with my foot down. The revs would just sort of hang and the car wouldn't pick up speed.

Now, if I did it leisurely, I could do 60 or 70 just fine, but if I put my foot down, the car would kick down fine but nothing would happen....it wouldn't go any faster, and when I was going up hills the car would SLOW down alarmingly, like the engine wasnt getting enough fuel or something.

I've read up on the trans flaring and such, but I'm really not sure where to start with this problem. I'm a total Mercedes noob (I only know BMW stuff) and even more noobish with diesel. I've gone through FAQ's and "READ THIS FIRST"'s but I'm really not sure. I tried giving it more fuel by backing the screw out of the ALDA. Didn't do anything.

The car will go through first fine and shift to second fine. Then it will get to the top of second and just hang there. Won't shift. At least I didn't give it long enough, and I gave it a good 5-7 seconds while it was revving dead. So it might be a combination of fuel delivery and trans issues. Anyone know what I should do? I'm pretty sure the turbo is working as it should because 1st and 2nd acceleration are completely acceptable.

Thanks!
Patrick

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  #2  
Old 10-08-2006, 07:44 PM
Nissan_diesel
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I am no pro here but I cleaned the banjo bolt and had a lot more power than when I started out. to find the banjo bolt go to (dieselgaint.com)
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  #3  
Old 10-08-2006, 07:49 PM
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I'd give the fuel system a go first because it is inexpensive and easy. Do it in this order:
1. Get some diesel purge- I use Powerservice diesel additive, others use Howes (there are a bunch). Put a slug of it in the tank- you can put in a little more than directed just to clean the place out
2. Replace primary (in-line) fuel filter- white plastic thing before IP
3. Replace secondary (spin-on) filter
4. Run the car at idle for an hour or so, and rev the engine if you want to- get that purge going through the system
5. If this doesn't completely solve your problems (which I suspect it will) clean out your fuel tank screen

If it turns out that none of this helps, change your transmission fluid. That should do it.
Good luck.
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  #4  
Old 10-08-2006, 07:52 PM
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Don,t panic sounds like its starving for fuel . Did you change both filters. If you did it could be a restriction in the fuel line. I have had the same thing happen to me on my older cars. Wind up changing the fuel filters a couple of times before it clean out the tank. The tranny will do exactlly that if it straves for fuel
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  #5  
Old 10-08-2006, 08:53 PM
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Diesels have vacuum pumps too..


Make sure the switches are good on the v/c and might need to generally go over things. If you had a few broken vacuum actuators in doors or a/c they can contribute to low vacuum.

These cars are really reliable, just need to go through things one by one.

When you pull the line off the prefilter it should flow nicely. There is a tank screen which can become pluged-but I haven't seen it. Ussually a bad or clogged filter.


Michael
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  #6  
Old 10-08-2006, 10:20 PM
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I vote for plugged filters

Sounds like the classic dirty/plugged filter. Do like Cavaliers6 said. I wouldn't worry about idling for an hour, though.

I replaced both filters. I filled the spin on filter with Sea Foam fuel injector cleaner before I put it back on. Then I dumped the rest of the bottle into the tank. I fired it up and idled it for about 10 minutes while I cleaned up where I was working and threw my trash away. Then I found a nice, quiet 1/4 mile straight away in an industrial area. It worked great for 0-60 runs. On the 4th or so run I put out a HUGE cloud of black smoke and it started picking up. By the 6th run the smoke had died down. Between the new filters and the Italian tune up it was running much better.

Give it a try, it should fix your problem. After that read up on the banjo bolt and how to clean it.

-Jim
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  #7  
Old 10-08-2006, 10:26 PM
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re:

Thank you guys very much for your input! I will try those things you mentioned. As I said I am very new to these cars. But from what I have seen, fuel system sounded like the right place to start.

That's weird that the tranny will hang like that on 2-3...I guess I'm not surprised when it does it at 60-70ish...because it's at the top of third if I nail it at that speed, and as far as the trans is concerned it's floored but the engine just can't give it the power if it's not getting fuel.

Also, what is that little white plastic round screw for, on the driver's side of the engine, under that fuel distribution block thing? It's got like a clear tube right next to it where you can see fuel coming in. The reason I ask is that it is leaking at the bottom where it's attached. Ever so slightly.

Thanks guys!
Patrick
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  #8  
Old 10-08-2006, 10:46 PM
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Sounds like you are refering to the handle on the manual primer pump. It unscrews and then allows the pump to be pushed up and down to expel air out of the system after maint of filters etc. There is a new one available that does not need to be unscrewed. Use the search feature and you will find out all about the primer pumps new and old. If it is leaking it needs to be replaced, as it will allow air to be drawn into the system.
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  #9  
Old 10-08-2006, 10:57 PM
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re:

Ah ok. Is this a dealer kind of part or should I find it elsewhere?

Thanks!
Patrick
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  #10  
Old 10-08-2006, 11:05 PM
Craig
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pwalsh53 View Post
Ah ok. Is this a dealer kind of part or should I find it elsewhere?

Thanks!
Patrick
This is the "new" style pump:

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1CQ0J3JZ41WZ1DFLKM&year=1984&make=MB&model=300-DT-001&category=All&part=Primer+Pump
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  #11  
Old 10-08-2006, 11:29 PM
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re:

Excellent, thanks! I'm probably going to have to pick it up at my dealer tomorrow or local BAP Geon etc.

I have to make a 3 hour drive up to the mountains in Virginia tomorrow and need to get this fixed before that. So I think I'll try everything mentioned in this thread. Hope it works!

Thanks!
Patrick

Last edited by pwalsh53; 10-08-2006 at 11:46 PM.
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  #12  
Old 10-08-2006, 11:47 PM
Craig
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Originally Posted by pwalsh53 View Post
Will I need to purge air with that pump after I change the fuel filters?
Yes, after you change the spin-on filter you need to pump to get the air out. You can hear the sound change when the air is cleared. You can also pre-fill the filter with fuel or diesel purge to make the priming quicker.
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  #13  
Old 10-08-2006, 11:59 PM
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Pwalsh,

A noob should never touch thet ALDA.

Take off the inline filter. Blow thru it from the inlet end. If fuel squirts out, its OK and doesn't need to be replaced. If not replace it and try a test drive.

If U still don't have power, take off the rubber fuel line from the fuel tank where it connects to the steel line. If fuel runs out in a steady stream, the tank strainer is OK. If not, the strainer is plugged ( probably by fungus in the fuel) and needs to be cleaned.

If neither of the above tests show a plugged filter or strainer, replace the secondary fuel filter. Try another test drive. Should be OK by now. If not report back.

P E H
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  #14  
Old 10-09-2006, 02:46 AM
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A new to you Vintage MBZ like yours...

Unless you know for certain that the fuel filters were recently replaced... you should certainly replace both the clear plastic "pre-filter" and the higher capacity "spin-on" filter also. If I were you, I would replace these after running a 500ml can of "Diesel Purge" through your injection fuel pump [IP] and injectors... then replace both filters.

And when you solve this that certainly sounds like a fule system problem, the same is true for your tranny [auto?]... service it by draining the pan AND the torque converter and replacing filter and pan gasket... unless you know for certain it has been serviced recently.
Sam
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  #15  
Old 10-10-2006, 11:40 AM
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re:

Well, I replaced both filters, the leaking primer pump and added some seafoam into the secondary filter. WOW! The car can climb hills now! Much more powerful.

Thanks guys!
Patrick

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