Risks associated with DIY injection pump timing (W123)
 

I'm in Baltimore, MD waiting for a surgery, and a friend very generously offered me his help, and the use of his tools while I am here to adjust my timing.

Problem being, I leave tomorrow immediately after my surgery to drive 6.5 hours or so back to Ft Bragg, NC. Furthermore, I will probably be totally incoherrent from the narcotics and anesthesia, and my driver knows aboslutely nothing about the car.

What problems am I likely to encounter? Are there common problems with the neanderthal method described in this DIY? http://diymbrepair.com/easley/iptiming.htm

I need some advice on whether this is a safe job to try to do so far from home.

another quick question.. How many degrees of adjustment can I expect from this method? I am at 22* TDC right now, and I would like to be at 26.

Are you having engine running issues? If not, leave it alone until you can actually take time, like a vacation, to do this.

How do you know what the current timing is? DO NOT USE THE EASLEY METHOD. Get a drip tube and do it the way the FSM specifies.

no *serious* problems, just pitiful mileage on this trip and less power than my buddy's 85 300D.

I made the trip up on WVO and got somewhere in the area of 13mpg. Last trip I made my mileage on WVO was about 20mpg, and Diesel is somewhere about the same, maybe 22 or so.

I would only consider the project because I'd like to save some fuel money on the way home.

any takers on the most common problems?

I had my timing checked at an import shop. I took it in for timing adjustment and was ready to pay the whole 270, but the mechanic told me 22* didn't warrant an adjustment, and only charged me 90 bucks for the timing check.

honestly I would have prefered that he went ahead and finished the job, but it was the end of the work day when I found this out. My car was already put back together and I needed it to get home.

TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY DOLLARS TO CHECK YOUR TIMING!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'll tell you what, I'll only charge you $260.

If I could line up as many timing jobs as I could do for $270 each, I would be retired in about a week.

My $0.02,

golden drip tube that was held by the creator of mercedes himself that was used to time this car. But seirously WTF. Anyways, i recently did the timing on my 1981 240d with a aluminum baseball bat and a thirteen mm wrench. i agree though, 23 is abit retarded and would cause bad gas milage But it would start very easily. You can do this by yourself you know... just look it up on the search function.

With the specification at 24BTDC, the number of 22BTDC doesn't warrant an adjustment and the improvement in fuel economy will be negligible. The vehicle has other issues than injection timing.

The procedure to check the timing on your vehicle takes 15 minutes with the electronic RIV light, which the mechanic should certainly have, if he's half decent.

But, he's not half decent because he would have charged $260. for an IP timing adjustment that cannot take him more than one hour. 15 minutes of that time is spend to snag and loosen the lower bolt on the IP.

People aren't reading my post very carefully.I was paying 270 for an adjustment, but when the mechanic saw that it was 22 degrees he didn't do the adjustment.

he therefore only charged me 90 bucks, his price for an adjustment.


Brian Carlton, you saw it, but you say 90 dollars is unreasonable to check the timing? I will try to find the receipt and figure out exactly what I got charged for.

You know guys I think I also paid 180 for a valve job at the same ship.. I don't remember the price for sure.. but I was definitely angry with myself when I saw how easy it was.

ETA $135

sarge
 

one thing to keep in mind is that the speedo cant be relied on, check your milage alt ways.

larry perkins

and STILL, no one will tell me the problem with the Easley method

It would be interesting to know the symptoms of a 617 IP timing too far advanced, retarded. Also, how 'too far' one can go.

If that was true, the average 300D would be getting five miles to the gallon!!!