Hello all,

I was just given a freebie 1982 300D Turbo Diesel. I am not sure weather to call them friend or Foe but we shall see once this adventure plays out.

Anyway, the engine runs fine, no smoke, battery holds a charge, brakes stop and gas peddal makes her go. How ever the auto tranny will only give me 2 gears. I assume I am starting out in 1st and then she will shift into what I presume to be 2nd and then I get no more shifting. I have even run the throttle up just to see but backed off for fear of damaging either engine or tranny.

I have read much about truoble shooting the vacuum system (from vacuum pump to door lock master vac valve to Modulator adjustment) and I have even gone and got the pump and gage. I am still waiting on my shop manulas to come and also an order of vacuum parts from Diesel Giant to get here so I can set to work.

What I am currious about is this. Is the refusal to shift a vacuum problem? I have heard about early and late shifts, clunking and other noises and even flairing (whatever that is) but no mention of refusal to shift. Now the ODO reads 138 but that has stopped working since before I took possesion of her. Reciepts for repairs show a tranny rebuild at about 300 miles before the currnet reading and is dated 2004. This car has sat for at least 2 years since then.

I had started tinkering with the vacuum gaage today and found I have what I think is healthy vac commng off the pump 22 Hg. What I also noticed was that the nipple closest to the vacume pump is missing but the one closest to the break booster is there and connected. As the reading I took was at the brake booster end of the supply lne I assume that the missing nipple is properly plugged as the reading on the gage was constant. What I am curious to know is where would that missing line go to?

Any insight would be very much appreciated
R

The red circle shows where mine goes. (CD) That's the Vacuum Control Valve. The green thing is a check valve. I believe the black hard vac line goes to the modulator. IF so, you won't shift worth a hmmm, well not very pleasantly. The yellow circle shows the vac going to the door locks etc. Flaring, I think, is a hesitation between shifts, the engine revs a bit, and FINALLY the shift occurs. Your gauge seems to say your pump is operating correctly. I think you're missing that vac line to the VCV. If your tach works, don't go over 5500 rpm.

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83 SD

84 CD

there is a button located under the gas petal. when u floor it, it causes the car 2 stay in second until you let up on the petal. if the button sticks down, it wont shift past second. the same thing happend 2 me with my 84 300 cd

Klatak,
I have allerady tried disconnecting the kickdown realy uinder the pedal, that did not help. I suppose I could try a new one though.

Toomany, thanks for the pics. I'll try and take a look for comparison. Just off the cuff I think that whoever had this befoer put all of the connection on the forward vacume nipple. As my power locks and heating and ac vents dont work do you suppose that might be my demon? Nothing works comming off that second nipple. Watson!! It's Elementary!!

By the way I have stumbled on an abandoned 78 300D. I have been given permision to strip as I see fit. Any rsugestions? I have all 4 interior door panels and associated door latch handles. I also have pulled the instrument cluster. Any other sugestions?

How much is connected to that remaining nipple? I don't know if there is a pressure difference between the two that were there originally. One may have a smaller orifice, for a lower draw for whatever reason.

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83 SD

84 CD

Hi all
Just starting out here, having possible similar problems with 84 300D, in 2nd what are your RPM? I am running at 2100 at 45, 2600 at 55 and 3000 at 60. What is normal? I know I have vacume problems big time, have to use the stop buton to turn it off every time now. Also as I slow down I get a loud clunk in the rear as it drops into 1st or what ever before it comes to a stop. Replacing break lights today so I can run it on the road again but need to figure out the clunk and the vacuum leaks. Also does anyone know where to get an owners manual for the 84, got repair books and all kinds of other records with the car but no ownners manual to give me the low down on specs. toomany MBZ good pics of vacuum lines do you have any more?
ggarvis in need of help.

if your hitting 3000 rpm at 60, your trans is in 3rd gear. i would check the trans fluid. if it smells burnt or looks bad change it as well as the filter and gasket. make sure you have adequet vac to the trans. once you have done these things and you still fail to get 4th gear, it may be time to get it rebuilt or look 4 a replacement

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coupes are cooler than sedans
84 300cd-t 305k
84 caddilac eldorado 43k
87 shelby GLHS 84k
86 dodge daytona shelby 112k
77 buick lesaber sc 74k
all coupes

By the way I have stumbled on an abandoned 78 300D. I have been given permision to strip as I see fit. Any rsugestions? I have all 4 interior door panels and associated door latch handles. I also have pulled the instrument cluster. Any other sugestions? i would take things that are going to cost you in the future such as th ip, blower motor, wiper motor, all switches, injectors, kickdown relay, good lights(any). just about anything in good condition. if you dont use it, chances are u'll find someone that can.

__________________
coupes are cooler than sedans
84 300cd-t 305k
84 caddilac eldorado 43k
87 shelby GLHS 84k
86 dodge daytona shelby 112k
77 buick lesaber sc 74k
all coupes

Since you don't know the tire size, you cannot make a firm conclusion.

However, it's definitely not in third gear.........try it sometime.

With a 3.07 diff, the engine speed is typically around 3000 rpm at 63 mph with typical 14" tires. The error can be tach or speedo.

3000 RPM at 60? Not a prayer. I have not had a chance to write down engine speeds and shift points as the tach works intermitently. I do know this that the only one gear shift it makes occurs below 20 mph. I can't stand to push it past 35 cause I don't want to wind the engine too tight.

A little more back story on this little gem, It came with reciepts for a tranny rebuild in 2004. It has sat for two years since then. The fluid on the dip stick looks clean but certainly not a dark red color, more a pleasnt light pink. I will look closer at the kick down circut as you sugested. I would love for it to be a simple short.... provided I can find it.
Thanks for all you advice

That is a good point, It looks like what was spread between both those nipples is now all on that second nipple closest to the Brake booster. I think I might want to start with a new main vac suply line with the correct ports for the two seperate vacuum sytems, one for tranny and the other for locks ac and so on.

Rodger that on the alternator and bracket, I allready looked at the vac line and it is not the same.

Thanks

I have the hose I pulled from the '82 300D you can have for a song. Plus shipping! ggarvis, sometimes this site will allow me to post pics, sometimes not. Sometimes my computer allows me to open the CD-ROM on the SM, sometimes not. I'll be happy to help, may need to do the regular e-mail thing with the pics. E-mail me, PM me etc. Pic now.

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83 SD

84 CD

thats right i have 15 inch wheels and good size tires that would explain why my rpm is lower at 60mph.

__________________
coupes are cooler than sedans
84 300cd-t 305k
84 caddilac eldorado 43k
87 shelby GLHS 84k
86 dodge daytona shelby 112k
77 buick lesaber sc 74k
all coupes

Up date on tires, 195-65T15. I worked on the nipple closest to the vacuum pump, had some old sealent on it and had chipped. Used some silicon sealent and can register 19 hg with some pumpdown time. Now I can feel 3 different shifts. One at about 9 to 10 mph, second one at 20 to 22 mph, and the third at 32-35 depending on how hard I am standing on it. Today the turbo did kick in and set me back in the seat. RPM at 60 is 2850 to 2900 though. RPM at 55 is 2600. I have read some threads that they start in second, if this is true then with 3 shifts I should be in 4th, correct? Placed an order with Dieselgiant but did not see in their listing the check valve for the modle 123 between the breakbooster and the vacuum pump. Toomany MBZ will the hose and check valved fit the 84 300D? Going to try to insert a pick of my system. My e-mail is garvis@hboi.edu, my work e-mail, not using one at home and on vacation this week trying to work on the car. Thank you all for your responses and keep on filling in the specks on speed and RPM.

You're in fourth gear.

The rpm at 60 mph is perfectly accurate for those tires and a 3.07 diff.