I'm having trouble finding parts and info for this car... (1975 300D, 115 chassis, 117.983 motor, automatic). The glowplugs dont operate, at least the indicator doesnt come on , and it takes a good few seconds of cranking to get it to fire up. This glowplug system is different than my 82 240D. The parts suppliers I've been able to find arent listing anything besides glowplugs for this... Also, it smokes pretty bad on startup and until it warms up. (white smoke, no antifreeze smell, and no water mixed with oil when I look at dipstick).
It runs well, has a few vacuum lines broke, (shut-off switch doesnt work, tranny shifts late, and brakes are heavy).
I would like to find a Bentley Manual for this thing, or even a Haynes.

Ah, and there it was in the links at the bottom... thanks!

http://www.mercedesmanuals.com/Mercedes_Benz_Repair_Manuals_1970_1979_s/2.htm

when the glows are not working the light blue smoke on start up is fuel.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Is fuel shut-off on 115 300D vacuum operated?? Hell it oughta be cable driven coupled with the gorilla knob, itself a work of art. My suggestion is quit reading *about* the car and spend more time driving it.

If ye mothball the vehicle then you'll constantly suffer "revival" syndrome wakin up semi-seized injector pump and oil sump sludge, fouled pre-comb chambers too. Even worst treatin these old classics as 2,000 mile per year "sunday" cars is you end up with 1/8" carbon deposits on piston crowns and valves.

Why dont you sell the '82 240D and treat yer 115 as well maintained daily driver instead?

And Tom is right about blue smoke bein perfectly normal unburnt fuel at startup. Hell, nobody in their right mind attempts to diagnose diesel engine based on perfomance when stone cold. Gotta laugh at lunatics cryin about lousy dead stone-cold diesel engine performance. Yer 115 naturally takes 5 minutes just to get it started, character of the beast. Arguably modern pencil plugs are just designed for those in a hurry wantin their diesels to operate more like gasoline engines.

I believe one reason you may be having trouble finding parts is that the engine is numbered 617 and not 117.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Indeed, this car was mothballed, and not by me. The previous owner had been feeding it filtered WVO, mixed with diesel fuel, before letting it sit for 3 years, starting it once a year. I bought it cheap. The car is in good condition, no rust, no rips in the seats, etc. A new battery, and it fired up, without glowplugs, after about 5 seconds of cranking. (after sitting for a year). That, I will take as a good sign.
There is a leak at the IP, below where 2 of the metal fuel lines thread on. Not from the lines, but closer to the body of the pump. THAT is why I need some 'readin' material on this car. I dont know my way around Mercedes. The 240D I had was a $400 project car that I barely drove home, and I think I paid about $350 too much for it. THIS car is a classic, and will definitely be a daily driver, as soon as I can figure out what is what.
Yes, I believe the shut-off is vacuum controlled. There are some broken vacuum connectors, and I have no clue where to find replacement parts, or even replacement vacuum line.
A website, I believe ImportedCarParts, led me to beleive the engine was identified as 117.983. I will check the stamp on the car.
Having said all that, the car drives well, and gets up to 80 on the highway, no problem. It does shift late, but I'm guessing that repairing the broken vacuum connector will help with that.

Wow, could'a had a V-8!


Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Hell, if it shuts off with the key then its vacuum controled otherwise it aint. Never heard of 115 diesel that didnt shut off with knob/cable system. Vac lines, junctions, elbows and tubes oughta interchange with any MB of 1970's era. No junk yards in yer neighborhood? Rules for fixing fuel leaks are simple: clean the area and retorque suspect fittings first. This means loosen em slightly then tighten em down but dont overdo it.

And have ye run fresh tank of diesel threw it? You wanna clean out whatever WVO mystery mix the last hacker used for fuel. It surprises me anybody considers a former WVO car to be an asset. Nevermind 115 with semi-primitive IP gettin molasses for fuel. Ebay now is swamped with WVO conversions fashionably done in past couple of years. Figure 20k miles is about right to funk up combustion chambers and IP's.

Pull yer glowplugs and you'll probly find loops encased in unburnt WVO, thats my guess. Scrub them with wire brush or clean em as best you can. 115 GP connections between the plugs is identical with 123 loop-plug 240 same plugs too. Otherwise I'd recommend gettin the gorilla knob system professionally sorted out. Are you sure you're deploying it correctly? Get an owner's manual at dealership to find out how.

Hope it aint like you flunked on yer first MB diesel and now about to bungle another? Respectfully, workin on engines takes mechanical knack and everybody aint cut out for it. No shame there, annual visit for professional valve adjust at end of Summer plus regular oil changes is practically all diesels require. Kids tryin to make learning experience of messin with em often leads to disaster.

Well, it isnt like i 'flunked out' on the 240, its in the same condition as I got it, waiting for its manual transmission to be installed. Lots of things have happend since then, so it waits. This 300D came up for sale, cheap and from all outward appearances, in great condition, so I'm looking to make this a daily driver.
NOt like I'm a mechanical idiot, its just this is all new to me. Having never had a fully functioning Mercedes, well, its all new territory.
I dont think the previous owner ran WVO in it for very long, so thats one plus. Any it wasnt even some hack-job 2 tank system, he was just diluting WVO with diesel. I put in some fresh diesel to make it home.
What is the 'gorilla knob' system??

I have a 1975 115/300d and it is a great car.

Your glow plug relay is under the dash on top of the steering column. Easily accessed by removing the instrument cluster. I installed a starter button when the relay failed. Mounted it just below the cluster on the dash. Hold it in for 5 secs. and you are good to go.

Mine does NOT have a cable engine shut off. If the vacuum shut off fails, there is a red stop button on top of the engine that will kill the engine. If the car's vacuum system fails you can disconnect it from the shut off system, that is if the vacuum pump is still working, and shut the off should work.

IIRC blue is oil not fuel.. fuel is grey or black