Just picked up a 89 190D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PaJon · #1 02-06-2010, 08:52 AM

Found this on CL for $500.00. 322,000 on the clock, no rust at all, body is a 8 (two dents that will be fixed soon) needs paint. Inside is about a 6, no dash cracks just wear on the drivers seat. The PO said it was hard to start and has not been ran for three months. It has the 2.5L NA. I replaced the battery, glow plugs, fuel filters and changed the oil. After about six hours of trying to start it we got it running. Very little blow by, engine mounts are good and the transmission shifts smooth. Now for the bad part...... Unless you start the engine seconds after shutting it off it will not start without a lot of cranking. I don't see any air bubbles in the primary filter but it has to be sucking air somewhere. What I did see when it was running is fuel leaking at four of the injectors. The leaks are not from the hardline or return nipples, looks like from mid point in the injector. Would that allow enough air to enter and cause the hard starting ? I am going the have the injectors rebuilt. I didn't do a compression test yet but will this weekend. Pictures will be up soon.

crs82 · #2 02-06-2010, 07:58 PM

Usually if fuel can leak out, air can leak in. I would definitely look at leaky injectors as a potential problem.
How is the transmission with 300k miles? I've heard the transmissions are only good up to 150k unless faithfully serviced. Hopefully the POs were very good to your car.
EDIT: I just read that your transmission is good. Great score.

PaJon · #3 02-06-2010, 09:10 PM

Here are some pics. I have no idea if the transmission was replaced or rebuilt. It does shift smooth engages quickly.

benzguy300 · #4 02-06-2010, 09:30 PM

With 322000 miles I'll do a compression test first. I own three mercedes diesels two with good compression they start easy one with low compression it's hard to start

PaJon · #5 02-06-2010, 09:45 PM

I am doing the compression test tomorrow, spent all day today removing snow

Wouldn't low compression from the rings cause lots of blow by ? The oil fill cap only moves from the engine vibration, it doesn't jump around like my 85 does with 450,000 miles and worn rings.

pwogaman · #6 02-06-2010, 10:22 PM

That's the same car Johnhef and I tried starting for a little more than an hour about a week ago. We had to give up after burning through several batteries (the temperature was in the twenties). The larger fuel filter was loose BTW. A couple of days later I happened across this, which I bought instead.

PaJon · #7 02-07-2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwogaman

That's the same car Johnhef and I tried starting for a little more than an hour about a week ago. We had to give up after burning through several batteries (the temperature was in the twenties). The larger fuel filter was loose BTW. A couple of days later I happened across this, which I bought instead.

You found a great deal on that one. I gave up trying to start it when I found only one good glow plug and low fuel flow from the tank. Towed it back to the shop and replaced the plugs and bypassed the tank. When it starts, it runs great. I have a spare IP from my 93, if the rebuilt injectors don't fix the hard starting I try that. The PO didn't know anything about diesels.

pwogaman · #8 02-07-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaJon

The PO didn't know anything about diesels.

She told us she just replaced the glow plugs, but we had our doubts.

PaJon · #9 02-07-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwogaman

She told us she just replaced the glow plugs, but we had our doubts.

They looked new. She over tightened the connection nuts and killed four of them. Not a problem because she used Autolites

I love how she butchered the door trying to fix the window.

pwogaman · #10 02-07-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaJon

I love how she butchered the door trying to fix the window.

Hard to miss it. At least that is only cosmetic. You can easily pick up another panel at any pick and pull yard, something like Crazy Rays, for cheap.