(home safe) Stranded 1982 300TD Wagon -No engine power + battery not charging - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #61 03-27-2010, 03:51 PM

Good start. Id also run a diesel purge anda few quick oil changes. Do a differential service and possibly ATF, then take it from there.

The engine revs with lost power sounds like a flairing or slipping AT. Does it shift OK otherwise?

barry123400 · #62 03-27-2010, 04:42 PM

Transmission fluid at the right level? You may want to check it as It could be leaking out and getting too low.

layback40 · #63 03-27-2010, 06:20 PM

Sounds like it must be running ok. No posts for a couple of hours. If some ground can be covered while its day light, the car will make it home. Main thing is not to push it too hard as its unknown.

bluetypewriter · #64 03-27-2010, 06:30 PM

Engine died again, this time while climbing a long, but not steep, hill.

I've replaced the filters with my spares without any luck. Any other ideas?

strelnik · #65 03-27-2010, 06:34 PM

Welcome to the group, sorry about your trouble.

Put this on a card and save it: 1-800-4-MERCEDES

You are now a Mercedes owner. You can get a can of gas, a quick jump/charge and maybe even minor work for FREE using that number. Like fuel filters.

Please write that down on a piece of paper and stick it in your wallet/ cell-phone.

Please also tell us where you are. If you were near and needed a fuel primer pump, I could run one over. many people are willing to help, but we gotta know where you are.

Good luck!

layback40 · #66 03-27-2010, 06:38 PM

Have you swapped the fuel lines around?
How far did you get?
How fast are you going?

bluetypewriter · #67 03-27-2010, 06:39 PM

Primed it again and I'm running. 150 miles to go

layback40 · #68 03-27-2010, 06:42 PM

You are nearly there !! Just about close enough to coast the remainder of the way. After any big hill there is normally a down hill.
Looks like you will be home by Sunday!

JimSmith · #69 03-27-2010, 07:41 PM

I have been following this thread since it got to over about 20 posts, and this is one of those threads that makes the value of the collective experience on this site very apparent.

Seems you have a condition that is causing your fuel flow to be limited. When you changed your in-line filter, the little plastic bodied part that is sometimes clear plastic, white plastic at others, did you have fuel running out in a strong stream? Normally this is pretty messy unless you park nose up on a steep hill and lift the end of the hose up high quickly. the system is gravity feed to that point.

Also, are you leaking any fuel anywhere? Normally if you have air leaking into the system under one set of conditions, you will have fuel leaking out in other conditions. The fuel line path on the sedans (I have not owned a wagon, so I don't know it) runs from the bottom of the tank to sheet metal forming the bottom of the vehicle, and it snakes between the driver's side suspension and the car body/flooring. It has some clips that can, at this point in time, cause corrosion of the steel lines that will make weep holes. If the location of the weep holes is equal to or higher than the tank level, it is possible that the system will slowly leak air. But, when shut down it should drip some fuel. If you have no visual evidence, or can't smell Diesel fuel, you probably don't have a leak that can also leak fuel.

If your in-line filter is ok, meaning not full of black slime, there is also likely nothing along the lines of algae in your tank to clog the screen at the bottom.

I would give jerking the wheel back and forth next time the power begins to fade a shot. Maybe you have something in particular covering the tank outlet and by turning back and forth you might momentarily dislodge it. I once had a VW bus in Alaska that would run great and then not at all, without warning. I took to cleaning the carburetor nightly. Once, while removing it I noticed something shiny in the metal fuel line after I disconnected the rubber hose, I made a hook with a paper clip and pulled out about 200 ft. of 8-track tape. Once done the problem was solved.

Good luck, hope you don't have any more problems. Also try driving with the fuel cap loose.

Jim

vstech · #70 03-27-2010, 10:23 PM

another 4 hours and no posts, I hope he made it...
or he's in one of those clear areas in the AT&T coverage map...
it really sounds like a fuel tank issue. 200 miles is beyond 1/2 tank, he may have a collapsed tank, and reduces fuel capacity. I hope he gets additional fuel... and reverses the lines to see if he can improve the situation...

layback40 · #71 03-27-2010, 10:35 PM

I think we would have heard by now if it gave more trouble.
Hopefully he is home celebrating his anniversary!!
We will hear more from him in time. If the tank is low, he can empty it & see what is in there. Clean the strainer, blow the lines out, maybe replace some of the flexible lines & hopefully end up with a good wagon !!

JimmyL · #72 03-27-2010, 11:06 PM

He needs to install a newer style primer pump as one of his first to-do items.

barry123400 · #73 03-27-2010, 11:16 PM

When I was younger I ran some calculated risks. Yet if I sold a car I would make sure it was fit for the new owners trip. Well at least 90 percent sure as there can be something really unexpected arise. Or tell the new owner not to try attempting it. Full disclosure so to speak.

I almost have to give full credit to my wife. She can find obscure things wrong with cars that even I miss. Then I have the joy of locating them so she can continue driving the car. Whenever I sell a car that is up to my wifes rigid standards. Whoever gets that car is going to be very happy. The car is perfect by almost anyones standards.

This seller apparently did not care. In fact I will not sell a car in marginal condition to a younger person. Almost everyone is younger now as well.

I just hope if the transmission fluid was low he did not run with low transmission fluid too long. At least he was getting much closer to home on the last message. His main problem is minor but a real pain in the posterior.

If he made it home I imagine he has better things on his mind than posting at this time.

In a way these are episodes in life that one should not miss as long as they work out well in the end.

vstech · #74 03-27-2010, 11:21 PM

what better things could he be thinking of?

this is THE FORUM!
my bet is he's still got problems and he's out of range on his cel phone...

he'll post when he gets home, or when he gets in range and has a problem for us to solve...

bluetypewriter · #75 03-27-2010, 11:43 PM

Quick update.

I almost made it. The car is safely parked in Atlanta, my GF picked me up and brought me home for the night. I was making good time but I couldn't beat the settign sun. I tried to turn the lights on for the last few miles but turning the knob on the lever did no good. Only after I had parked and she was halfway to me did I realize that I was trying to turn on the windshield wipers instead of the lights. :-)

We'll go get the car tomorrow and then the real fun begins. Well, tomorrow's fun has nothing to do with the Benz, but next week I can start figuring out what's what.

I know I sound like a broken record, but thanks everyone so much. I'm a member of lots of online forums and the community you have is unparalleled.