One of my friends, who claims to be a "mechanic" decided to "help" me get a little more power out of my beloved 82 300d. I was content with the pokey nature of the beast, but my friend classified it as a road hazard. Since the cap was already removed from the ALDA by the previous owner, my friend suggested that we try to tune it there. Come to find out, the ALDA was already maxxed out, and the screw promptly broke and disappeared forever into my friend's greasy gravel driveway. Long story short, the car is now ruined. What little power that was there is now gone until you mash the throttle all the way down and you get a short burst of acceleration. I've looked into graveyard ALDAs, but money is very short for me right now. I'm looking for advice on removing, and or bypassing the valve, dangers in doing so, etc. My friend will never touch the car again, but is there someone out there that can help me save my baby? I miss the car already and it's only been a couple of days.

Remove the entire ALDA, there are two nuts on the bottom of it, the lower of the two move, the top one is part of the ALDA.

__________________
83 SD

84 CD

Car can work fine (even better) with the ALDA completely removed.

Search on how-to remove ALDA in this forum, discussed many times before.

__________________
Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Try removing it, you can always find a replacement later if you don't like the excessive smoke.

thanks so much guys. you've saved my weekend

one other question. what do I do with the lines running to the alda? do I just plug them up?

I don't know so please confirm. I thought the entire removal recommendation was for the newer engines.
You did note that this was a 617? Turbo or non turbo was not specified. Does it matter. Don't you need to plug the hole if you remove from a 617?

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

i was hoping someone could tell me that

You can leave the "hole" open. Some recommend putting some sort of dust cap on it...whatever...
As for the 617 turbo, like mine, I removed the ALDA and used the pressure line coming from the exhaust for a boost gauge, so it is still useful.

__________________
Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

so i should at least PLUG the line coming from the exhaust manifold?

I would do that just to keep from eating diesel fumes - little that they may be.

__________________
Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

wow. I just pulled the ALDA off my car. What a difference. If someone had told me yesterday that my cherished diesel didn't have to be a slug, I would have called them a liar. There is no smoke, even under the hardest acceleration, but the difference in acceleration and power, even when cold, is simply astounding. Thank you guys.

Yeah...you now own a rocket ship! Big difference, but watch your fuel mileage go down. You have to weigh 0-60 in 35 seconds and safety at 30 mpg vs power. Welcome. Now you have made your first diesel performance mod.

__________________
Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

Here are some pics of my SD's ALDA off the IP:
ALDA removal
Post #13.

__________________
83 SD

84 CD

Anwhere else I can get some free power from this thing? Not getting greedy, just wondering. EGR is still plugged in...