Transferring from one 85 TD to Another 85 TD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

disqo · #1 03-02-2011, 09:59 PM

In the fall I acquired a twin to the TD I have been driving. My daily driver has been a Euro model that is mechanically strong, but has a pretty beat up body and the terminal rust that comes with a life in Germany and DC. I decided to get the newer (to me) TD into a drivable state and to swap over the Palomino interior,the Euro parts, and anything else I like better to it. I am hoping to end up with one really great car as the sum of the two. I will be selling parts that I don't end up needing if anyone is interested. I have been working on the car awhile and it occurred to me that others could probably benefit from the work I am doing too. The first big issue I had was that there appeared to have been a problem with the automatic climate control in the past. I will be swapping in the manual system from my other car, so I didn't need to save the ACC, but I did need to figure out what had been done to it. The control panel was removed when I bought the car and someone had added a jumper to the fuse block with an extra fuse at some point that looked like it had almost caught on fire. The KLIMA relay had been replaced with an ice cube relay and the compressor has no belt on it. The pulley has plenty of rust in the groove as if it has not had a belt in awhile. There was also a battery drain somewhere in the system to get to the bottom of. I ended up pulling the blue dash that will be replaced by the black one in my present car and dropping the fuse block from behind to get a better look at things. I removed all of the wiring that did not belong as well as the harness for the ACC that I will no longer need. I replaced all of the fuses with new ones and gave the under dash grounds a good cleaning. I am waiting to pull the heater box and bulk of the in-dash climate parts until one big weekend when I plan to swap over everything from the other car at once. The good news is that I have eliminated the power drain and have a much better idea of what goes on under the dash of my car. More to follow...

vstech · #2 03-02-2011, 10:25 PM

Hmmmm...
I also have an 85 euro TD that could use some care...
and I'm not far from ya!

disqo · #3 03-02-2011, 11:16 PM

I was actually thinking just today that I might have to come for a visit when I am ready to get the A/C going again in the new car. It is working now in the Euro car, but I am going to have to open up the system when I swap it over. I was considering replacing all of the o-rings while it was open and possibly converting back to R-12. What do you think?

vstech · #4 03-02-2011, 11:25 PM

a very good idea, does yours have the sanden system? we should look over the condenser, and get the best of the two. most euro's have an aftermarket a/c system, and could use the older style condenser. US 85 wagon would have a higher density coil for better cooling...

disqo · #5 03-03-2011, 01:21 AM

Hey John,
Not sure which system I have, but mine came from the factory. Listed on the old Russian site as Behr Air Conditioner. What other A/C parts would you replace for good measure while the system was open?
Thanks,

Shane

disqo · #6 03-03-2011, 08:31 PM

Next on the list was a thorough going through of the vacuum system. The vacuum routing in the engine bay did not seem to have any basis on the factory diagrams, the door locks did not work, the car would not shut off, the transmission shifted badly and I wanted to disconnect the egr system. The first order of business was using the diagrams I sourced here on the forum to get thing pretty much in order with the exception of removing the lines to the egr control. My next problem was that the vacuum control valve on the IP seemed to always be releasing way too much vacuum. I was able though to use the adjustment screw to bring things back into the normal range. Then it turned out I had a leak in the vac line itself that ran to the transmission. After replacing this line I finally had vacuum going to the transmission. The car still would not shut off though. In going through all of the doors, I found two bad door lock actuators and I replaced the master vacuum control switch. I still though was not getting the vacuum to shut off the car. I finally tracked the problem down to a leaky connector at one of the vacuum valves on the firewall. I would definitely recommend replacing all of the little pieces of vacuum connector in the engine bay while you have the chance. Now, finally, the car will shut off with the key! My last little issue to resolve here was a broken line at the banjo bolt from the intake to the alda. The body work is next...

charmalu · #7 03-03-2011, 09:12 PM

If your Euro has this type of compressor, then you have a sanden.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachments/diesel-discussion/71265d1250882995-alternative-compressor-mount-euro-w123-euro-ac-sanden-compressor-bracket-mount-7-29-09-003-medium-small-.jpg

Charlie

disqo · #8 03-03-2011, 10:08 PM

I am pretty sure the compressor on my car looks kind of like a big hockey puck.

vstech · #9 03-04-2011, 01:24 AM

I'd call roy, and order a complete a/c rebuild setup.
new compressor too... if you have the hockey puck(GM R4) flush the lines you keep, and replace the manifold hose set, expansion valve, reciever. flush both coils, and open up the ductwork, and clean the fins, then pull the condenser out, clean it and straighten all the fins... I did this on my 83TD and, it's amazing the difference in cooling!