I have been exhaustively chasing down a slow acceleration issue ever since I bought the car a few weeks ago. From reading this site, I naturally started with cleaning the ALDA lines and there was no change.

I won't list everything else I tried here, but it was several full days of work until I eventually came back to the ALDA. Bought the [EDIT] 24MM wrench, took it off, and holy COW this car now JUMPS off the line.

Bottom line, if cleaning the lines to your ALDA and overboost protection switch doesn't give you more power, try removing the ALDA.

I'm going to attempt to fix mine and put it back on because the wife doesn't want to have to worry about a pyrometer.

Any tips where to buy the seals for the ALDA, please share!

__________________
1986 300 SDL, gray on black, #14 head, 180K miles
1982 300 CD, silver on palomino, 290K+ miles [sold]
1980 300 SD, white on palomino, 500K+ miles when retired [uncle's car - inspiration for the above]

14mm? I thought it was 22mm...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Just wondering...did you try to adjust your ALDA at all before taking it off? All you need to do is tighten or loosen the screw on top of the unit to increase or decrease the fuel flow and it makes a world of difference.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

tbo - Today I was just testing to see if the ALDA was the issue before messing with it. I'd like to get it working properly, see how the power is, then consider adjusting.
vstech - actually a 24 mm right under the base of the ALDA, doh!

__________________
1986 300 SDL, gray on black, #14 head, 180K miles
1982 300 CD, silver on palomino, 290K+ miles [sold]
1980 300 SD, white on palomino, 500K+ miles when retired [uncle's car - inspiration for the above]

I suppose that works, I would typically recommend the opposite course of action (carefully adjust first, then take it off) just because it is easier and keeps it stock

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Check to see if it holds pressure.

As far as EGT, the ALDA only holds fuel back until the boost is present, I can't imagine that the short time before boost comes up will create enough heat to hurt anything.

I have a heavily-tweaked ALDA, a turned-up 3.5L IP, and am running 18psi on a bigger turbo and still only hit 1200*F on a long pull.

The biggest advantage to a properly functioning ALDA IMO is the overboost protection and the lack of smoke at takeoff & at high altitudes.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Jeff - ALDA doesn't hold vacuum, I'll try pressure (which I understand it was designed for). With how slow the car was before removing the ALDA, I'm sure there's something wrong with it. Nice setup, BTW!

Update: just 'unplugged' the cat, and immediately took the 0-60 down from 17 to 13 seconds. (before ALDA removal and cat mod, it took 21 seconds).

Anyone know where to get the o-ring seals for the ALDA and that little one on the shaft that the ALDA sits on top of?

__________________
1986 300 SDL, gray on black, #14 head, 180K miles
1982 300 CD, silver on palomino, 290K+ miles [sold]
1980 300 SD, white on palomino, 500K+ miles when retired [uncle's car - inspiration for the above]

I'd just leave the ALDA off & store it for when you sell it...

As Babymog says, the risk of exhaust temps are light. I've had mine off for over two years & my experience is that it's no problem.

__________________
1987 300DT
2002 Ford F-250 7.3 Crew Cab Short Bed

dagObx - I must admit that it is tempting to leave it off. However, it smokes too much right now at WOT (at sea level) and I plan to drive it to the mountains where it will need the mixture leaning provided by the ALDA.

__________________
1986 300 SDL, gray on black, #14 head, 180K miles
1982 300 CD, silver on palomino, 290K+ miles [sold]
1980 300 SD, white on palomino, 500K+ miles when retired [uncle's car - inspiration for the above]

How much boost lag do you have? there should only be a small puff when you first leave a light with no alda..... remember alda is pre-boost only so if you are smoking under wot then you should be looking into how much your turbo is putting out.

__________________
1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

josha37 - it had 10-11 PSI when I tested it before removing the ALDA and cleaning the cat. Not sure if it'll change now, but I'll test it soon. It has a Geo Metro-sized puff of black smoke when flooring it from a stop, then a little smoke until 2500-3000 RPM, then a continuous Hummer-sized trail of black smoke at higher RPM's until lifting off the throttle.

I've suspected the turbo, so that's next on the list to tackle. I have to read up on what to do.

__________________
1986 300 SDL, gray on black, #14 head, 180K miles
1982 300 CD, silver on palomino, 290K+ miles [sold]
1980 300 SD, white on palomino, 500K+ miles when retired [uncle's car - inspiration for the above]

The high-RPM smoke is not normal, makes me suspect air inlet restriction, weak turbo, soft wastegate (11psi is on the low end of normal).

I would certainly replace the ALDA for mountain driving, I did this once without the aneroid on a CAT engine and found it annoying to constantly look in the mirror and adjust my pedal position to avoid smoke (which is of course wasted fuel and contaminating the oil even if you don't car about the smoke).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Does boost fall off on the top end? if it does then you should certainly be checking your air filter , if it does not fall off crank that wastegate up! I dont even leave a hummer size trail of black smoke and my pump is... alterered.

__________________
1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

Jeff - wastegate operates with compressed air. Lever moves freely when disconnected from actuator. Turbo spins fine, no play. Air inlet checked and is fine from the air filter to the turbo inlet. What else should I check?

Josha37 - thanks. how does one 'turn up' the wastegate?

I noticed some black sludge inside the intake manifold when cleaning the fittings. But I'd think it would have to be a lot to make a difference in boost and I'd notice other symptoms (rough running). I do also have some injector nailing.

__________________
1986 300 SDL, gray on black, #14 head, 180K miles
1982 300 CD, silver on palomino, 290K+ miles [sold]
1980 300 SD, white on palomino, 500K+ miles when retired [uncle's car - inspiration for the above]

.....uhhhh hu hu.....cool...

__________________
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