okay, rookie mistake.
last night drove the 300SD to/from work to have a chance test the new glow-plugs and make sure everything was buttoned up tight.

got home after a 45 minute meander home and noticed fuel leaking from the injectors.
TANGENT: not sure how that happened, since i didn't touch the injectors or return lines when i switched the plugs ...

Anyway, they were indeed wet, so i went inside and grabbed the camera while things were running ... to get some good picts of the wetness.

Finished my photo shoot, and depressed the glorious 'stop' lever.
shut the hood and went inside to hang with my family.

i woke up at about 3AM thinking ... did i ever turn off the ignition?
turns out i did not.
battery is 99% dead ...
oh well ... rookie mistake ... remember to turn the car off ... not just stop the fuel.

happy friday
geoff

__________________
'81 300SD ---> '46 IHC Metro (some day)

The reverse is also true. Don't leave the engine running with the ignition off.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Don't laugh, I did exactly this last week. I had my hearing aids turned off, left the car running so I could check transmission fluid level. Checked it, fine, closed hood and went in the house. About three hours later my kid comes home and asks "whys that old POS outside running?" OOPs :-(

__________________
1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.

Done that a few times over the years, usually on a Saturday when I'm working on something.

When I go to leave later in the day and look for the keys, it's "Oh not AGAIN" time....

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Heh... old POS. Everytime I hear that I think MIB.

Old and busted; new hotness.

Kids these days. Who cares if it runs? LOOK AT THAT PAINTJOB!

__________________
Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

Geoff,

On the injector leaks; did you recently run injector cleaner? I did it twice when I first got my MB and all the return lines started to leak. Replaced them all and all is well. The injector cleaner must dissolve all the diesel "scabs" within the lines (that were blocking any microscopic leaks).

Just my .02

interesting thought ...
yes i did ... i ran two cans
maybe a better procedure would be to replace the lines first... especially if you have no idea of the age of some parts.

i'm rebuilding the injectors now ... and so things are off ... and i will indeed put on new lines.

thanks for the pointer ... i think it makes total sense.

geoff

__________________
'81 300SD ---> '46 IHC Metro (some day)

rebuilding the injectors urself or sending them to shop???

__________________
1999 W210 E300 Turbodiesel

greezer is going to do them for me.
i want to try and do them at some point ... but dark winter nights and work make it a lower priority...

i'm on a business trip ... so i figured i'd treat myself and have something fun waiting for me when i get home!

cheers
geoff

__________________
'81 300SD ---> '46 IHC Metro (some day)