Hello all,
I just performed some routine maintenance on my 83 300D this past weekend (oil filter, oil, banjo, fuel filters). Upon cranking it, I forgot to fill the fuel filter up with diesel and it took forever to get the car started. Once I did, I noticed several of my vacuum lines had blown off during the multiple attempts of cranking. I reconnected everything and lubed all linkages. Took it for a test drive and now the car shifts almost immediately into 2nd and then onto 3rd at around 2000 rpms. Kickdown doesn't work either. I've had to manually shift from gear to gear this week. I checked the vacuum line to the transmission which holds vacuum. What else can be the problem? VCV? What should I check? Thanks!

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Scott

1983 300D Turbo

This is a 1983 300D turbodiesel, right? Not a Euro model?

If your vacuum lines blow off, the connecting pieces of rubber are not good. The vacuum lines should be tight in there.

Shift timing is mainly controlled by the bowden cable on top of the valve cover. Does that still work? Did you connect the linkages correctly?

Yes, it's not a euro model. I was careful to disconnect each linkage and re-lube one at a time. I remember spraying some wd-40 on the moving parts that connect to the linkages located on top of the valve cover. Should I try to adjust the Bowden cable? I'm not sure what to do here...thanks

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Scott

1983 300D Turbo

If the shifts always take place early, irrespective of how deep you press the accelerator pedal, it suggests that the bowden cable is not working at all. Move the linkage by hand and see if the bowden cable is pulled. Disconnect the ball joint of the bowden cable and pull on the cable, it must feel springy. If you let go, the cable must return to the original position. At idle, the cable must be firm, but the cable should not be pulled out. The ball joint and socket must line up.

If you press the accelerator pedal fully, does the lever of the pump reach the full-load stop? You might need an assistant for this.

Does the kickdown switch under the accelerator pedal still work? Is it actuated by the pedal? Check by pressing the pedal with your hand. Sometimes the carpet obstructs the movement of the pedal.

Thanks, I'll post back in the morning with the results....

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Scott

1983 300D Turbo

Well, silly me. Apparently when I disconnected the linkage that attached the bowden cable, i reconnected it but the metal piece under the linkage was turned so that it did not touch the small metal guide. I know that is a terrible decription, but it operated as if the bowden cable was disconnected altogether. Upon reinstalling it properly, the car shifts normally. Thanks again for the advice!

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Scott

1983 300D Turbo