Is it possible that the alternator or power steering pump has seized and is stalling the engine? It's a long shot, but it has been know to happen to 617's a few times.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Why no oil pressure then?

__________________
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

Engine RPM would be very low.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Loosen the accesory belts and turn the crank by the centre nut. How much noise and resistance? Down on power usually means there may be quite a lot.

Best done with the glow plugs out. Superficially it does not sound too good though. There are used engines around cheap enough as well. Rebuilding usually costs substantially more. I suspect it is internal and usually the turning the engine by hand will verify.

There would be a lot of squeeling sound and you would smell burnt Rubber.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Happened at least once on this forum, and once or twice on the old MBCA forum. I think those double alternator belts on the 617 turbos are pretty stout.

When the alternator locked up on my old GM V6 diesel, it not only broke the serp belt, it set the alternator on fire.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

From what I read He experienced the Oil Pressure drop while the Car was running down the Road.
If the Engine was turning and some driven accessory froze there should have been some symptom of it.

If the Belts were loose enough not to show signs or symptoms of a Frozen up Accessory then the should be loose enough for Him to rotate the Engine.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I'm picking it up tomorrow so I'll have it here at home to spend sometime with it after that. Loosening the belts and turning the engine by hand sounds like a fairly easy test and hopefully will give some results. I'll let you all know when I do it.

PS If I were to find a used 617 in the junkyard, how would I know if its worth buying and not having any problems? This is all new to me.

Thanks again guys!

__________________

1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

Cut all of the old belts, they are not worth saving.


.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Any members in your area that might help you evalute a used engine if it becomes a requirement? Do not buy a used engine sitting on the ground or on a shelf. Unless you are fortuante to know someone that is really absolutly reliable.

There are various tests that should be done before commiting to a purchase and that much work. There are lots of good used engines out there.

It is up the the buyer to establish they are good. Things like a quick compression check and if low then check for the existance of at least some clearance on the valve train. Does the engine start up quick and easily? Operational noises within reason?

Will the oil cap blow off if left sitting on the oil filler hole. What does the oil pressure look like when the engine is ideling after being totally warmed up. These types of things are the minumin checks to eliminate buying a boat anchor.

These engines can still be located for a reasonable price. Rust belt cars can be an excellant choice and there are quite a few replacement or rebuilt engines sitting in body shells. It tends to be a search for what you want over the cost of it sometimes.

Junk yard motors can be had for under $200 usually. My local yard get $155 for a 5 or 6 cylinder.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

X2

An oil slick would surely have been in part of the story.

How about the pulley on the crankshaft about to drop off...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!