At the end of my patience-1984 300D issue
 

Hi all,

My son is still driving his 1984 300D, or at least he was until a week or so ago.
Here is the situation. He doesn't drive it that much, maybe twice a week and even then doesn't drive it very far. In any case, a couple of weeks ago he went to start it and the battery was dead. He took it to get checked and found that it was a goner. It was about 8 years old or so. He installed the new battery, the car started right up, but had no power. He can sit in the driver's seat in neutral and floor it, the engine will only rev to around 2200 rpm. He called me for some of my sage, fatherly advice, so the first thing I told him was to change the primary and secondary fuel filters. He did that, tested it and no difference. I told him to check the Alda connection for blockage, he did that, no difference. Alda line was open. I live about 50 miles from him, so it is difficult to get really involved with the problem, but yesterday we were near his house so I we stopped in. I had him start it, while I cracked each injector open. Each time the engine would falter, as if that particular injector was performing correctly. I then did a diesel purge, (thereby, eliminating the tank strainer, and cleaning up the system at the same time). No difference. It idles just fine, but when revved, it puts out way too much black smoke. I have run out of ideas. Help!!

Tom

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is the throttle linkage free moving all the way to the stop button on IP?

black smoke (unburned fuel) might be lack of air issue...air filter new?

alda settings have no effect on idle IMHO.....



edit; strike the alda opinion...what about EGR..disconnected?...he is not frequent driver so it
may be plagued,...nice italian might do the trick :)

cheers
.

Thanks for the quick reply. I failed to mention that the air filter was pulled off for the test. Yes, the throttle linkage is working perfectly.


Tom

Hmm... no revs past 2200 rpm... any chance the car hit a dip? oil level? valves adjusted? seized a/c compressor? alternator?

Blocked exhaust?

Jim

blocked fuel tank strainer, blocked tank vent?

Jim,

The exhaust has to be open, the engine is throwing massive amounts of smoke out of the tailpipe as it is revved.

Vstech,

The oil level is right on, the a/c compressor has not been attached for years. The alternator may be frozen but I doubt it. I don't remember the charge light coming on during all of this, nor did I hear any squeeling or smell any rubber burning. I will have him check the alternator real quick, though. What would hitting a dip have to do with the way it is running? I will have him check that also, if you give me a direction.

Tom

The Don,

I bypassed the strainer and fuel cap when I did the purge. No difference.

Tom

Hmmmm......
 

All good options and I'm just glad this has never happen to me. But then again, I'm a big believer in treating my tank of any newly acquired diesel with some biocide.

I've never had a clogged fuel tank strainer --- there have been some very gross pics shared on this forum in the past.

my thoughts at first,but he stated diesel purge and same error,so it leaves
maybe overflow valve...maybe ...but he has loads of black smoke...mmmm?

.

Hitting a dip is a refferance to another current post. A guy apparently hit a dip and has been unable to get the revs up past 1800 since the episode it appears. I was not sure if the comment was tounge in cheek or not.

lets not go on pistons rings :)
 

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what about long overdue + winter on valve adjustment ?

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Brace yourself for a big read... similar problems with the car running only to a certain RPM...
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/334427-little-no-power-after-bottoming-out-suspension-1981-300sd.html

cho,

Although I have not actually checked the valve adjustment for this issue, my records show that we adjusted the valves less than 4000 miles ago.

vstech,

I will read the thread that you referenced.

Tom

Turbo frozen? Assuming the engine could not have jumped timing. The black smoke is indicative of little or inadaquate air. You seem to be getting lots of fuel.