190 turbo questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 03-01-2003, 03:11 PM

Hello,
I just bought the wife an 87 190 turbo diesel, I really love the car. I am not new to diesels, just mercedes diesels. I have a problem with the driver's door lock not working and understand there is some kind of vacuum thing going on there. Is there any way to disable this PITA system and just have manual locks? I pulled the fuse for the central locks since th pump was running non-stop and draining the battery, but with the fuse pulled or installed, the driver's lock is inoperative, all the others including the trunk work fine.

I read all over these forums about 603.223 or 622.311 or whatever, I have an aluminum 5 cyl turbo diesel, which number is this engine and is it one of the better, more reliable models or a piece of crap?

I can never leave anything alone and I wish to turn up the boost and injection pump, How do I do turn up the pump (the actual IP fuel, not the ALDA) and how much boost can I reliably run?

Any mods I should look into, any general tips hints, or advice?

Thanks,

Tony

#2 03-01-2003, 03:16 PM

I also wish to purchase a second MB diesel as fuel is getting expensive, just a cheap work car, which models came with the same engine as the 87 190D? I would like to have a spare engine in case the one in my wife's car throws a rod, cracks the head... whatever. My dream would be to swap a MB turbo diesel into a land rover or such.....

Seems like all of the MB diesels Isee for sale are cheap, lots of miles, and very good condition, these cars are a well kept secret.

Tony

190D22 · #3 03-01-2003, 03:34 PM

Your engine is the 602. The 300D 2.5T also had the 602. The 1987 300D had the 603 6 cylinder turbo.

The vacuum pump for the central locking is under the rear seat on the passenger side. Take out the back seat and unplug the pump.

Rick Miley · #4 03-03-2003, 03:45 PM

Are you sure the lock doesn't work? If you're trying to push it down while the door is open in order to lock and leave the car, that won't work. You have to lock it from outside the car with the key. That's the Mercedes way of making sure you don't lock your keys in the car. The lock should work from inside with the door closed.

190D22 · #5 03-03-2003, 03:56 PM

Or if you want to go a step further, open the back door and push the driver's door lock down. I do this when I get my bag out of the back, so I can put my keys in my pocket to then free up my hands.

#6 03-03-2003, 08:30 PM

It will not lock from the outside with the key, any suggestions? Ca I disable this vaccum system altogether? A vacuum anything is going to cause problems on a 15 year old car, I would rather do without it, as log as I can still lock/unlock the car.

Tony

190D22 · #7 03-04-2003, 05:46 PM

Just pull the power on the pump.

psfred · #8 03-04-2003, 09:22 PM

Tony:

Sounds like something is stuck in the door. It is possible that the lock cylinder in the door handle is worn out, or that the linkage is shot, or the actuator is bad -- this may keep the pump running (it generates vac to lock and pressure to unlock). The switch in the door can go bad too.

If the pump runs constantly, it is bad -- it is supposed to run for 15 sec and shut off.

The vac locks in my 31 year old 280 SE still work fine, by the way.

That 602 is already boosted about as far as you want to take it -- 14 psi. If you feel that performance is low (you should be getting 0-60 times of about 9 sec), check that the boost control line from the intake manifold to the black plastic switchover valve on the firewall and then to the barometric controller (alias ALDA) on the IP is clear, intact, and does not vent out the switchover valve -- if pressure vents off the top of the switchover, either the diaprham is bad or the overboost pressure switch is shorted (on the intake manifold, next to the boost signal line).

you don't want to mod anything, MB wrings out more hp and torque on these things than a typcial Vortec gas engine!

You may also want to check the condition the wastegate controller and linkage, too -- I've heard of them falling off.

If you get a good push at moderate throttle about 2000 rpm, the turbo is fine, too. No push, you need to find out why you don't have boost or added fuel.

You should see smoke only at takeoff, at night, in the headlights of the car behind, very clean diesel this one.

And yes, 15 year old MB diesels with 180,000 miles are usually in nearly new condition!

Peter