Hi,
I bought a beautiful 83 300D in Sept. It seems great....147,000 miles...it seems slow going up hills (I live in San Franciscco), and tonight driving up the hill with another person...IT would not go...I panicked and drove on a flat section...then took it up a slope, I had to to get home...It Barely made it to the top, even when I shifted down...PLEASE tell me it doesn't have to be serious......I'm planning to drive to LA and with my car loaded up, I'm concerned about the long haul of going over the grapevine...a gradual slope for miles...I will take it in to my mechanic..but thought I'd get your opinion first..I am broke...so HopefullY!!! it isn't too major...
thanks much
linda jane

Have u done any maintenance - changed oil (engine & tranny) - did the old tranny oil looked brownish ? Changed filters (air and fuel). Cleaned out the boost sensor and accompanying line etc.

My guess would be the transmission, I may be wrong. It is hard to guess without looking at it

I live in the bay area. If u want to take a look at it, let me know.

Linda,

It could be MANY different things....it could even a combination of a couple of small ones.

Let your mechanic (hopefully one that is familliar with MBZ diesels) perform a GOOD inspection of the entire car...since you plan on taking it on a trip.
Once the car has been checked for all the usual culprits (your mechanic should know these if he knows these cars) we can start trying to narrow done the trouble.

...my first guesses are:

filters, boost/vacuum issue, cold engine.
Could be an easy fix with the ALDA.

Does the car have any previous maintenance records?

__________________
Chris
1985 300SD - 'Grace' (198K mi.)
2018 Honda Civic Sport
2018 Honda CRV LX
2010 Honda Fit Sport (RIP)
2013 Honda Accord Sport (Sold)
1996 Lexus LS400 (Retired)
1995 Ford Contour SE (Retired)
1976 Porsche 914 (Sold)
1972 Datsun 240Z (RIP)

potential fix 1: Replace the fuel filters. The little one under the hood on the drivers side and the spin on filter. Clogged fuel filters will cause this problem. If that does not fix it then try fix #2 (a temporary fix) that any nimwhit mechanic (AKA boyfriend) can do for you: temporarly install a Faucet Purlator 12v fuel pump (30 bucks) in the 8" or so long rubber fuel hose that runs from the tank to the steel fuel line. Its under the car in the back just above the rear axle pumpkin. up next to the body. You could temporary zip tie this pump to the steel fuel line. Means youll need some extra fuel hose?

WHY??? Ive been in your shoes and I betting that if you dont have a fuel filter issue then you may have a fuel system leak. In a diesel vehicle fuel does not "leak out" of a hole in the fuel line etc.; air- "leaks in" and robs you of power. Adding the 12v pump helps because it will push fuel thru the lines (wont suck air in) on up to your engine and keep you running.

If this pump fixes your problem then you know you have an air leak... FIX IT ASAP but I think you should be ok for this upcomming trip. Get to fixing it real quick afterwords Problems could be a fuel line or even the primer pump. both these are potential places for air leaks.

Granted Im just a hack talking. The pro's should pipe in soon.

__________________
"If anyone knows other lessons I need to learn, please tell me. I'm tired of learning them the hard way".
by JerryBro

The Glow Plug Wait: This waiting period is a moment of silence to pay honor to Rudolph Diesel. The longer you own your diesel the more honor you will give him". by SD Blue

My normal daily life; either SNAFUed- Situation Normal... All Fouled Up, or FUBARed- Fouled Up Beyond All Repair

62 UNIMOG Camper w/617 Turbo, 85 300SD daily driver- both powered by blended UCO fuels

You guys are great, thanks for the suggestions...
Linda

Don't forget the fuel filter at the tank...and maybe its time for a valve adjustment.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Also check your throttle linkage. I also had a hell of a time getting up hills in your area last summer and lo and behold a month later I discovered the throttle linkage had gotten out of whack... I wasn't getting more than 1/2 throttle even when I was flooring it!

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'81 300TD Wagon 355k (Miss Diesel)
'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)

Gotta wonder if the boost line to the ALDA is clogged and you aren't getting any fuel enrichment under boost. As to the transmission, will it climb a hill if you manually downshift it?

I agree with the above. Before I checked the banjo bolt at the back of the intake, my 83 300D was a dog. I drove the car around most of the time with my foot flat on the floor. When I checked the banjo bolt it was totally clogged. After I unclogged the banjo bolt it was like it was a new car.

Pretty color auto... it's the same as mine. What do they call the color... it isn't really white?

I found the fuel filters the number one problem when I suffered from the slugs. The two main filters under the hood are easy, but I still haven 't been able to loosen the tank filter. It also needs a special 46mm wrench that is either very expensive or hard to find. Sears sells a socket for a 3/4in drive, but if you combine it with an adapter to fit your 1/2in or 3/8in ratchet, it's too long and won't fit over the axle! Also, If you see crud in the small clear filter under the hood you may have algae. This is an easy fix.... get some algae killer from your local marine or auto shop.

Next, look to see if any of your fuel lines are leaking or wet under the hood. The line coming off the large fuel filter was old and wet on mine. Also a simple fix. Also inspect where the fuel line connects to the engine and the connections of the small clear fuel filter. Since these get changed fairly often it is easy to tug too hared on it and loosen the connection where it goes to the engine, etc.

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Mr Goodfahrt (pronounced FAIRT... means "good trip" in German)

1982 300D Turbo Pastel Gray (off-white) 200k+(?)
newbie but willing

Mr. G, go to the Sears web site and search for "socket cap set." This handy little adapter should solve your 46mm socket problem.

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

I'm going to guess that you check for algae. The clear in-line fuel filter is easily accessable in the engine compartment. Is that filter clear or plugged with black goo?

With the relatively low miles on your car (car sat alot), AND the cooler climate of SF, chances are you may have got a plugged fuel system due to algae.

How you go about fixing that has been debated on this forum. Let us know what you find.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

Hello and thanks,
So I e-mailed the guy I bought the car from....a REally nice guy (I bet he is so glad he doesn't live next door to me. He said "Replace the small plastic fuel filter. That should cure your problem."
So where Can I buy this....a Kragens or somewhere...is there a special type I should look for..can I bring the old one in...as in unhook it...and do you think It can be installed easily from a gal who owned a vw for 25 years and I've never worked on this car.....
Thanks
Lindjane

Linda,

If you can turn a wrench, you can change this filter.

It's easy to get to. You simply unscrew a clamp on the hoses on each side of the filter and then install the new filter in the reverse order. 5 minutes tops. As for where to buy it besides the dealer or from Fastlane here....I can't help you there.


Chris
'85 300SD

Can I tell by looking at it if the fuel filter needs replacing?
Lindajane