It all started with a phone call. Normally, I don't get calls during work hours unless some thing's up. My girlfriend is having a problem with her brand-new 1976 300d. Apparently, she ran out of fuel on the highway, and was forced to stop on the left shoulder (not safe at ALL here in MI)


OK, I tell her to call MB roadside.


An hour passes (I couldn't leave work, to busy) I receive no phonecall. So, I call. She picks up and gives me a brief "batteries dieing" and hangs up.

I get out a half hour later.; I go right to autozoo. I get a few gallon jugs of dieselkleen, and a jug for diesel. I then go fill the jug and my Rabbit up (with 45 Cetane diesel, even) Then I head out.

Now, I have no idea where she is on this freeway. I was to 94 and 696. So I do a loop. I don't see her either way, so I head towards her house (to see if she got it started) I getto a mile or so from my house, and I get a phonecall.
It's her. They Towed her to John and Holgers import shop.

Now, I knew they wouldnt help. I dont trust the shop and some of there practices. They wouldnt even so much as LOOK at her car real quick, because the (ack) close in an HOUR. I start driving to the shop. Now I realize that, oh **** - MY rabbit is overheating. I cost into hasting discount auto parts (oddly enough, this is EXACTLY where my 300D lost it's head gasket.)


I dump some coolant in, fill up the oil.





I drive to the car, have a friend pick her up and take her home. Then I look for any problems, and dump the diesel in. Everythings primmed. I start cranking, and she just don't sound right. I know it has good compression, this engine only has 70k on it. I know the glow system needs work, but it's been starting for the past week.


so, It got dark and cold. I limped home. I got a return phonecall from Whunter, He'll be out to help around midnight. Until then.......

__________________
-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

Open Discussion is an odd place for this thread......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I thought the thread wasn't really about MB diesels, it was about life sucking today.
Cheaper to post it here than consult a therapist.

__________________
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

I'm sorry for your luck. Things always turn around. Thankfully, your girlfriend is ok I presume. One thing leads to another in positive ways too.

__________________
1985 300D / 175k

WISH LIST
29' HackerCraft - Gentleman's Racer...
http://www.hackerboat.com/html/29__gentleman_s_5.html

John & Holger's got a big thumbs down, from a fellow member. Good thing it was close to closing time, or they might have touched the car.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

My thoughts exactly.



This thread was to vent. Now I have two cars here that need headwork.

__________________
-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

The w115 is safely back, parked in my driveway.



She was bone dry and the starter is weak. Needed a complete 10mins of cranking to start, using starter fluid also.


the glowplugs arnt working, which was half the problem.

__________________
-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

Probably more than half.

Good luck.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Damn man, that is a rough day. At least there's a little consolation that the GF is okay and you've got the car back home before the garage tore into it.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

why did you use starting fluid? why?

to help start it when cold, since the GP system isnt working, and it was 20 degrees out.



WD-40 is the usual fluid. Use it like you would either, but instead of washing all the oil off the cylinder walls, it's an oil itself.

__________________
-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)