Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-16-2003, 11:30 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 699
Diesel cars with dead battery and alternator.

Dear friends:

Since diesel engines do not use spark plugs, I wonder whether it's true that a diesel car (e.g. an old one without any computer-controlled emission/timing etc..., and no lights) would continue to run until it is out of fuel even if its battery and alternator are completely dead.

If it is, it's a great advantage of a diesel car hehe.

Eric

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-17-2003, 10:32 AM
Fimum Fit
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
You are basically correct

and it certainly is an advantage in daylight for machines like my father's old 1967 Minneapolis-Moline 670 farm tractor, but I'd hate to be on the same road with someone without working brake lights and turn signals even in daytime.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-18-2003, 02:56 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Malta, Europe
Posts: 54
not only that, probably it would be unstoppable!

i dont know about Merc diesels, but some diesels use a small solenoid in the diesel injection pump to stop the diesel flow when you put the key to "STOP". thus, if there is no 12v supply from a battery, there wont be a 12V supply on this solenoid when you try to stop the engine. so it will go on forever (or until you manually close the fuel flow).

if the solenoid is the other way round, i.e. 12V to open, 0v to close, the engine will stop if you disconnect the battery and alternator.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-18-2003, 03:07 PM
Fimum Fit
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
On middle-aged Mercedes,

the shut-down valve is controlled by vacuum from an accessory pump (and thus minor vacuum leaks can cause the sort of "unstoppablility" you describe -- if you don't know about the lever labeled "STOP" under the hood -- there are a lot of threads on this site which begin with a panicy post from someone who can't shut his car off) rather than by electricity, like VWs, etc. Some of the really old ones had cable or linkage operated shut-offs, like on the Bosch injection pumps on a lot of farm tractors.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-18-2003, 07:36 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: England
Posts: 1,841
I remember reading, when MB first came out with its 'Common Rail' Diesel engines that they had a test day in -insert exotic car launch location here- for journalists. For some reason, a lot of the cars had problems and they couldn't switch them off..! Automatics meant you couldn't even stall it...

'thorough' engineering, Mercedes late '90s style.

__________________
190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page