I have an 85' EURO 300D (Non Turbo). Is the trap oxidizer installed in my car or only in US Versions? If I do have this, where is it located? Can I just take it out without affecting engine performance? I live in the Philippines and we can do away with catalytic converters.


Francis

I doubt that your car has one.

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Francis,

The trap oxidizer was on the 124 diesels in 86 to 88. If your car is an 85 it should be a w123 car. If there are any cars still out there with the trap oxidizer intact, MB will remove it at no charge.

I have a '87 300D Turbo, car was bought in Dallas,Texas. How do I check if my car has trap oxidizer? Thanks.

All 87 300D US model had the trap oxidizer to begin with. The recall removes the trap oxidizer and put a silver pipe where the trap oxidizer was. The entire exhaust system is to be replaced as part of the recall. In every recall case I saw, the turbo was replaced too. The silver pipe is found along side next to the engine, almost the same level as the engine head, near the battery. If you see that area has a big fat round muffler-like object, you still have the trap oxidizer. In 1985, California was the only state to have the trap oxidizer and only on the 617 engine. Modification for the 85 Calif (w123 and w126 body) is different from the 87 above.

Note: I saw some people purchased the silver pipe and replaced the trap oxidizer (1987) themselves to increase performance. That is only half of the modification, you need the new exhaust system to meet the smog requirements. In this case, I do not think MB will touch that car at all.

David

[This message has been edited by be459 (edited 02-26-2000).]

I recently bought my 87 300TDT, and brought the VIN to the dealer to have a history run (I already knew it needed it, but went through the paces). They will tell you if the recall has been accomplished, or if any others are outstanding. It also gives paint coses, delivery dates, etc. Recalls are no charge and the trap Oxidizer replacement takes about 1 and 1/2 days. I'm dropping it off March 7 and I can post a status when I get it back if any one is interested.

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

Well, the recall has now been completed and everything was and is fine.

For those of you asking how to tell if it has been done, the trap was as very bulbous, sheet metal shrouded vessel, on the passenger side of the engine. It took up all the space on the top side between the valve cover and the air filter. At removal, it is replaced with a very svelt, streamlined pipe that is covered with a metallic foil insulator. The turbo and exhaust manifold is non easily visible. As Benzmac had said earlier in this thread, the entire exhaust system, including the muffler is replaced at no charge!

Benzmac - I do have one question, the turbo was not changed on my car! The dealer said it was in good working order, had no damage, and did not need to be replaced. I can attest to the fact that it is working fine, but at 150,000 miles, it sure would have been nice to get a new one. Do you have any comment or advice? I guess I could have waited for it to fail, and then gotten it all for free, but reliability is important, so I did not wait till failure.

Best Regards,

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

Here is a link that shows a pretty good picture of the trap oxidizer, both before and after. http://www.dhc.net/~pmhack/mercedes/trapoxr.HTM


ARI

Deezel

The recall campaign, #96-1121, stated that if the Turbocharger is damaged due to caused by the Trap Oxidizer, it will be replaced free of charge.

Your recall is final. The whole system is warrenty for 1 year. If your turbo fails in the future, you have to pay for it unless you can prove that the damage is caused by the T.O. as stated in 96-1121.

David

David

I just got off the phone with MB customer service and the trap oxidizer is still due to be replaced on my '87 300TD and the recall is still open.

She pointed out that the trap oxidizer failure and the subsequent turbo failure are simultaneous and once this recall is completed it is doubtfull that any turbo failure could be linked to the TO.

I'll let you know how the car performs after my appointment Wed.

What was the trap oxydizer supposed to do? If it can be removed (at MB's expense)it sounds like it didn't do anything but cause trouble.
P E H

We'll after two days of confusion at the MB Manhattan my assistant service manager seems certain that the correct parts are now on order to complete the TO replacement. I'll have to bring it back on Monday and try again. This may be a side affect of having more cars to work on then you can shake a stick at. You should see this place!

I attempted to avoid this problem by specifically asking for the TO recall (known at MB as a campaign) when I made the appointment two weeks ago, but it appears that no work on anything (like ordering the parts) happens before the vehicle arrives.

I even tried to order the parts myself by asking for the trap recall by name at the parts dept. and giving them my VIN number. They were sure they ordered everything that I needed.

Hmmm, maybe I'm going get a new turbo. That would surely explain my prominant position in the sloooow lane.

Trap Oxidizer complete at MB's expense. Don't want to jump to conclusions, but it was noticably perkier on the drive home from the dealer. I'll give it a real test on the weekend.

One concern was that they didn't perform a boost test, but simply inspected the turbo and TO for indications of damage. Is that part of the campaign and should have been done or not necessarily?

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-Mike
'87 300TD Turbo

Finally got a real roll test in today. Took the kids to the zoo via the Cross Bronx expressway. I am happy to report that the trap oxidizer replacment has fixed my severe low power problem. And I'm grinning.

I'm by no means the quickest on the road, but I won't be holding anyone back from now on.

As a further note on the MB campaign, I got the official letter from MB USA after registering as the owner of record. Not bad service at all.

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-Mike
'87 300TD Turbo

Have you guys noticed any changes in exhaust
notes such as more growling noise in 2500 rpm range after TO removal?

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87 300D 161k
00 S2000
87 944S 89k
99 Yam M/C R6

I've noticed more sound (and action) from the turbo at that speed. Prior to TO replacement the turbo boost was nearly non-existant.

This weekend I hope to tune/check the boost preasure, ERG, and anaroid compensator base adjustment with the help of my uncle Robby.

I'll also be doing a 1000mi of driving so I will soon know what my post TO fuel economy is.


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-Mike
'87 300TD Turbo

mysoder,
I bought mine after its TO removal,but it is
quick for diesel and fairly revvy upto 4500rpm (when not comparing to 9000rpm S2000). I was averaging 30mpg in cruising speed of 80 mph with full A/C operation in 100+ ambient temp.
Post your mileage and performance after your trip.

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87 300D 161k
00 S2000
87 944S 89k
99 Yam M/C R6

We'll now i know what everyone with a properly running 6cyl diesel is so happy about.

I just spent the labor day weekend with my uncle Robby and we got to the bottom of my 300TD performance issues.

After checking the boost (.8+ bar) and finding no fault there, we proceeded to bypass the overboost protection switch. That was the problem! It was protecting me from fuel wasting acceleration.

I went from 20sec 0-50 times to 10-11sec. My fuel economy went down from 30mpg to 25mpg, but I've been gunning it at every intersection to make sure it's still working. :)


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-Mike
'87 300TD Turbo

This weekend I cleaned the banjo bolt and the vacuum line from the intake manifold to the crossover switch as per the instructions in Easley's very complete FAQ (and it works for the 603 engine) found at:
http://hsb.baylor.edu/html/easley/autofaqs/boostchk.htm

I'd measured the boost pressure on that line originally and assumed since I saw spec pressure that the line was clean enough. I was WRONG. The banjo bolt was nearly completely clogged and cleaning it made a noticable difference in power. The trans shifts at a higher RPM at full throttle and I can accelerate up interstate hills in high gear with a full load. (And by full load I mean six passangers (two are children) and the luggage including pumpkins on the roof!)

I haven't had the chance to try a 0-50 to compare with the numbers I had measured over labor day, but I'm sure that I should be in the 9sec area. Not shabby at all for a diesel wagon.

And Ken, I have a very satisfying growl from my engine. Is it possible that this can get any better?

-Mike
'87 300TD

Good evening, Mike --

Please make sure that you take care of the problem related to the overboost protection switch ASAP. You do not want to drive your car with it inoperative . . .

Richard Easley
Waco, Texas

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by msyoder:

You wrote: ". . .we proceeded to bypass the overboost protection switch. That was the problem! It was protecting me from fuel wasting acceleration."
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

One thing that is not mentioned in this thread on trap oxidizers is the very real potential of cylinder damage with vehicles that have a history of failed trap oxidizers. The material inside the trap can make its way into the cylinders of the engine via the EGR (really; trace the path) and a new turbocharger (discussed extensively in this thread), if needed, is obviously not gonna take care of that problem.

Still -- it's a nice touch for MBNA to pay for a recall on a car that is now 13 years old . . .

Richard Easley
Waco, Texas