HELP! 300SD Starting problems, MB Dealership
 

Just picked up a 1980 300SD (125K miles)and drove it nearly 2000 miles home. First day home, got below freezing and couldn't start it in the morning. Took it to Mercedes Benz dealership.

Get a call from them and before long they are quoting me like $5000 to re-seal engine, new starter, battery, etc, etc...this and that....

The car has 125K miles, full maintenance records. Leaks a bit of oil, but nothing alarming. I got them to change the glow plugs, run a compression test, and get a call from them.

Said normal pressure is 25 - 30 bar. That cyclinder 1 is 27 bar, cylinder 2 is 11 (!), cylinder 3, 4, 5, are at about 70% according to them. What am I to make of this ? did they do the test correctly, cold engine?

I'm asking this forum cause I'm a little concerned since I just bought the car and it's in fantastic shape but these guys at Mercedes dealership have put the fear in me that this motor is crap. The car is in impeccable shape, and has only 125K miles on it, I thought these engines go the distance!?

Any thoughts? I thank you in advance for your input.

Peter

The stealership has bit you!

Are there any good indies in the area?
If there are I would go get quotes for a head gasket and valve job.
-nB

does the odometer work? do you have a block heater? where are you(im guessing canada or somewhere in europe by your usage of metric )

yes, odometer is fine.

No block heater, may need to get myself one. Saw the cable online for like $16, and not sure how much labour is involved but I did see some postings on doing it yourself that didn't look very complicated. My car is at the MB dealership and he made it out to be a very complicated affair (i.e. lots of $$ for them)....

Yes, I'm in Canada and it's starting to get cold, not below freezing, but quite cold. Are these engines especially succeptible to starting problems in cold weather?

I just bought this thing and running into problems already, everything is spotless on the car, I'm surprised I'm running into these problems. I have maintenance book complete with all records, stamped every 5000 miles. And only 125K miles on the odometer. Seems pre-mature to be ripping this engine apart as the dealer is suggesting.

Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm starting to feel as though I bought a lemon (and an expensive one at that).

nah you dont have a lemon, maybe a fuel gelling issue from the block becoming cold to the point where the fuel gels, id look in to see if your block has the block heater already in it just minus the plug, if not id install one since your in canada and block heaters should be mandatory for diesels up there.

your compression issue... i dont know about that, id have them do it at least 3 times to get an average and to make sure they did it right

Did you get an owners manual with the vehicle? It will tell you how much Kerosene to add in cold weather.

The Stealers always give a wish list. I would only do something that is absolutely crucial. Meaning not going to risk your life driving it. Otherwise take your time and make repairs yourself.

As far as the compression get yourself one of these and check it yourself:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93644

I don't believe it's a lemon. I think you bought yourself a great vehicle. Just need to get familiar with it.

Danny

I'm pretty sure the block has the heater already, just a matter of getting this plug extension. I'm going to take a look this afternoon.

I'm getting new glow plugs installed, this should help the cause, but looks I just hope I can avoid serious engine work. Valve job, head gasket, etc, sounds expensive and premature for this engine with 125K on it.

I need to find a local mechanic to get a second opinion, the MB dealership is ready to put a new motor in this thing.

Thanks.

Peter

Get the car home. On the way wash the engine at a car wash.
Buy a camera & take pics of all the connections under the hood before you tinker.
Use the SureLuck Holms method: Find out what works & the problem is something left to test!
Follow Diesel Giant (web site) directions and verify valve adjustment.
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " glow plugs. When in there, check the timing chain for slack, guides and tensionare ... DO NOT ROTATE THE ENGINE THE WRONG DIRECTION. Verify direction with the starter motor.
Did the car start easy in the past? How long did you activate the glow plugs?
Are you using diesel?
Is the perfilter clear and not black with specks?
Did you verify blow by? If so post results like: looking through cig. smoke in an ashtray, cigar smoke at a 1970's union meeting, extra points for using words like warft & including young women ... a bad cyl or valve seal should creat blow by oil.
Did the engine shut off easily?
Verify fuel system using once again Diesel Giant's purge page and use the pop bottle for a temp. fuel tank to eliminate tank, strainer, fuel line & perfilter ...

If your SD has that few miles, has had proper or even iffy oil maint., I would be surprised if you had bad compression caused by piston rings.
$5k sounds like a valve job, gaskets, new golf clubs, ...
My PO was very creative (I'm being VERY !@#$#@!@# NICE!) so keep posting and soon my brain will do the dah, "I did ... & it worked".

since they quoted you a new starter- its possible yours might be too weak to crank it fast enough in cold weather.

change the oil out with something thinner (5 or 0 weight) and it should start fine.

First day home, got below freezing and couldn't start it in the morning. Took it to Mercedes Benz dealership.

How far below freezing?

If it ran strong for 2K, why u think you have an engine problem??

If you just have a starting problem (not uncommon in cold temps, depends on how cold, etc..) on this car. I suggest a fresh battery and fresh Bosch glow plugs, then try it.

(continued) and put the glow plugs in yourself, dont let the Dealer work on it!

Use synthetic oil in cold weather for much easier starts. Do the records show the last time the valves were adjusted? I'd look at that before jumping to the head gasket conclusion.

Did you get this on craigslist? Those pictures look eerily familiar of something that was posted on here as being a scam?

Those pictures look familiar to me too, but I recall them coming from a thread on an Ebay car. Looks like it has California plates in the pictures.

Get your car back from the dealer, and peruse this site.

Blockheater and proper weight oil for your climate are good starts.

Make sure the valves are adjusted right, have clean filters, and a strong battery...the kind that will let you cycle the glow plugs a couple of times before you try and start. (plugs continue to glow for up to 90 secs. after light goes out)

Nice car, btw. :)