Yet another newbie saying hello. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

NY300SD · #1 02-23-2007, 07:10 PM

Hello!

I've been reading here a lot over the last couple months since I got my Benz. Great information, and some lively discussions I might add! I look forward to participating, though I am not one to make many waves if I can help it.

The car is a 1982 300SD with nearly 300,000 on the dead odometer. Who knows how many it really has, I received no information from PO, but that is a different story.

I am not much of a mechanic, but I have fixed many an issue with my '83 BMW 528e and I look forward to delving a bit deeper with the Benz. Last week I changed four out of five glow plugs and completely fixed my starting issues! Number five is bugger though, I wasn't quite ready to take off that heater hose and have a coolant spill in my driveway, will wait till it gets warmer.

The next big issue is the vacuum pump. I've determined it needs rebuilt and I have the kit from dieselgiant, but I'm not sure how I'm going to reach all those bolts without taking a few things off. Again, will wait till it's warmer. Brake booster seems quite powerful at any speed other than idle, then I only have a couple pumps left. Seems perfectly safe on the road, and shut down works just fine.

Other issues include dash lights, tires, wrong green coolant, EXTREMELY low power when cold (filters, valve adjustment?), gnarly shift from 1 - 2, rust, the list goes on...

I also look forward to experimenting with biodiesel and wvo. There is a biodiesel co-op not too far away that I plan on joining.

Anyway, enough about myself. Thanks for reading,
Bill

JimmyL · #2 02-23-2007, 07:14 PM

Welcome Bill. Sounds like you have some wrenching in your near future. I'm with you, wait until it warms up a tad......

vstech · #3 02-23-2007, 11:03 PM

Welcome Bill, I really enjoy my 82SD, you will too.
if you have vacuum I doubt it's the pump. I would isolate everything from the vacuum system and one by one connect items (with the others plugged up) until you have the vacuum problem sorted. It could actually be the brake booster itself.

The heater hose needn't be removed, I just did mine (search under my name for #5 and you will read my rant on the stupid placement of the oil filter can... ) all you have to do is lift the hose up over the filter can, it will reach. the closest bolt for the lid will hold it out of the way. get a gearwrench, or remove the throttle linkage... have fun! be carefull with the heater hose though, mine was cracked, so it could break on yours too.
don't wait to change the GP like I did. BRRRR changing it in the rain.
as far as power goes, check the overboost relay, and the alda banjo bolt and the hose for being plugged up.
John

NY300SD · #4 02-23-2007, 11:35 PM

Hey John, thanks for all the tips. About the vacuum, I tested it at the booster with a gauge and it was all over the place, so I figure that's got to be it. I even replaced the valve on top of it and still the same thing.

I'm not sure what the overboost relay and banjo bolt are, but I'll do some searches.

Thanks!
Bill

jbach36 · #5 02-23-2007, 11:37 PM

There's something that goes in the pump at the top, I might be having the same problem. It's called a check valve, and if it's messed up, it causes problems with braking. It's about $40. Someone told me that if you take it out and shake it, if it rattles, it's messed up.

I wouldn't take my word for it, I would ask others for more info.

jeff

toomany MBZ · #6 02-24-2007, 07:30 PM

Welcome aboard! #5 GP can be accessed by lossening the throtle rod at firewall, removing other end, moving out of way. Hose should be able to move onto oil filter housing. I recently did this on mine. Good luck.

benzforlife · #7 02-24-2007, 07:50 PM

the banjo bolt is located on the rear of the intake manifold, it has a plastic vac. line running to it, unscrew it and clean until shiny. u can use brake claener or carb and choke claener.

NY300SD · #8 02-24-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzforlife

the banjo bolt is located on the rear of the intake manifold, it has a plastic vac. line running to it, unscrew it and clean until shiny. u can use brake claener or carb and choke claener.

You rock.

NY300SD · #9 02-25-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

Welcome aboard! #5 GP can be accessed by lossening the throtle rod at firewall, removing other end, moving out of way. Hose should be able to move onto oil filter housing. I recently did this on mine. Good luck.

I did just that, now I have all five finished. Starts great!

toomany MBZ · #10 02-26-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY300SD

I did just that, now I have all five finished. Starts great!

Cool

Rikkichelle · #11 02-26-2007, 11:24 PM

I researched and printed out all the pics off this site for changing the glow plugs when my car needed them, so hubby could do it. He wasn't happy when he got to number 5. Chewed his hand a bit, cursed about it for a bit, but did it without removing anything. Starts like a champ now! I still say "thank you dear" when it comes up!

NY300SD · #12 02-26-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikkichelle

I researched and printed out all the pics off this site for changing the glow plugs when my car needed them, so hubby could do it. He wasn't happy when he got to number 5. Chewed his hand a bit, cursed about it for a bit, but did it without removing anything. Starts like a champ now! I still say "thank you dear" when it comes up!

My hat's off to him. It took me a couple hours and I had to invent all kinds of crazy ways to reach in there without dropping anything.

JimmyL · #13 02-26-2007, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY300SD

My hat's off to him. It took me a couple hours and I had to invent all kinds of crazy ways to reach in there without dropping anything.

If you didn't drop stuff then you weren't doing it right.....

kerry · #14 02-26-2007, 11:41 PM

All 616/7 diesels (and many others) lack power when cold. It's the same reason they smoke when cold. Diesels require heat to burn the fuel. When the engine is cold, the fuel can't be burned efficiently so there is less horsepower.
In a 617 starting cold from a dead stop at 0 degrees outside temperature you have 15 hp for the first 20 yards and each 20 yards thereafter you pick up 5 more hp until you're up to the max. if you don't like it, warm it up before driving.

JimmyL · #15 02-26-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

In a 617 starting cold from a dead stop at 0 degrees outside temperature you have 15 hp for the first 20 yards and each 20 yards thereafter you pick up 5 more hp until you're up to the max.

Doesn't take long to hit max hp in a 240D!!