A few days ago, my '77 240D (standard) began to hesitate in 4th gear. It felt almost like it was being choked for fuel. I drove it to Boston last night, and I was lucky to hold 40MPH on uphills, and even in 2nd and 3rd (on an uphill) it was a struggle. It seems to have power when I drive in the city. I've regreased the accelerator linkage, the fuel is new, changed the air filter.... the clutch is catching where it should.... what should I look for next? The vehicle only has 110k mi.~ too young for diesel demise.

I have no difficulty starting the car, headlights, etc... aren't dim... fan belt is properly tightened.
Thanks for any insight,
-Elizabeth.

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-Elizabeth.
1977 240D

When were the Fuel-Filters changed...?

Does that age 240 have the small-pre-filter as well as the main fuel-filter...?

These are where to start, as well as checking if there is Any air getting into the system....

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

Sounds like possible algae on the fuel tank screen

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83 300D 328k mi (623) Light Ivory - daily driver
82 300D 166k mi (881) Thisle Green - fixer upper
82 300D 282k mi (473) Champagne - parts

Sounds very much like clogged fuel filter.

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'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

There are two fuel filters~ one that resembles an oil filter for a small car, and an in-line. Parts store gave me the wrong canister so I was waiting for the correct one, to switch them both out at the same time. This was a really sudden occurance. Do the filters need to be primed? They were last changed in 2001... car has gone about 5000 miles since then.
Thanks:-)

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-Elizabeth.
1977 240D

After you're done changing them you have to prime the IP and this will also fill the filter eventually. Priming the filter first, however, makes the job faster but messier.

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'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

Sounds like the classic case of clogged fuel filters. Swap them out and see what happens. You only need to prime the system if you replace the spin on filter. You prime it by pumping the primer pump on the injection pump, and crack open the bleeder bolt on top of the spin on filter housing. When the bubbles stop comming out and you are getting only fluid then tighten the bleeder bolt and the system is ready.

If you still have the problem there try pulling the tank screen out and cleaning it. Make sure to put in a new o-ring, though. It may leak if you don't.

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I would change the prefilter first. Its job is to take out the big stuff before it gets to the rest of the system. It is easiest to replace, and the old ones were clear plastic so you could see what was inside. If there is anything visible, the filter should be replaced. New ones for some reason are white plastic that is much less useful to inspect without cuttng the filter open with a hacksaw.

I would also let a quart or so of fuel run out into a glass jar when I changed the prefilte. Then let the stuff settle for a while, and look to see if it has any sediment or floating stuff in it. If there is anything visible, you probably have an algae problem and need to flush and clean the tank. Do a search, lots of suggestions and chemicals for killing the stuff are noted.

Another item I have experienced is the throttle linkage gets munged up. On your car I believe there is a bearing for the throttle linkage to pivot on mounted on the bulkhead. This item can disintegrate and let the end of the throttle linkage move laterally instead of pivot, through the last part of the throttle travel. Which means, you step on the throttle and between your foot and the injection pump linkages, the motion is lost, so you never really change the injection pump throttle position. The car slows down.

The later machines have a more complicated linkage to work with the cruise control or something, and it too suffers from rubber parts that disintegrate and limit the effective stroke of the throttle pedal.

Hope this is helpful, and good luck. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Oh yeah, when the fuel system is openned for any reason, it lets air in that should be purged using the hand pump on the side of the injection pump. Otherwise you will strain the battery and starter. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Rather than hassling with priming you can fill the large canister filter with something burnable such as diesel, atf, purge, etc and it will start right up.

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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

That very same thing happened to my 240D 77/standard, changed to two fuel filters and power was restored. The filter/screen at the fuel tank is messy to change and should be cleaned only if the two fuel filter replacements are not very effective.

Vahe
240D 77/350K

one would hope it is fuel related there arent any hills between boston and RI to even slow down a 240

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

Thanks to all of you who took the time to reply. The inline fuel filter is icky looking, but it's still raining in Providence, and I have no garage. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED!!! I had a bad tank of fuel from a Hess station in Seekonk, Ma. last week. When I think back, that's when it began. I ran the tank down, added a bottle of diesel fix-it stuff (cleans injectors, reduces smoke.... you all know the stuff and might poo poo me for usin' it), 13 gallons of new fuel and within 14 miles, I was goin' uphill at 65mph again.
It should stop raining by the weekend:-)
-Elizabeth.

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-Elizabeth.
1977 240D

Glad it all worked out for you! I had a similar problem a few weeks ago. 9PM going 180 miles home and the car was straining on hills only puttering at 37mph.

I would reccomend carrying a spare filter and a wrench with you in the trunk just in case it happens again unexpectedly.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

reasons for this happening.

water in the fuel
clogged fuel filters
(if turbo)clogged banjo.
air getting into the fuel.

all i can think of.

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.