On Vacation, Help Me Fix My Grandpa's Turbo - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bbeardb · #1 04-26-2008, 07:20 PM

This should be very simple to fix, but I'm not too familiar with the 1987 SDL. He's had a few mechanics work on this and they are all idiots. Here is what the last one had done:

Complete turbo and injector pump sent out for rebuild, and cleaned out all the carbon deposits in the entire intake. They say it works now, but don't expect it to be fast. The damn thing barley makes it up a slight hill floored going 50. $4600 and it still doesn't work. What a bargain...

I'm thinking either the ALDA or the wastegate. I did notice just minutes ago that the rod coming out of the wastegate was not hooked up to the butterfly valve thing on the turbo. I'm not too knowledgable about turbo's, so I'm not certain if that would give it MORE boost or NO boost. That right there may be the whole problem.

Any other ideas or info needed from me, please let me know.

Thanks,

EDIT: I just noticed looking at the receipts that they put in a new camshaft as well. I can't believe all the stuff that has been done to this car. It should fly better than new!

amg280 · #2 04-26-2008, 07:25 PM

Hey there,

See if you can hook that linkage back up on the wastegate. Also, make sure the vacuum line(s) coming out of the intake going to the ALDA are not block by sutt or any deposits.

And not for nothing, but for $4600, and still not fixed, id be taking them to court.

Good luck.

bbeardb · #3 04-26-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amg280

Hey there,

See if you can hook that linkage back up on the wastegate. Also, make sure the vacuum line(s) coming out of the intake going to the ALDA are not block by sutt or any deposits.

And not for nothing, but for $4600, and still not fixed, id be taking them to court.

Good luck.

Vacuum lines look good, and they claimed to blow them out.

As for the price, that's not the worst of it. I just found another receipt for $1600 to fix his AC. New compressor, receiver dryer, hoses, etc. and it still doesn't work either. I think it's just the climate control unit as when I turn it off, it is still trying to keep the temp regulated.

I told him, take it to the dealer and only feel the pain once.

amg280 · #4 04-26-2008, 07:36 PM

Well The AC job is more on target. Welcome to the world of MB AC. Get your check book ready.

As for the other issue, its possible the ALDA might need to be calibrated, since its on a rebuilt pump. But I wouldnt touch it until you ruled every other thing out. And by the sounds of it, you got your work cut out for you. The fact that the wastegate isnt even hooked up, might be the tip of the iceburg to a bunch of hack jobs from people that dont know what there doing.

sixto · #5 04-26-2008, 07:48 PM

The intake manifold fitting should be clean and clear. Comes off easily for cleaning.

Blow through the line at the intake manifold end and check for air at the ALDA end.

The spring in the actuator serves to hold the wastegate closed. If the rod is not connected to the wastegate arm, the wastegate will open with the slightest exhaust flow and not allow the turbo to build an intake charge.

Sixto
87 300D

Diesel911 · #6 04-26-2008, 07:51 PM

If you start fixing on the car yourself they are going to claim that you caused the trouble. I would leave it alone and take it back to them and tell them to fix it. If it was paid for with a credit card I would put in a claim with them to stop payment.
Your bill is scary you could have bought my car (I paid $2000) 2 X over and still had cash left over to fix them.
If they will not resolve it with you; most States have warranty laws and from what I have seen on Court type TV is that if the shop could not do the job correctly they were supposed to tell you they could not do the job and refuse to do the job.

babymog · #7 04-26-2008, 09:26 PM

He paid the bill, walk away. Been there, done that, won't be back to the dealer but I have my car back.

The rod to the wastegate disconnected is why you have no boost or power. Connect it, it will take a little force to push the rod into the actuator slightly, and you need a clip for the top of the rod to hold it there, a circlip from a hardware store will work just fine and a washer under the clip.

Oddly enough, I pulled the head from an '87 300SDL a few weeks back, looked like a very well maintained and well serviced car, ... and the wastegate actuator rod was disconnected from the wastegate same as you describe.

bbeardb · #8 04-26-2008, 09:51 PM

Hooked the rod back up, and it didn't seem to help any.

The problem with taking it back to the shop that worked on it is that it was done a year and 4000 miles ago. My grandpa didn't know much better and I think he was tired of taking it to shops. Perhaps he convinced himself it was fine, but honestly, he knows it's slow.

I think I'm going to call the shop when I get home and ask them to look at it again for free as I know it doesn't work, but he was confused. Wish I was here during normal business hours to have a chat with him. Wish I were here with my car too, so if he said "no, no, that's the way these cars are." I'd give him my car to drive and ask him why it's twice as fast. 603 should beat the 617. And it sure as hell don't.

Brian Carlton · #9 04-27-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbeardb

Hooked the rod back up, and it didn't seem to help any.

You really need to get a Mityvac on the pressure line from the manifold and see what you've got. If you have 5" or 6" of boost on that line, it's time to remove the ALDA and see if the vehicle performs. If you don't have any boost on the line, the wastegate is faulty and still giving you problems.

You can't diagnose this problem without a Mityvac unless you shotgun it.............and we already know how that approach has worked...............

MTUpower · #10 04-26-2008, 10:50 PM

Both the 617 and 603 need fuel and air to perform properly. If they took the IP off and "rebuilt" it, they could have screwed that up, or they could have not set the timing properly. The turbo could not be making boost- can you hear it spool up at all? (other 603 owner chime in... can you hear your turbo spool at all?) The connection or the boost level to the IP may not be functioning. Find a competent mechanic and keep listening to the folks here.

mobetta · #11 04-26-2008, 11:04 PM

where is the car? maybe someone can refer a good shop....

Cr from Texas · #12 04-27-2008, 02:25 AM

Why has no one questioned a fuel supply problem?

I know for what they charged, all of the fuel lines and filters should have been checked and I guess everyone is assuming that was done - but that's where I would start.

Charles

Lampbum2 · #13 04-27-2008, 06:27 AM

Here is what happened to me, I pressure washed my motor, Long story short, I shorted out the over boost switch, It is mounted on the intake, Disconnect the wire going to that switch, Take the car for a short drive, If the switch is bad you will have lots of power, Just don't over do it, take it easy, you should notice a big difference right away.
Good Luck!!!!!!
Jim

babymog · #14 04-27-2008, 09:13 AM

You could run manifold pressure/vacuum direct to the alda to see if it helps, this circuit is one of the most common power problems on the 603.

bbeardb · #15 04-28-2008, 05:01 PM

Dealing with the tools and short time available to me, I did what I could. I told him to take it back to the guy and ask to take a look for free even though it's been a year. It's frustrating as I feel they are taking advantage of an older guy with little Mercedes knowledge. I really wish I could have gone to that shop with him to speak with the guy and try to get him to make it right.