Heater issues, and also wondering about ALDA.
 

Hiya, Recently the heater stopped working on my '80 300SD

The blower comes on, but just blows cold air.
there is sufficient coolant in the tank, the car warms up fine to 80C.
but no heat inside whatsoever.

Any suggestions on things to check?


Also:
The car seems to have a small lack of power, especially at low speeds, accelerating away from a stoplight is a bit slow.

There is absolutely no smoke visible in the mirror until around 3500rpm (I don't rev her that high often), at which point it creates black fog like mad.

I've heard it said that you should see some smoke if you floor it below 2000rpm, I get nada.

I attempted to screw with the alda a bit, as this was suggested by some to remedy low power situations.

Is there a chance that I could have broken the ALDA?
Is there a way to test the alda? can I remove it, and see if i get a normal smoky takeoff then?

And one more thing, I can a tiny whine from the turbo (i assume its the turbo) when going about 25-30mph in the S gear (3rd i think) this is roughly 2100rpm, is this a normal thing? should it spool sooner/later?
Its hardly even audible, but there is a hood pad on this car, so that could be muffling it a bit.

Any suggestions/input?

Uno, Dos, Tres
 

1.Search using "Monovalve"
2.The ALDA is not anything to play around with,until you understand all it's
design functions.
3.The Turbocharger is in charge of Whining on all Mercedes Benz automobiles.
(Take the intake hose off the turbo...Any Axial play [should be none]
Any Radial play [1/8 to 1/4 of a Millimeter, Maybe] )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0vZwONKshU

the turbo whine is usually a one of the two or both intake u pipe seals. Very easy and rewarding fix

And that must be exactly where I screwed up...

I'd say I *probably* broke the screw when I tried to adjust it :o, so chances are, the whole unit is screwed up :(

Is there some way to check if I did break it?
Or a way to remove it completely (temporarily) so i can see if it is indeed not working?

That sucks, I guess I should be less eager to mess with stuff that I don't understand...
I can probably grab a (used) alda at a nearby junkyard, they had a identical car there last time i went parts diving.

Also,

I have had the u-pipe off before, there was practically no play in the turbo (end to end or side to side) but it spun freely.

Is there a rubber seal or something thats supposed to be in there?
If I remember correctly, it was just the plastic u-pipe clamped on both the air cleaner side, and the turbo intake side, was there supposed to be an o ring or something?

Thanks for the help!
Tom

Yes
 

large flat (about 3/4 inch width X 3to 4 millimeter thickness) black rubber
o-rings that fits into each end of the "U" intake tube.(the tube ends have
a molded in insert for the o-ring bands to rest in)
When you tighten up the clamps the o-ring bands "Seal".

When you go "A'plundering" at the P+P for the ALDA look for the o-ring bands.

'Removing the ALDA is accomplished by loosening the locknut that's under the
ALDA (It tightens down against the Injection Pump Horizontal surface that the
ALDA mounts on.).Then unscrew the ALDA (It has a threaded hollow bolt that
screws into the IP)

Why would he do that?

Ok, I have done some research on the heat issue.
I tried unplugging the monovalve (supposed to open it up to allow heat)

Didn't change anything.
Also, I have read that the diaphragm could rip, putting cold coolant where hot should be.

Could i bypass the monovalve just to verify that that is the issue?
I guess I'll have to get a new monovalve.

Also, I may have possibly found a issue other than the alda that could be causing the lack of power.
I pulled the U-Tube off of the turbo, and noticed a small amount of oil sitting on the fitting for the u-tube, could this be just some from the pcv breather hose?

What worries me more, the turbo seems to have some side to side play in the housing.
As in from the U-tube fitting, it moves closer/further from the housing, it does not scrape the housing, or get extremely close, and has no in and out play, just side to side.

Could my bearings be on their way out?

And when I had said about the turbo making noise, I dont mean a screaming whine, I'm talking about a audible whistle, you cannot hear it at 55, only at around 25-30.

Tom

I have discovered yet more in the heater issue.

I get heat at the heater core inside the car, just no air circulates past it.
I have removed the glovebox insides, and I can see the recirc/vent vacuum pod, and a pink vacuum pod that moves a linkage, but that doesn't seem to actuate anything.
Should this pink vacuum pod be moving something?

Is the pink pod the heater "door" control?

Thanks,
Tom

EDIT: added missing word, its in bold