It has been a year since the Blue 82, our first MB, arrived and changed our life forever.
I put a month of R&R into the car and it has been my daughters DD since then through all weather and road conditions with no problems at all.
Now it is time to give the old girl some much needed TLC and I am looking to the forum for some guidance and advice.
I need to check the NSS since the backup lights don't work.
The trans has never kicked down when the throttle is floored so that needs some looking into.
It has the old style primer pump and I want to change to the new style
The car has always been a quick starter after a glow cycle but a very rough idler. Lately however my daughter says it has been harder to start, even stalling out after starting and blowing some dark smoke initially.
After warm up she says it starts ok and runs fine.
I know I will likely find more issues as dig into it
I have not been able to look at the car yet since she needs it every day but is going off for the weekend with a friend so I have a chance to do some diagnosis.
I probably won't have time to do more than check out things and figure out what parts I need to get as she will be back Sunday and will need the car.
So any help from you all will be appreciated as we need to keep the car going for her.
TIA,
Andrew

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Checking the timing chain & a valve adjustment would be a good place to start.
The primer pump is easy. You will have to remove the fuel line next to it then it comes right off.

The backup lights could be bulbs or a fuse.

I just did a laundry list of stuff on my car. Very easy to work on.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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I need to correct one item in the above, the car starts fine, as usual, but does run rough and smokes initially before warming up and smoothing out.
I did a valve adjust 5k ago but may check it, and have never checked chain stretch or the timing marks in the crank.
fuses have been checked and replaced with new.
Injectors have not been checked which is what I really want to do and may now get a chance if we can work out a car exchange.
I could have a week+ to pull the injectors and send the to bgkast for a looksee.
Multi function turn switch needs to be replaced which i have.
The trans kickdown issue is not in the jig under the throttle pedal as I have checked that for continuity and it flows voltage.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I had pretty much the same symptom until I replaced all the glow plugs - turns out 2 were bad and the prechambers were carboned up (reamed them out). I could get it to start just fine, but it was missing - each miss would have a puff of white smoke associated with it. This would go away after about a minute or so, sometimes less depending on outside temps.

I know I could have probably found the bad GPs per DG's (and/or this forum's) instructions, but the car was relatively new to me at the time and I wanted to have 5 new plugs all at once.

Hope this helps (might not if the rough idle continues for more than what I have pictured in my head)...

Exactly how long is the rough ide?

On a completely other note... I wonder how many forum members are Vermonters?

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Blue '83 300D "Domobile"
Red '73 Cimatti City Bike (moped = fun)

glow plugs are now on my check list.
i just finished pulling and checking the NSS and found the elec connector was separated so that i could see the terminals which were still connected to the switch.
i cleaned all the gunk off the externals of everything , checked the voltage at the plug [12.4v] taped the connector back together, plugged it back in, reinstalled the switch, turned on the key, put it in R and it works
Now for the kickdown. Since the switch under the go pedal reads 12+v what else do I need to check ?
The car has rough idled since we got it and it always idles roughly when in gear and smoothes out a little when in neutral or park.
increasing idle smoothes it out.
Motor mounts look ok and I replaced the engine shock last year.
I am leaning towards injectors since they have never been touched by me.
I have met personally one Vermonter from here and have seen at least 3 more on the forum.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I use to be . . . lived there from 66 til 07! lived down in the "warm" South, Springfield! Got tired of the cold, moved to AZ!