Hello, my 300D runs perfect and the sunroof works perfect. I started the car about 3 hours ago (after driving it to work and back with no issues) and it's running terrible, shifting odd and the sunroof quit working. The fuses are all new and look fine still. The sunroof and running problem has to be related as they both just started. I was told the car was smoking as well - which it does not do. I'm thinking there's a common circuit or breaker that effects the engine and other electricals. Does this condition ring a bell with anyone? Thanks!

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Andy
71 350SL (sold), 81 380SEL, 84 300D (just sold), 85 190D (sold), 91 300E, 93 190E (just sold), 79 240D (sold) , 83 240D (living on in my other cars) an 83 380SEL (sold) 82 380 SL and 85 300D. Just bought a 95 SL500.

Nothing I can think of. Sunroof is electrical, transmission shifting is controlled by vacuum, and smoothness of the engine shouldn't be effected by either vacuum or electrical problems. If there is something that connects all three, it'll be a new one on here.

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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

Yes Kerry, that's what I thought too. I can't get over this car changing night and day after sitting an hour or two. I used the sunroof on the way home from work. I know it has electrical items connected to vacuum tubes (change over valves etc.) and the one large servo is usually making a buzzing sound and vibration - it is not now.

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Andy
71 350SL (sold), 81 380SEL, 84 300D (just sold), 85 190D (sold), 91 300E, 93 190E (just sold), 79 240D (sold) , 83 240D (living on in my other cars) an 83 380SEL (sold) 82 380 SL and 85 300D. Just bought a 95 SL500.

85's do have an EGR computer. Is your EGR still hooked 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

You have several issues at the same time.

Best guess:

#1. Shifting odd + Running bad + Smoke = possible extreme bad Cetane number/quality diesel fuel = add a quart of Diesel 911 to the fuel tank.

#2. Shifting odd + Running bad + Smoke = possible particulate contaminated fuel preparing to plug filters 100% = change the filters.

#3. Shifting odd + Running bad + Smoke = possible fuel tank vent failed closed = extreme vacuum, remove the filler cap and test drive.

#4. Shifting odd = possible vacuum modulator diaphragm failure.

#5. Shifting odd + Running bad + Smoke = possible vacuum modulator diaphragm failure = transmission fluid going up the vacuum line through the engine vacuum pump into the crankcase, mixing with and thinning engine oil.

#6. Shifting odd + Running bad = possible engine vacuum pump failure with engine damage.

#7. Shifting odd + Running bad + Smoke = possible extreme water contamination of fuel = possible injection pump damage.

The sunroof should not be related to these other issues, but could easily be a failing voltage regulator or alternator.


.

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ASE Master Mechanic
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Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
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Technical Quality Auditor.
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1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

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Troubleshoot the inoperational sunroof first. If there indeed is some connection to your other problems it should reveal itself. I suspect there is no connection but life has strange experiences. You want the sunroof up and running anyways.

Yes Kerry, my egr is still hooked up. These are a few items on this 85 that my 83 and 84 did not have. I'm trying to figure out what they are. The sunroof has fixed itself. It had worked perfect since I bought this one, about 4 weeks ago. Tonight I had better light and more time to check things out. I was wondering about the motor mount being so bad as to ruin the tranny mount and make it shake. I was wrong about that. The motor is fairly steady and so is the trans. There is a bad vibration - the kind you get from the air cleaner beating against the motor or frame. I have new mounts just installed and I always jamb an old muffler retainer rubber piece between the cleaner and the engine. This works well and quiets it down. The car seems to be running fine but as soon as you drop down to idle, the vibration gets severe. Again, this happened between two starts about 2 hours apart. It was fine before that. I also changed both fuel filters tonight. I had them and wanted to anyway so I thought I'd see if it made a difference. NO. I wonder if the motor mount could be so bad that it's letting the metal part of the mount hit the frame?

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Andy
71 350SL (sold), 81 380SEL, 84 300D (just sold), 85 190D (sold), 91 300E, 93 190E (just sold), 79 240D (sold) , 83 240D (living on in my other cars) an 83 380SEL (sold) 82 380 SL and 85 300D. Just bought a 95 SL500.

I would definitely look into the issues that Roy Hunter mentioned before driving this vehicle. You will likely save yourself alot of grief.

The issue with rough running could be as simple as an air leak in the fuel lines.

Is it burning oil? How's the pressure?
Is there lots of blowby? Does the cap dance?
Is the oil contaminated in any way? Water? Tranny Fluid?
Are there any disconnected or defective vacuum lines?
Is there proper vacuum pressure at the output from the vacuum pump?
Verify turbo is not seized and spools up around 2K rpm. Check air cleaner for blockage.
Temporarily disconnect ALDA on top of Injection Pump. Any change?
All tubes ok from ALDA to firewall back to intake manifold?
Remove fuel filler cap while engine running. Any change in operation?
Test pressure output of fuel lifter pump. Good pressure?
How about that rack damper?
What is the rpm at shaky idle?

Just some things off the top of my head...

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

The only effect of electricity on the engine performance, that I can imagine, would occur at the valve on the firewall.

It is the overboost protection solenoid, triggered by the overboost switch on the manifold. But that should only make performance a bit sluggish... not unpleasant.

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I replaced the passenger engine mount three weeks ago on a 300SD.
It came back today with a horrible metal vibration.
The new mount collapsed, replaced again = noise gone.

Yesterday I replaced the drivers side motor mount. There was nothing left to it. The PO must have tried to do the job as he stripped out the outter bolt. I had fun with that. I also noticed while I was reassembling it that the engine shock had no upper mount. The 85's must be different - it had a cap over the upper shaft and that cap was riding in an open hole in the upper mount. It had no rubber to it at all. I took the assembly off one of my 240 engines and changed it around to work on the 300. All the nastiness went away just you said Whunter. The sunroof has been working still for a few days now - I have no idea what's up with that. I guess it was coincidence but I also hear and feel the servo (still can't find the correct name for this) working again that's on the drivers side wheel well. The turbo was acting funny, I could hear the wastegate letting off at seemingly inappropriate times. The car is running great though.? Only getting about 20 mpg so I know it's not perfect. I always install a boost gauge on my turbo cars, so I have to do that yet. That tells me a lot too. Thanks for all the help guys

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Andy
71 350SL (sold), 81 380SEL, 84 300D (just sold), 85 190D (sold), 91 300E, 93 190E (just sold), 79 240D (sold) , 83 240D (living on in my other cars) an 83 380SEL (sold) 82 380 SL and 85 300D. Just bought a 95 SL500.