Newbie with the bug: Diesel book recommendation - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MaineCedes · #1 01-04-2012, 06:22 PM

Okay total greenhorn\first time poster here. Just bought a 300td 245,000 miles young. I've been addicted to gas all my life.

I love this new diesel idea. I want to be able to work on this car myself. Financially speaking I really need to be able to work on it myself. There is just one problem. I don't know what you guys are talking about. In the last week I have read dozens if not hundreds of posts, about everything, but I realize I don't know the language.

My question(finally): Is there a book or books you would recommend I read to get a grasp of the diesel. To be more specific, the 70's-80's Mercedes diesel - I know I am going to be looking for more of these cars to work on.

Thanks-John

rhodes2010 · #2 01-04-2012, 06:34 PM

Welcome to the club.

Please change your signature to include exactly what year of car you purchased.
Also, tell us where in the world you are. It will help you a lot.

Books: Haynes publications made one book that I know of for the 70 - 80's
MB diesels.

Other than that you are looking at factory service manuals.

The videos and How-To's on this board under the Sticky notes and
DieselGiant website are a great way to get familiar.

You should talk about how much experience you have doing your own
maintenance - brake pads, oil changes, adjusting valves, etc..

MaineCedes · #3 01-04-2012, 06:49 PM

Thanks Rhodes. I think I've updated my signature.
As far as past experience goes, I have always done the basic mechanicals on my cars and trucks. Basic brake service, oil changes etc. It's really the inner workings of the diesel that I don't have a grasp of. That and all the periphery such as vacuum and turbo and injectors and glow plugs and... How it all comes together.
I will get Haynes. Any other?

vstech · #4 01-04-2012, 07:19 PM

https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/ free account...

find a post that describes a function you are unfamiliar with, and post a question about it.
no question is too dumb... just ask!

click on the USERCP link at the top of each page, and update the signature line, to show what year and model vehicle you have. also, you have to check the box in the post that says to show your signature. (I fixed your first post)
you've indicated you have a 300TD... is that a station wagon, or are you indicating you have a turbodiesel?

sixto · #5 01-04-2012, 07:21 PM

Isn't there enough to read here???

Sixto
87 300D

vstech · #6 01-04-2012, 07:22 PM

update, since you bracketed turbo along with your 81TD, we all know you do have a wagon, since the 81 300D sedan did not have a turbo!

MaineCedes · #7 01-04-2012, 07:48 PM

Bear with me.
With all due respect, the problem is there is too much information here. I need to know how it all comes together and works from start to finish without too many side trips.
I know what I should do is go outside and take something apart and put it back together. The two problems are she is my daily driver, and I have no idea what I'm looking at. Don't know my IP from my GP from my Turbo from my Vacuum Pump... well you get the idea.
I should probably find a diesel class somewhere, or an amenable mechanic who wouldn't mind me watching him solve someone else's problem. Just don't have the daylight hours to do it, so wondering if there is any light bedtime reading

I can tell this is a very helpful forum. I will post some more specific, and yes I'm sure dumb questions soon. But now it's off to get the 6 and 8 year olds to bed.

tangofox007 · #8 01-04-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaineCedes

There is just one problem. I don't know what you guys are talking about.

Neither do half the people doing the talking.

cmbdiesel · #9 01-04-2012, 07:55 PM

:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Neither do half the people doing the talking.

cmbdiesel · #10 01-04-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaineCedes

Bear with me.
With all due respect, the problem is there is too much information here. I need to know how it all comes together and works from start to finish without too many side trips.
I know what I should do is go outside and take something apart and put it back together. The two problems are she is my daily driver, and I have no idea what I'm looking at. Don't know my IP from my GP from my Turbo from my Vacuum Pump... well you get the idea.
I should probably find a diesel class somewhere, or an amenable mechanic who wouldn't mind me watching him solve someone else's problem. Just don't have the daylight hours to do it, so wondering if there is any light bedtime reading

I can tell this is a very helpful forum. I will post some more specific, and yes I'm sure dumb questions soon. But now it's off to get the 6 and 8 year olds to bed.

I'm sure there are things about your awesome TD that don't seem to work quite right. Search the forum for threads on the issue, then investigate your car and try to figure it out. If it's a daily driver, and new to you, then you will be wanting to check safety and driveability issues first. Also, being in Maine, yer gonna need to start the car in the cold, search out glow plug and related topics. When I first dove into the aging Mercedes diesel world, I came here and read for months before I even joined. This is an excellent resource, and is filled with real world applications, many of which will closely resemble your own firsthand experiences. You will discover over time that there are a number of unimpeachable (pun intended) sources here who will stick with you step by step if you can accurately describe the problem and report back on the specific questions they will ask. There is no book that can do what this forum can, in that regard.
So, welcome and happy motoring!!

Remember that there is no dumb question but for the one you don't ask.
Some good pictorial repairs can be found on Dieselgiant.com

ngarover · #11 01-04-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

I'm sure there are things about your awesome TD that don't seem to work quite right. Search the forum for threads on the issue, then investigate your car and try to figure it out. If it's a daily driver, and new to you, then you will be wanting to check safety and driveability issues first. Also, being in Maine, yer gonna need to start the car in the cold, search out glow plug and related topics. When I first dove into the aging Mercedes diesel world, I came here and read for months before I even joined. This is an excellent resource, and is filled with real world applications, many of which will closely resemble your own firsthand experiences. You will discover over time that there are a number of unimpeachable (pun intended) sources here who will stick with you step by step if you can accurately describe the problem and report back on the specific questions they will ask. There is no book that can do what this forum can, in that regard.
So, welcome and happy motoring!!

Remember that there is no dumb question but for the one you don't ask.
Some good pictorial repairs can be found on Dieselgiant.com

x2.

I had never had a diesel up until I ran into this forum last year... never worked on one, driven one you get the idea... now I have 5 of them.

Start small, fix it, move on to the next thing... before you know it, everything will just make sense.

MaineCedes · #12 01-04-2012, 08:47 PM

Thanks all for the encouragement.

Although if I have five of these things within a year, i will be back here looking for the best books on marital counseling...

ChiefRider · #13 01-04-2012, 09:06 PM

Wait till you have your first repair- You will learn quickly.

The 123 diesels are a pretty owner-friendly vehicle. Have fun!

DIESELVOLVO · #14 01-05-2012, 12:05 AM

O.K. It is bit late even for me so don't take this post too seriously but IMHO a turbo Mercedes wagon is NOT the first diesel vehicle you should buy as Daily Driver to "learn the ropes" on. Go out and buy a rusty VW Rabbit to tinker with for 500 and drive or maybe park the Mercedes until the honeymoon is over, so to speak and then you can decide if you really want to deal with an extra cylinder, a turbo, an automatic levelling system, power everything, vacuum everything and 300K and 30 years of Previous Owners "fixes". Sounding a bit cynical? No one says you have to listen to me....Welcome to the club of course!

kerry · #15 01-05-2012, 12:32 AM

I looked at a diesel Rabbit before I bought my first 123. Glad I looked at a 123 before buying the Rabbit. Opening and shutting the doors on each should be enough reason to go for the 123. I wouldn't want to be in a collision in a Rabbit.