Hello guys well i bought her. This 82 300td wagon. She has been sitting since 2007. I have tried to purchase this car for 4 years and finally got it today. I posted a couple of days ago on tank draining. I followed everyones advise and tried to start her up. I cleaned off the torn and deteriorated hood mat. I checked all the fluids and hooked jumper cables to her. I let it sit for about 5 mins and let the glow plugs warm up it was in the 60s today she fired right up. It looks to have brand new mercedes fuel filters on it. I proceeded to let her run and drove her to my brothers house about a half mile away. She ran great. The tires are junk from sitting so long. I only cruised it taking my time. I opened the manual sunroof and it works great. I got her to the house and coolant was leaking. I believe it is coming from the water pump. I could not tell very well. I tried to shut it off and found it would not with the key. I found the rubber at the egr to be broken and felt by hand vacuum. The car has 142k on it. My wife opened the glove box and found all the paperwork with the car. It had the owners manual and the maintenance paperwork. The maintenance paperwork had stamps of all performed from predilevery all the way to 125k. This car looks to be well taken care of. I need to fix some things and need some help. Here are some pictures. I will load more later. Thanks

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Check the blower housing for rodents!

Sixto
87 300D

Looks like a good score. Wear you T proudly. A little cleaning and tuning and I bet you'll have a good ride for a long time. If you haven't already check out this info on your Self-Leveling-System(SLS). It's a good system, but some of the parts can be a bit spendy.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/271570-self-leveling-system-how-works-troubleshooting-system.html

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Thank you. I will check it out tomorrow. I wonder about the sls and where is the best place to buy the broken rubber connectors for the vacuum system? I did not see any rodent poop but i will definantly check it out and see what is there. Is there anything else i should do on the car also? She needs a wash and cleaning thats for sure. Thanks

Im reading the post on the sls now. I dont know what the fluid level was on it or where the resrivor is on the car. I hope it is something simple but who knows she has sat a few years. I looked under the back but did not see any leaks on it or on the ground. I will look her over more tomorrow and see what i find. I have better pictures. I just havent loaded them on the computer. Thanks guys.

It's uncommon that the SLS system actually leaks externally. Usually the valve leaks internally and allow the rear to sag when sitting. Or the pump leaks and fills the system with motor oil, or all the SLS fluid goes into the engine oil. For testing purposes fill it with mineral oil. Regular hydraulic fluid isn't good for the system. The reservoir is usually on the passenger side right behind the head light. On some cars it's on the other side though.

For starters I give it fresh fluids, oil, ATF, and gear oil for the diff. New filters, fuel, air, and trans filter. Then I'd adjust the valves, clean and lube all the throttle linkages. And drive it a bit. As for vac connectors, you can get them from Fastlane at the Buy Parts tab at the top of the screen. Sometimes you can find good ones in the junkyards, but usually they are cracked and brittle as well. For the regular straight connectors just go to your local parts house and find some vac hose the fits. But for all the 3 and 4 way connectors you'll have to order them.

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Thanks for the reply. I will change all the fluids on the car. I just got it and im gonna take some time to get it going. I really like the car and i stole it for what i paid for it. I gave very very little for it. I will try the mineral oil and see if that helps if it is low. If not then i will have to trouble shoot more. Does the waterpump have a weep hole? It was leaking coolant at the front of the engine down the ballancer. It looked to be leaking at the pump on the passenger side but i could not tell with it running. When it had pressure it was leaking. Im very excited and really like the car. It does need the fuel return hose also but im going to put all new hoses under the hood i dont want any problems with her. This site is great i read all i can. I have another 123 an 83 sedan that is in not great shape. One day it will be that cars turn. Thanks guys

Since it's been sitting so long I guess checking all the belts and hoses is in order as well. And a coolant change too. You might think about draining the coolant, and flushing it out with the engine good and hot you might have build-up and crude in the cooling system.

I'd also remove all the fuses and clean up the fuse panel. The older aluminum fuse are know to cause corrosion and fires. Get the brass/copper alloy ones. Also lots of time the fuse holders cut the tip off the fuse so it looks good but actually has a poor connection. So I'd remove them all and check them.

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Also here is a thread with lots of wagon pic. Shows pics of all the SLS parts on page two, but also has a lot of other wagon specific pics.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/273200-300td-wagon-pictures-body-interior-engine-suspension.html

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one way to check is turn the system on and see if a bunch of fluff comes out the vents.... I had a nice nest in in one of mine that took forever to clean out... In tearing down vstechs euro td, there was a mouse nest in the headliner above the rear pass door! You would have never have seen or found it without removing the headliner! Crazy.

Good looking car. interior looks decent. That car should clean up really nice.

It looks just like the 83 TD I used to have. I wish I had kept it often. Yours looks like a nice solid example. The drivers seat even looks very good. A nice small lady driver would damage it the least.

Good luck with it!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I looks just like my '81 wagon - only your driver's seat isn't toast. I'd change/flush all the fluids. I LOVE driving my wagon. Get ready for compliments at every turn!

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Brad
1981 300TD - daily driver
1963 Chevy II
2001 F-250 7.3 Power Stroke

I'm ready to get her going. Where I live there are about 6 300s running around. This is the only wagon I have seen. All the rest are sedans. I own another sedan but it is going to be put on the back burner. I know this car will clean up well and I hope she will last a long time. I want to sort out the sls and hope it won't cost an arm and a leg. She needs tires a battery and the water pump for sure. It will be a slow process but it will be well worth it. Thanks guys for all the help and the tach doesn't work too.

the coolant leak is likely from the small connector hose, between the tstat housing and the water pump... I used 1-5/8" fuel filler hose for a perfect SUPER replacement hose.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!