going nowhere under 2000rpm
 

Hello,
Just bought my 85 300D Turbo. It has 148k miles on it. The engine is running perfectly once I get the car moving but from a full stop the car is ridiculously sluggish until i get it into 2nd gear and the turbo can kick in. It doesn't even make a difference if I floor it, it takes 15-45 seconds. I've heard talk about Italian Tune ups, ALDA adjustment, even putting auto transmition fluid in my gas tank!. Are these the most likely remedies or could there be something else needed.

Hi Tom:

The first simple thing I would check is the air filter. If it is badly clogged then it might not pass much air until the turbo assists. Not too likely to be the problem, but like I said - it's simple to check.

I should think with a clogged filter there would be some unburnt fuel smoke. Any smoke behind the car?

Ken300D

not really anymore smoke than the usual from a diesel

Might check that cable (can't remember what it's called) that goes from the accelerator linkages to the trans. It sounds kind of like how mine was when the cable was disconnected one time. It's just a thought, I'm sure someone that knows what it's called will chime in.

'85 300d
 

you described my '84 300d.i just got used to sluggish starts and don't pull out in fast traffic.i still love my car --have 175k and runs like a dream with 26-28 mpg every tank.

A sluggish performance can be due to one or more of following

1. clogged air filter - change the air filter
2. clogged fuel filter - change both those filter
3. clogged banjo bolt on manifold.- clean the banjo bolt and its tubing.
4. try disconnecting the EGR valve. on mine it made a good difference on power.
5. make sure bowden cable is not disconnected.
6. make sure hand pump is tight.
7. Add a good diesel additive in a half tank of good quality diesel and try going for a 60-100 miles drive at 60-70 mph.

if these dont help next thing is compression testing and IP trouble shooting. but my gut feeling is 1 thru 7.

do a search on each of these a you will get tons of results.

good luck

mvk

Check for a leaking suction line to the hand pump, too -- if this hose is bad, you suck in lots of air, resulting in very poor fuel delivery at low speeds.

Peter

my similar problems were solved with by resetting the throttle linkages. (And AlDA, but that's made life rough!) Check to see that the lever on the fuel pump goes all the way down when flooring the peddle.