84 diesel really slooooow......
 

Good day all,

Just bought a 84 300d from a used car lot. Has 225k. The a/c blows cold and the car idles pretty well, shuts off well, starts easy cold or hot, no smoke, not much blow-by. The problem is that it is very slow from standing start until turbo kicks in, and with the a/c on car takes 2-3 seconds to respond when starting off. Trans. starts off in 1st(seems to shifty early though). New fuel filters(and redline fuel additive). The banjo bolt was plugged and cleaning helped some. Am hesitant to adjust alda until have exhausted other solutions. One other strange thing that is that the rubber fuel hoses going to primer pump and also "cigar" hose are visibly pulsating while engine is running. If you floor it it will get up and go, but in normal driving below 2k engine rpm it is a real dog. Slower than my old w110 190d. also gets really good mpg(33-36). Suspect it is running lean??? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Most likely needs an ALDA adjustment, it's too lean. Unless you REALLY like that kind of milage and don't mind holding up traffic...

Peter

Floor it from a standing stop and look in the rear view mirror. If you don't see any black smoke you know its lean.

Thank you all for the replies.
Yes, I think an ALDA adjusment is in order. I know I could do a search but I forgot, just cut the can with dykes, and is it ccw to make it richer?? Only 1/8 of a turn at a time? also, should I adjust rack pin dampner bolt at the same time? Will post results of adjust ment as as I get it done.

also, my dad has a 84 300cd and it gets around 25 mpg. This why I think mpg is a bit high. and NO I don't like holding up traffic. I learned the hard way when a off duty cop rear ended my jeep while he was lighting a smoke.

Cheers.

happy days are here again....... :)
well I adjusted the ALDA. turned it 3/4 ccw, the cap was still on the inj pump, might go even more later but don't want to tempt fate. even the trans shifts better,shazam,
it was like releasing the parking brake. next will be a rack pin adjustment, hopefully this will help the low/rough idle.

regards