99 E300 TD cuts out Ph 3 <== Opinion pls Doc?

[TMAllison]

Still having major problems.....

Breif History:

Ph1 - Car bought/shipped from Tx. to CA. Arrived w/check engine light on, parked in driveway after driven one block and wouldn't start again. Towed to Indie diesel mechanic. No codes. After 5 hours labor, checked fuel tank with dip stick to confirm had fuel and smelled gasoline. I smelled and agreed. Drained system and replaced both fuel filters and o ring, filled with diesel, still wouldnt start. Wanted to. Replaced glow plugs as two were found previously to have low resistance. Started. Idled rough. Would die at full throttle. Had modest power between 1K-3K RPM and no power 3K to 4K. Lots of air in lines.

Ph2- Indie lost lease and car ended up in my garage not running reliably. Relplaced all fuel lines, eliminated most of the air. Then at boards recommendation replaced fuel relay module. Ran like an E55....for 10 minutes. Then died. Restarted, no power. Next day, after cold start, powers back. Wow. Then died. No power. Comupter finally gave up code P0215 and P0180. Board recommended replacement of fuel shut off solenoid. Was prepared to do this myself when observed new leak at IP seal #6 and steady fuel drip from upper rear of IP where i couldnt see from above or below. Stupid manifold. Pump scared me.

Ph3- Car towed to local dealer; being worked on by tech expirienced with diesels. Two weeks have passed. Replaced shut off solenoid. Got six new IP seals and fixed leak at rear of pump. All are things I pointed out needed to be done. Service guy says car still suffers "Intermittent Shutdowns" (I love that term). Asked they check the electrical connection at the shut off solenoid as I suspected it did not have a good connection at this point. It didn't. Am now waiting for new engine harness from Germany. Am confident shutoff solenoid WAS bad and needed repalcement. Am hoping new harness will restore connection and "intermittent shutdown" episode will be finsihed.....but

Car still has check engine light on with apparently no codes again.

At same time Dealer says need new engine harness, they also say that the Catalytic Converter is plugged and is reason engine has no power (they have not expirienced the "intermittent" E55 power that I have expirienced).

When car was in my garage and was so hard to prime and start I did observe splatters of fuel?, or condensation? at the tailpipe on the garage floor.

So....The Question.

Do I really have a Cat? A Trap Oxidizer or what? (Service guy sold toyotas 3 weeks ago and has never heard of a T.O.) If the darn Cat is plugged wouldnt it be plugged all the time, and if so, how come sometimes I have a E55 and other times a lowly 240D? (sorry 240d folks) Having a hard time understanding that and swallowing $1600 to replace. Why would they have such a thing with all the greasy smoke that naturally runs thru it?

The cat would tip the scales at $4k for the dealer; so far......What do I do? Ideas?

Apoligies....brief is relative, this HAS been ongoing for 6+ weeks.