Diesel Engine Specific Aid

How to Start 300D 1981 (Newbie needs help!)

Just picked up a 1981 300D with 110,000 miles original engine (I hope). At the resellers lot, they had no problem (naturally) starting it many times for me--and I started it also and drove it home--about 35 miles. Had it garaged for about 1 week now and when I went to start it today, I am struggling. The temp. here today is about 50F--cooler by at least 15 degrees than when I purchased it. I am wondering if that is causing me problems. First off though, I am entirely new to starting a diesel, so my initial question has to do with 'how to start' the vehicle properly.

Chassis Model Number

W123

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Diesel Engine Specific Aid

accelerator linkage sticking

I have a strange issue with my '85 300DT. Sometimes the engine responds very crisply to minor pressure on the accelerator, sometimes it takes a heavier foot for the engine to respond. It almost feels as if the linkage was sticking or binding somehow. I checked the accelerator pedal, it was OK, but I replaced it with a new one anyway. No improvement. somebody told me to check a nut for tightness just under the manual shutoff lever, and it was tight. All ball joints in the linkage appear to be greased and move freely. Is there something special that needs to be done to this linkage?

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Diesel starting nightmare

hi, i have a 1981 300d i parked one cold snowy night and left it a couple days until the snow melted away and since then i cant get it started, the glow plug light works the engine turns over , ive taken the battery out of my 300sd and tried in the 300d still wont start, ive done the glow plug relay tests, checked the glow plugs with ohm meter,the car has never in the five years ive had it not started,the battery was brand new 8 mos. ago and the neutral sfety switch was replaced a year prior. it seems it wont turn over fast and crisp enough to get it going.

Chassis Model Number

W115

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Diesel Engine Specific Aid

87 300TD shifting and acceleration issues

Hi, I'm new to the forum and have enjoyed reading the info posted. I have a 87 300TD with some shifting and acceleration issues. The transmission seems to upshift too rapidly during acceleration and as a result it enters 4th gear by the time I am at about 30 mph. The acceleration from 30 mph on up is very slow. Also, it does not do hills very well at all, even on a minor grade it will only do 45-50 mph and on steep grades it is even worse. Could the turbo be malfunctioning? Is there an easy test for turbo functionality? Could compression account for the problem? On flat roads the car cruises at 80 mph like a champ. Should I get the vacuum tested for the shifting issue?

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Questions and Answers

Chassis Model Number

W124

HELP!!! 82 300SD Oil Pressure

I need some help in a bad way. I have a 300SD and the oil pressure gage is doing strange things. Once the car warms up and I am under power, say more that 1500 rpms the oil pressure gage will just drop to zero. If I let off the throttle and slow the car down the gage then will immediately peg to 3 then come down to between 1 1/2 and 2 at idle like it should. I only have this problem once the car warms up and when the gage drops from 3 to zero it is like someone just flips a switch and then also the gage will just jump around sometimes. My question is do I have the oil pressure sender failing or is my oil pump failing?

Chassis Model Number

W126

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Diesel Engine Specific Aid

Hot Hot Heat

I'm hoping for some opinions on my 1983 300D-T's auto climate control "issues". It blows hot only, irrespective of temp setting, and the center vents often blow somewhat weakly. Fan speed can be adjusted hi/lo, but auto setting is erratic. The A/C is offline - has been since I purchased the car (my second 123) a short time ago. I do want to get the auto fan functioning again though, to at least not to blow only hot air since summer's coming up... I don't think the A/C repairs are in the cards for now, unfortunately...

Chassis Model Number

W123

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Diesel Engine Specific Aid

1984 300CD Sticking Throttle

I have a 1984 300cd and the gas pedal (accelerator) does not work any more. I thought that my car was sluggish because it needed a diesel purge (did that). Now the gas pedal does nothing. I tried to manually push the control linkage assembly and it seems to stick or get hung up. I think that I need a vacuum valve levers. Is there any thing else that would "loosen up" this problem? Thank you in advance for your help. Mathieu 1984 300cd turbo 314,000 miles

Chassis Model Number

W123

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Diesel Engine Specific Aid

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