W123, Factory Books and Manuals

Water in 123 right rear floorboard

Hi all - I have a strange problem with my grandfather's 85 300D. After a rain, it gets water in the rear floorboard. It's on the passenger side, and it puddles in the lowest part of the floorboard next to the transmission tunnel, ahead of the seat riser panel. I took the carpet section up to try to find the source of the leak, but I have no idea where it's coming from. There is a new exterior door seal on the pass rear door. I removed the seat bottom, and found $1.53 in coin, but no evidence of water passing through.

Chassis Model Number

W123

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Body and Interior Specific Aid

300D still gasping for power on long hill

My 1981 300D is still 'gagging' for fuel after a while on a long (~1 mile) hill. I've replaced the tank strainer (which was dirty but not clogged), the prefilter, and have a newer FM100 canister for mail filtration. I'm tending to believe it must be sucking in some air during heavy fuel use. Frankly, I've lost track of the variables I've introduced: this problem may or may not relate to the FM100 installation and/or the new (original style) primer pump installation. Earlier, the Benz would pull nicely up this same hill.

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W123

Auto Trans Gasket Leaking

Hi. This evening I was changing the filter and pan seal on my 1982 240d automatic transmission. When I put it all back together and poured the fluid in, it leaked out of the side of the pan pretty fast. I'm sure the seal is on correctly and I did'nt over tighten the bolts. I really need help on this since I wont be able to drive until I fix this. Any help would be very extremly appreciated.

Chassis Model Number

W123

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Body and Interior Specific Aid

1985 300D Won't start/ power loss/ hard brakes

SUBMITTED NOV 19, 2007 I bought my 1985 300D back in 2004 and it has been a good, reliable daily driver. I put her in storage from Jan-Oct 2007 while I was in Alaska (on an island). Since my return, I have made a 2200 mile move and have been plagued with problems. I did put fuel stabilizer in the tank before I left, it was only 1/4 full. 1. Loss of power on highway? Fuel filter/injectors? Brief History: Car historically ran 75-80mph highway with no problems. Upon my return and a fine start, 176 miles into trip noticed a feeling of 'bogging down' like running thru mud. Could not get above 63mph, no matter what.

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W123

240D performance

My '77 240D with 125K miles hits a top speed on a flat Kansas highway with no wind of about 57 MPH. With a tailwind, I can get a hair past 60. Don't even ask about driving into a headwind or up a hill -- maybe 50 MPH. I know the reputation of a 240D, but I can't help but think I can get better performance than this. I have replaced the fuel filters, adjusted the valves, and run two bottles of diesel purge through the engine. The compression is good (front-to-back 305,405,375,405 psi).

Chassis Model Number

W123

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Diesel Engine Specific Aid

1981 300D fuel reserve

I will be replacing my fuel tank screen whenever I get time and have arranged for there being as little diesel as possible left in the tank. I've never refueled for more the 16 gallons, so I don't know how much of the 80-liter (21.1 gallon) capacity is usable. Of course, I want to drain as little as possible. Also would be great to not run out of diesel pursuing that goal. I have no idea if my low fuel light works. So, my questions are: how much diesel is usable in the 1981 300D non-turbo? And when should the low fuel light come on if it works? Thanks, Doug

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W123

300D gasping for power on long hill

Hi all, Thanks in large part to Mercedes Source, I have a 1981 300D that runs quite well. Really no running problems except on one hill in my normal commute. The car starts to 'stutter' about half way up this 1+ mile incline. Like it's starving for diesel (I've replaced pre-filter and FM100 canister) or has an air leak at high load. I've tightened all the hoses. BUT, this all really started sometime after I ran B99 for 4 or 5 tanks this summer. Prior to that, the car would actually accelerate somewhat up the hill in question. I do have Viton return lines and the special lines supplied with the FM100 Stanadyne filter. My next suspects are connections/hoses (again) and tank strainer (which I have not touched yet).

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