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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / March 2005

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dwindling power 87 300sdl

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sedonawilcox@hotmail.com - 09 Mar 2005 03:08 GMT
Lately this car has lost lots of power.  It used to fly up the
mountains with power to spare, but now downshifts to 3rd & creeps up
hills slowing down to below 50 by the time i reach the top.  I've run
some diesel purge through it, & i remember an adjustment of the
throttle cable i had done on my old 85 sd, but i can't see any play or
anything amiss with the throttle.  Also, the exhaust out of the tail
pipe seems pretty weak..  I think this has had the trap oxydizer taken
out.. there is just a length of pipe now..

Unfortunately, i'm driving to san diego tomorrow.. so won't get any
help 'till after i get back.  But any help anyone has would be greatly
appreciated.  I will check the group while gone, & take a few hand
tools in case i can try something simple.

It idle's fine, & seems to pause briefly before revving up while in
neutral.  Perhaps a turbo problem?

Thanks in advance.  I always enjoy reading this group, even though i
don't post much.

Scott Wilcox
Sedona, Az
Richard Sexton - 09 Mar 2005 04:30 GMT
>Lately this car has lost lots of power.  It used to fly up the
>mountains with power to spare, but now downshifts to 3rd & creeps up
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>pipe seems pretty weak..  I think this has had the trap oxydizer taken
>out.. there is just a length of pipe now..

Sounds like a clogged banjo bolt in the boost sense line.

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T.G. Lambach - 09 Mar 2005 20:38 GMT
Diesels need fuel and air to run. Let's first look at the simple things
to ensure it has both.

Check the fuel tank's vent by opening the fuel cap after some driving to
determine if there's a vacuum inside the tank due to a clogged tank
vent. Fuel starvation is the result.

When was the air filter last changed?
If you check it does it look reasonably clean?
Or is it oil soaked and restricting the air flow?

Same applies to the fuel filters - when were they last changed?
If the air filter is OK then I'd replace both fuel filters, if only to
rule them out as possible causes.

The more complicated possibilities should wait until these simple
possibilities have been ruled out.
Scott in Sedona - 16 Mar 2005 22:36 GMT
Thanks for the reply, T.G.  .. I'll also check out Richard's suggestion
of the banjo bolt.

I did knock out the air filter.. it wasn't that old.. & flushed out the
fuel filters.. even ran some diesel purge through the inlet straight.

There is a bit of vacuum when i open up the fuel cap.. this is not
normal?  Where is the fuel tank vent or the best way to clean it?

Before i left on a trip, i cleaned out the tube running from the
manifold to the switch over valve.  It was clogged & opening it seemed
to help for a while..  the drive out to San Diego was peppier than
before.. but the trip back was brutal.. speed dropped down to 40 mph &
downshifted to 2nd.  It winds up to about 3500 rpm & stabilizes like on
a governer.. which makes me suspect the switch over valve/ engine
overload protection.

I am planning on ordering new fuel filters on my next order of mb
stuff.. perhaps that & the fuel tank vent may solve most of the
problem.
pool man - 17 Mar 2005 01:38 GMT
leave the cap off , change the filters

the case, minus a few cans!
Scott in Sedona - 17 Mar 2005 14:47 GMT
Well, i tinkered with the switch over valve, switch, & tubes yesterday
& that seemed to do it.  I checked the manual on disk (always a
distasteful pursuit) which said some pressure in the fuel tank was
normal.. so am ruling out the cap/vent.  The fuel filters are ok, too,
i guess.

This is the first time i've gotten mostly useless replies on this
group, too!

That just goes to show that perseverence & luck can be better than
expert advice.  :)

But for anyone who is worried about my fuel filters.. i am going to
replace them on my next part orders..

Now i can really feel that turbo kick in.. acceleration is back to
normal, i can roar up the hills.  What a great car.  It is strange that
a simple little thing could affect it like this.

Scott Wilcox
 
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