[diesel_mercedes] an introduction & a question...

 

<hope this doesn't post twice>

well...this has been a long time coming.

My name is Tom and I am the proud owner of a black 1981 300td (name of Olesia).
I have been on this list since I first got the car almost 2 years ago, and read and study every post, oh...also laugh!

It's really great to know where to turn to for "my fellows", regardless of age, gender or location who share my love for the older diesel merc's.

I like to tell folks that my car was driven here from Stuttgart by way of Beirut-on-a-bad-day. (she looks as though she's seen some war, and carries scars to prove it.)

Even though I live in Irvine (home of the Classic Center), I still haven't gone to check it out or hunt down the other Tom for questioning...

Anyways, HELLOOOO o oo oo o oO o oo. sorry to be such a gnome, troll, silent hermit, etc.

Now, my QUESTION:
It's concerning my vacuum system. I know I have some issues here...
Most of the time (when it's dry) I have to manually go and lock all my doors and check the hatch lid.
When it is wet (not just cold and wet), like now with light rain, everything works perfect: car shuts down immediately, all the doors lock and hatch AND fuel door lock without a problem. I'm guessing this is how the system is supposed to work (duh, right?)
Now I know I need to do some hunting to find what causes this leak, just wanted to bounce one of my "issues" off some more experienced minds.

I have asked the local MB dealer, my mechanic (who specializes in diesel mercedes), and a friend who is an all-hats mechanic & I get 3 totally confusing answers that all involve lots of money and them thinking I am crazy for wanting to fix this money-pit.

any thoughts?

again: when wet (as in rain OR heavy-fog/overnight dew) the engine shuts off quick & all the locks close when I lock the driver's door (let's not mention the hard shifts for now [whoops!]. when dry, it's a walk-around to manually open and lock all doors.

I guess I should mention that when dry, if I turn off the ignition and exit and lock the driver door while the engine still runs, all locks will close.

never had any problem with the locks opening/unlocking. i.e. if I turn off the engine and wait for final shutoff (which seems to vary), all locks pop up.

sorry to sound like such a neophyte. I can't even begin to describe some of the other problems I am having. suffice it to say I have had much help and hope just reading the posts and learning what does/doesn't work & what to expect.

thanks in advance for any and all responses.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] an introduction & a question...

 

well...this has been a long time coming.

My name is Tom and I am the proud owner of a black 1981 300td (name of Olesia).
I have been on this list since I first got the car almost 2 years ago, and read and study every post, oh...also laugh!

It's really great to know where to turn to for "my fellows", regardless of age, gender or location who share my love for the older diesel merc's.

I like to tell folks that my car was driven here from Stuttgart by way of Beirut-on-a-bad-day. (she looks as though she's seen some war, and carries scars to prove it.)

Even though I live in Irvine (home of the Classic Center), I still haven't gone to check it out or hunt down the other Tom for questioning...

Anyways, HELLOOOO  o oo oo o oO   o oo. sorry to be such a gnome, troll, silent hermit, etc.

Now, my QUESTION:
It's concerning my vacuum system. I know I have some issues here...
Most of the time (when it's dry) I have to manually go and lock all my doors and check the hatch lid.
When it is wet (not just cold and wet), like now with light rain, everything works perfect: car shuts down immediately, all the doors lock and hatch AND fuel door lock without a problem. I'm guessing this is how the system is supposed to work (duh, right?)
Now I know I need to do some hunting to find what causes this leak, just wanted to bounce one of my "issues" off some more experienced minds.

I have asked  the local MB dealer, my mechanic (who specializes in diesel mercedes), and a friend who is an all-hats mechanic & I get 3 totally confusing answers that all involve lots of money and them thinking I am crazy for wanting to fix this money-pit.

any thoughts?

again: when wet (as in rain OR heavy-fog/overnight dew) the engine shuts off quick & all the locks close when I lock the driver's door (let's not mention the hard shifts for now [whoops!]. when dry, it's a walk-around to manually open and lock all doors.

I guess I should mention that when dry, if I turn off the ignition and exit and lock the driver door while the engine still runs, all locks will close.

never had any problem with the locks opening/unlocking. i.e. if I turn off the engine and wait for final shutoff (which seems to vary), all locks pop up.

sorry to sound like such a neophyte. I can't even begin to describe some of the other problems I am having. suffice it to say I have had much help and hope just reading the posts and learning what does/doesn't work & what to expect.

thanks in advance for any and all responses.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] Re: PAP 1/2 off everything through Tues

 


You'd best take the truck......

-Nate
Trish wrote:
>
> Kevin was plinking around looking for info on PAP's. www.picknpull.com shows
> in our area to have half off everything you can pull starting Friday
> through Tues! Whooo!!!!
>
> --
> Trish Dougherty
> PurrFect Harmony Farm
> Ennis, TX
> http:/purrfectharmonyfarm.intuitwebsites.com
>

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re : Those Pesky Details......

 

1.  Grandson goes to Hemet with me tomorrow.
2.  Duanes pelvic break is progressing, but he won't be back to work for a bit.
3.  I dated my wife at Twoheys in late 60's complete with carhops and 1968 Beetles (we had twin white Beetles, just like we have twin tan 300d's).
 
brian from laverne, ca
Mary (195K)  Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's
From: Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 9:42 AM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re : Those Pesky Details......

 

? Didja have a " Little Stink - O " ? . (burger loaded with onions , the Twohey's trademark sandwich) . Twohey's was a customer if mine back when they still had Car Hop service and I was a truck driver .

Actually , the day was far more involved , I got up @ 04:00 and was working the whole day , moving old Motos and so on as well as fetching not only my new (used) truck engine and freshly powder coated truck wheels before beginning to work on Tom's W-126 , as I like both my works and spending time with my big brother , we prolly both has as pleasant a day .

How's the grand son ? how's Duanes' hip ? .

-Nate
Brian wrote:
>
> On that very same day, I went to Alhambra Park with my 4 year old grandson, and ate lunch at Twoheys with the family. You had a more interesting day, but I had a more funner day.
>
>  
> brian from laverne, ca
> Mary (195K)  Martha (280K)
> 1983 w123 300d's
>
>
> ________________________________
>



__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

Re: [diesel_mercedes] PAP 1/2 off everything through Tues

 

Those are especially good days to get "expensive" things you will need or want.
 
brian from laverne, ca
Mary (195K)  Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's
From: Trish Dougherty <purrfectharmonyfarm@wifi45.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 9:48 AM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] PAP 1/2 off everything through Tues

 
Kevin was plinking around looking for info on PAP's.  www.picknpull.com shows in our area to have half off everything you can pull starting Friday through Tues!  Whooo!!!!

--
Trish Dougherty
PurrFect Harmony Farm
Ennis, TX
http:/purrfectharmonyfarm.intuitwebsites.com



__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] PAP 1/2 off everything through Tues

 

Kevin was plinking around looking for info on PAP's.  www.picknpull.com shows in our area to have half off everything you can pull starting Friday through Tues!  Whooo!!!!

--
Trish Dougherty
PurrFect Harmony Farm
Ennis, TX
http:/purrfectharmonyfarm.intuitwebsites.com

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] Re : Those Pesky Details......

 


? Didja have a " Little Stink - O " ? . (burger loaded with onions , the Twohey's trademark sandwich) . Twohey's was a customer if mine back when they still had Car Hop service and I was a truck driver .

Actually , the day was far more involved , I got up @ 04:00 and was working the whole day , moving old Motos and so on as well as fetching not only my new (used) truck engine and freshly powder coated truck wheels before beginning to work on Tom's W-126 , as I like both my works and spending time with my big brother , we prolly both has as pleasant a day .

How's the grand son ? how's Duanes' hip ? .

-Nate
Brian wrote:
>
> On that very same day, I went to Alhambra Park with my 4 year old grandson, and ate lunch at Twoheys with the family. You had a more interesting day, but I had a more funner day.
>
>  
> brian from laverne, ca
> Mary (195K)  Martha (280K)
> 1983 w123 300d's
>
>
> ________________________________
>

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

Re: [diesel_mercedes] Those Pesky Details......

 

On that very same day, I went to Alhambra Park with my 4 year old grandson, and ate lunch at Twoheys with the family. You had a more interesting day, but I had a more funner day.
 
brian from laverne, ca
Mary (195K)  Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's
From: Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 9:11 AM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Those Pesky Details......

 

Tom's W-126 has been having intermittent vacuum problems for a while now , the vacuum would bleed away whilst driving leaving him with poor brakes , iffy HVAC and no engine shut off .

The design of the OM617's vacuum pump is robust & sturdy , it incorporates simple and reliable poppet typ valves , four of them .

One of the two outlet valves is built into the top vacuum fitting on the pump and seems to be the basic weak point , it had failed so I'd changed it but when it failed it's spring & disc had disintegrated and I wondered about where the mangled up tiny bits had gone , as the pump began to work after replacing the dead exterior valve Tom wasn't overly worried but after a few weeks the vacuum began failing again more and more often so he'd gone to P-A-P and sourced a used pump off some junker , someone had already been inside it and mangled up the screws pretty good (I hate ugly fasteners as I view them as poor craft) so I took the cover off and removed the valves & cleaned them , they were all in good shape , just being partially clogged with oil sludge from the car's DPO never changing the oil ~ the later model vacuum pumps vent directly into the engine so poor maintenance causes long term pump issues .

As the sun was going down , we decided not to attempt to take his pump off , rather I removed the connection pipe and outlet fitting / valve assembly and started the engine then watched the open port like a hawk whilst Tom revved up the engine a few times and *BINGO* a tiny bit of something came flying out the port and the audible ' thumping ' noise the pump makes , deepened a little bit indicating the pump was working so I stuck my finger in the open port (!WARNING ! rapidly rotating V-Belts , pulleys & fan here means you could get a finger or hand mangled or ripped off before saying Oh , SHI-) and was rewarded with a nice bit of suction .

Success ! I'd found the missing bits of the old valve , they'd fallen into the primary outlet poppet valve and held it partway open .

I leaned over and shut the engine off then re - assembled the outlet valve & fitting , re connected then positioned the vacuum pipe & re started the engine and was almost instantly rewarded with 21" + of steady vacuum signal and the sounds of the various HVAC plenums snapping & slamming as they began to move and take up their working positions .

Tom test drove the car and it shifted normally and the HVAC didn't pause nor randomly change from cool to hot , when the ignition key is removed the engine now halts nearly *instantly* rather than the usual shuddering to a stop from low vacuum & leaks .

Just to make it a good job , I replaced the old & stiff rubber three way vacuum connectors under the hood , they're only $6 or so apiece , I also removed the lower dash panel and crawled up there with a Mechanic's Lamp & found the two short rubber hose bits connecting the brown plastic pipes to the ignition switch to be firm and good , no oil soaking so I left them alone & buttoned it back up again .

Tom says he'll order up a pump rebuild kit soon and I'll rebuild him a nice spare pump out of the spare he bought and my spare pump & install it for 100 % certainty of proper operation .

Believe it or don't ,this is the short version as the spare pump was in sorry shape and much cleaning was done to it , other fiddles too .

-Nate



__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] Those Pesky Details......

 


Tom's W-126 has been having intermittent vacuum problems for a while now , the vacuum would bleed away whilst driving leaving him with poor brakes , iffy HVAC and no engine shut off .

The design of the OM617's vacuum pump is robust & sturdy , it incorporates simple and reliable poppet typ valves , four of them .

One of the two outlet valves is built into the top vacuum fitting on the pump and seems to be the basic weak point , it had failed so I'd changed it but when it failed it's spring & disc had disintegrated and I wondered about where the mangled up tiny bits had gone , as the pump began to work after replacing the dead exterior valve Tom wasn't overly worried but after a few weeks the vacuum began failing again more and more often so he'd gone to P-A-P and sourced a used pump off some junker , someone had already been inside it and mangled up the screws pretty good (I hate ugly fasteners as I view them as poor craft) so I took the cover off and removed the valves & cleaned them , they were all in good shape , just being partially clogged with oil sludge from the car's DPO never changing the oil ~ the later model vacuum pumps vent directly into the engine so poor maintenance causes long term pump issues .

As the sun was going down , we decided not to attempt to take his pump off , rather I removed the connection pipe and outlet fitting / valve assembly and started the engine then watched the open port like a hawk whilst Tom revved up the engine a few times and *BINGO* a tiny bit of something came flying out the port and the audible ' thumping ' noise the pump makes , deepened a little bit indicating the pump was working so I stuck my finger in the open port (!WARNING ! rapidly rotating V-Belts , pulleys & fan here means you could get a finger or hand mangled or ripped off before saying Oh , SHI-) and was rewarded with a nice bit of suction .

Success ! I'd found the missing bits of the old valve , they'd fallen into the primary outlet poppet valve and held it partway open .

I leaned over and shut the engine off then re - assembled the outlet valve & fitting , re connected then positioned the vacuum pipe & re started the engine and was almost instantly rewarded with 21" + of steady vacuum signal and the sounds of the various HVAC plenums snapping & slamming as they began to move and take up their working positions .

Tom test drove the car and it shifted normally and the HVAC didn't pause nor randomly change from cool to hot , when the ignition key is removed the engine now halts nearly *instantly* rather than the usual shuddering to a stop from low vacuum & leaks .

Just to make it a good job , I replaced the old & stiff rubber three way vacuum connectors under the hood , they're only $6 or so apiece , I also removed the lower dash panel and crawled up there with a Mechanic's Lamp & found the two short rubber hose bits connecting the brown plastic pipes to the ignition switch to be firm and good , no oil soaking so I left them alone & buttoned it back up again .

Tom says he'll order up a pump rebuild kit soon and I'll rebuild him a nice spare pump out of the spare he bought and my spare pump & install it for 100 % certainty of proper operation .

Believe it or don't ,this is the short version as the spare pump was in sorry shape and much cleaning was done to it , other fiddles too .

-Nate

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] Engine Stand Needed

 



For an American engine ;

Long term loan (or maybe short , don't know yet) or purchase ~ cheaply please .

It can be nasty & rusty , I'll travel to fetch it .

TIA , I just bought a new engine for my old shop truck .

-Nate

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)