Diesel RVs: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Turbo not performing

The shafts in the turbos can get gummed up and will seize if the car was driven in such a way that it never really gets spooled up. Nates TurboCoupe had this malady when he bought it. Typical little-old-lady car. I think he got his freed up by pouring a solvent through the turbo's oil lines, and working the compressor wheel by hand. You won't have this problem, being as it's just been rebuilt. (But it's a good lesson to all turbo owners to occasionally do an "Italian tune-up" and run these cars hard to get the turbo spooled up and the oil in them circulating.)

You can confirm the turbo is spinning by removing the large, U-shaped hose between the air filter and the turbo, and observing that the compressor wheel is spinning. It will spin even at idle. Under NO circumstance should you even attempt to touch the spinning wheel, unless you don't like your fingers.

Bogy did some good "out of the box" thinking. Sure sounds like a bad torque convertor. Normally, I would think it would go out all at once, not off and on. And the problem would not be noticeable at highway speeds. But, I'll be the last to say that I've seen it all....

Mark

From: "Kevin Seuferer kjsifer@gmail.com [diesel_mercedes]" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
To: "diesel mercedes" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, September 8, 2014 2:39:02 PM
Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Turbo not performing

The ATF smells fine. I changed it out about 10,000 miles ago. No problems at all. Yes, it does seem to shift fine all the way through the range.

Thanks,

Kevin

On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 2:17 PM, vwnate1@yahoo.com [diesel_mercedes] <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

So ;

How does the ATF smell ? .

If it smells burned , try changing it and the torque converter ATF too before popping for a new tranny .

The bad sprag clutch symptoms are : doggy off the line but shifts fine and still accelerates O.K. at Highways speeds .

-Nate
Keven wrote :

Bogy,
May not be too far fetched. It runs fine when parked. The tranny shifts great. But, when you step on it to go somewhere it is like the emergency brake is on or something. It is strange. Drives me nuts because this car use to get up and GO!

Kevin

On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 11:16 AM, Bogy Wan Kenobi polespearbogy@... [diesel_mercedes] <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

This is really going out on a limb, but . . . the behavior you describe COULD BE due to the impending and then final failure of the sprague clutch in the stator of your torque converter. If the engine seems to be running fine in park - revs up properly etc, then this is a possibility. But like I said, it's a long shot. I had a friend who had this happen to his GM 700R4 - doggy as all get out, but it would eventually get up to speed.

Bogy.

On Monday, September 8, 2014 10:07 AM, "Kevin Seuferer kjsifer@... [diesel_mercedes]" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Yes,
Recently changed the fuel filters AND adjusted the valves. She purrs like a kitten and runs like a turtle!!

Kevin

On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 10:03 AM, Alan Boucher alsthe1@... [diesel_mercedes] <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Have you changed the fuel filters? Adjusted the valves? A compression check might be a good idea.

On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 10:55 AM, Kevin Seuferer kjsifer@... [diesel_mercedes] <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Guys,
My '85 300D is vastly underperforming. 0-60 times are 35 seconds. Last year I noticed that it had started acting real doggy off and on. I would be going down the highway and it would just start dogging. Then it would pick back up again.

So, I took the air cleaner off and it seemed like the turbo was not spinning well at all. So, I took it off and sent it in for a rebuild, thinking it was the problem. I got it back and they did a great job, it looked like a brand new one. Put the turbo back on and no difference. Still doggy.

Then I took the alda pressure lines apart and cleaned them all up. Still not fixed.

So, my next step was messing with the alda. It had never been touched. I removed the plastic cover and the screw would not turn. So, I let it soak in Kroil for a week. Then, proceeded to break the screw.

So, I am still baffled as to why I am not getting boost. Does my alda need replaced? My exhaust system was new 20,000 miles ago, so I can't imagine that it is plugged.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Kevin

--
Al Boucher