a few niggly problems

[JAY1]

I have a few problems with my 1996 312d mercedes sprinter (uk model)

1: on a cold morning the van will start but stall immediatly unless i depress the accelerator fully, this often blows out a large cloud of blueish grey smoke.

when driving at night i can see from the lights of the car behind a light mist of smoke coming out of the back of the van and people often comment on the smell from the exhaust especially upon startup.

the van has plenty of power, idles smoothly (although can hunt a little upon cold startup, usually a blip from the throttle cures this) and has never let me down.

2: my headlights are not very bright!! i often have to drive through a common to gain acces to a workplace and even with full beam on, it doesn't seem to do a lot of good! brighter bulbs or headlight conversion?

3: i would like to fit a spotlight or 2 at the rear of the van for late night reversing on the common! any ideas where i can buy a suitable spot from? would it be straight forward to wire in? i would want it on a switch on the dash.

I'll stop here for now but there is more!
ANY advice appreciated!
thenks

[adamuk]

How many miles has your van done?

Sounds as though it's burning a bit of smoke there.

[JAY1]

a minor 289,000 miles!

any fixes?

I also find that the brakes can be a bit weak and need to be pressed hard until they 'kick in', if i pump the pedal they are much sharper

[rufus]

Man, at 298 thou miles, I dead impressed its still got good power!!
My 115 with 90 tho kays also emits a bit of smoke when acclerating, but having seen this come from normal passenger diesel cars, I reckon it must be normal.
I am banned from leaving my van idling in the drive with the front door open since my wife claims the diesel fumes are not that pleasant first thing in the morning, I would canvas opinion on this but again, it seems normal.


Bluish grey smoke is normally valve stem seals (in a petrol engine anyway), it may be that while its standing, its leaking thru into the cylinder head and is burnt up on start up. If the smoke was black, I would guess your injectors are leaking down overnight, this may explain the need to rev it to avoid the stalling as the diesel injection pressure falls away for a moment...guessing a bit here since you do say its blueish smoke.

Brakes - fluid is hygroscopic, hence the need to change it every few years to get rid of the water, has this been done lately? Sounds like its either old fluid and/or some air in the system.

Lights - your van is 10 years old, since you reverse into commons, I assume you are in the UK with your hectic winters and salty roads - any chance your connectors are getting corroded and losing some potential? Maybe try running a coupla wires directly from the battery to one of the lights as a test, this way u can compare it against the other light

[JAY1]

I know diesels do smell but i have never smelt one like this before, can't quite explain what the smell is of though. I appreciate diesels smoke under heavy acceleration but this seems to be a constant light mist, i'm assuming this is linked to the smell.

AS for the valve stem seals, is this expensive? or the injectors? what is the likeliehood of engine failure with this problem?

I know the handbrake system was replaced in april but i don't think they touched the brake fluid. How do i go about changing it? and what is the best to replace it with?

Lights, yes i am in the uk! I will try running a seperate cable to a headlight to compare as soon as i have managed to sort out my exploded battery! either way has anyone used more powerful bulbs and noticed a difference?

[adamuk]

Your piston rings are likely to be worn if you are burning smoke.

If you need to pump your brakes then that could be a few things, e.g. a master or slave cylinder seal is passing.

But 289k... jeez. You can't argue with that.

[JAY1]

There is a bit of a story behind this van.
I actually got given this van for free. When i got it the windscreen was smashed, the handbrake did not work, lots of lights not working, no mot, bodywork damage (hit and run(hit by another car)) the list goes on and on.

I didn't want the van but i was asked by my friends mum, who owned it, to drive it to the back yard of their warehouswe where it was kept just so they could unload (knowing it had been sitting for 6 months i wasn't holding my breath on it starting.. i jumped in, turned the ignition on, let the glow plugs warm up, turned the key and it started first time! drove it around the back and couldn't believe how much power it had so I decided to take the van!

Took it in to my local mechanic (who is also a mate) he fixed it up and got it through the mot for a measly £300!!

All i had now was the bodywork to deal with, good news.... ne panelbeater starting the week after and my mechanic wanted to test his work. 'Let him loose on the sprinter, nothing to lose' i said.

Not the best paintjob but FREE!! and that is how i ended up with my van!

Turns out they used the van to drive to and from portugal visiting antiques fairs and bringing furniture back to the warehouse(in the uk), hence the mileage!

[darkside]

Two cheap "try before owt else" fixes that are still worth the money if you have to go further:

Regarding the lights, the "50% + power" bulbs on the market do make a noticable difference - cleaner, brighter, whiter light. Not sure about 50% claim but enough to notice on my morning commute. Worth a pop - H1 bulbs (headlights on Vito) and H7 (main and sides) are buy one, get one free in Halfords right now. About £15 for H1, £20 for H7. Not bank breaking to try out...

Brakes - fresh fluid can help a bit. It's hydroscopic, meaning it takes on water over time, which can lead to spongy feel at the pedal. Or a cylinder seal could be gone, as stated.

[The Guru]

Check the O rings on the fuel filter for the none start concern and check the cylinder head gasket on the back of the cylinder head on the drivers side. Proberly leaking oil at the head gasket either into number one cylinder or number five.

To check whether you have a hydraulic leak in the brake system press the brake pedal down hard when the engine is not running, if it doesn't go to the floor then all is good. But the correct brake fluid is required

[rufus]

Guru, good that you are back, where u been?

Oil leak - take it then that this a place that these engines tend to go "peet tong"?

Bout those brakes, when I changed my 115's front pads, I found that the pedal could be pushed to the floor with the motor on or off, took it for a very cautious test drive and it braked fine, being uncomfortable with that still, I popped into my local MB dealer and chatted to one of the techs I knew, he says " ahh dont worry, they all do that,take it for a burn, jump on the anchors till the ABS comes on, repeat a coupla times and she'll be fine" So I foudn some wet grasss and did what he said, and bobs your aunty, it seemed to get firmer, any ideas why that is?
Jay1 - if u say your lights were poked when u got it, I reckon therein lies your trouble, start with comparing what u have to a know good van, this will help I am sure. But bloody 'ell, a van for 300 quid, you must be laughing ! even tho you cant see where you are going!!!