[iracodypatterson]

Hey Everyone,
My name is Ira and I just acquired a 1984 300SD with 240,000 miles on it, for $1,000. The car needs a little interior and body restoration, but the car is almost perfect mechanically (I drove it 600 miles right after I bought it).

I am a little familiar with the D series of cars (I use to own a 1984 300D) but there are some things about this SD that has me stumped and I’d really appreciate some input.

1. Would a broken or faulty hazard switch cause the regular turn signals not to work?
2. How on earth does the door-lock system work off vacuum? What should I look at since my doesn't work?
3. Where do you recommend for restoration and replacement parts?
4. Is there anyway to get some better "off the line" acceleration with these cars?

Thank you in advance for any input you may have; I really appreciate it.

Ira Cody Patterson,

 

[white500se]

iracodypatterson - 3/24/2006 9:34 PM

Hey Everyone,
My name is Ira and I just acquired a 1984 300SD with 240,000 miles on it, for $1,000. The car needs a little interior and body restoration, but the car is almost perfect mechanically (I drove it 600 miles right after I bought it).

I am a little familiar with the D series of cars (I use to own a 1984 300D) but there are some things about this SD that has me stumped and I’d really appreciate some input.

1. Would a broken or faulty hazard switch cause the regular turn signals not to work?
2. How on earth does the door-lock system work off vacuum? What should I look at since my doesn't work?
3. Where do you recommend for restoration and replacement parts?
4. Is there anyway to get some better "off the line" acceleration with these cars?

Thank you in advance for any input you may have; I really appreciate it.

Ira Cody Patterson,

Can't answer about the hazard switch but it might cause the problems you describe.

Do the door locks not work at all? Most likely a vacuum leak somewhere, do a search here and you'll find places to start.

As for acceleration, clean injectors and fuel filters as well as adjusted valves will help things. Other than that there is not much you can do.

 

[Hopeless]

#1-- Welcome to the forums []
#2-- Filters can be a big problem. Just had the fuel filters replaced on a 82 300td wagon, and it goes alot faster now. According to the book i have, the 300SD should have a turbocharger. Can anyone confirm that? If you have one you might take a look at that to make sure its working.

Cheers and good luck

 

[420 SE]

Welcome to the community.

 

[iracodypatterson]

Yeah, nothing about my door-lock system works. I tried finding a diagram for all to vacuum lines so I could chase them (some under the hood have been blocked off, and I don’t know where they go) but that was to no avail. I'll just keep chasing the ones I can find.

Yes, my 300SD is turbocharged. I believe it is working because every once in a while I can hear it spool up and make the (awesome) whining noise. []

My car (like all diesel powered Mercedes from what I’ve heard) has wonderful power once the RPMs get up there, it’s just the initial starting from a dead stop that is the killer.

Cleaning/rebuilding the injectors is a good idea, I didn’t even think of that.

Does anyone know if you can buy a turbo and injector rebuild kits for these engines? I rebuilt the turbo on my pickup and it was like having a new truck when I put it back on so... I wonder if that would help my car as well.

Once I get all the little quirks worked out of it I will be changing all the filters and fluids.

Thank you for your help and welcoming me here, I really do appreciate it.

 

[bhechinger]

There is nothing as satisfying as the sound of a turbo spooling up.

As far as the hazard switch goes, if I turn my hazard lights on, they don't work. If I leave the switch on, the turn-signals no longer work. As soon as I turn the hazard switch off, the turnsignals start working again.

Glad this state doesn't require inspections.

-brian

 

[jdc1244]

The 126 door lock is a separate vacuum system run by an electric pump – check to see if the fuse is blown.

I’d purge the injectors first, rebuild only if they’re nailing. Make sure there are no fuel leaks or air getting into the fuel system. Check to see if the return lines are damp and replace.

The turbo is an easy rebuild and there are kits available. Some also install the tri-K turbos.

 

[iracodypatterson]

Yeah, I love the sound. [] However, the being pushed back in your seat when it does whine is pretty awesome too.

That would be very nice if my state didn't have inspections. Not only do I have inspections to worry about; there are rumors that Utah will be one of the next states to impose emissions on diesel engines.

I’m thinking with my car that once I replace the hazard light switch, my blinkers will start to work correctly. My wiring diagram shows that everything that has to do with the blinkers runs through the hazard switch first, and since mine is broken anyway… Might as well replace it and see what happens.

 

[Teutone]

Hello and welcome. I have seen both, the engine vac. lines and the vacuum diagram for the locking mechanism on this forum. Did you try the search box on the top right of this page? The 2 CD mbusa manual, installed with the index, at only $ 20 is a great value (again search box). In the meantime try logging onto http://mb.braingears.com/ Good luck, Horst K

 

[bhechinger]

Ira: Love the quote.

Whenever I try to use the search box on this site it times out and I never get any results from it!!

-brian

 

[Teutone]

bhechinger - 3/25/2006 11:22 PM

Ira: Love the quote.

Whenever I try to use the search box on this site it times out and I never get any results from it!!

-brian

I have not been on this forum for very long either. Were you logged in? Did you try to use different inputs for the same question?

 

[bhechinger]

Just searching on a single word, no complicated searches. Have yet to get results!

-brian

 

[Teutone]

Like what?

 

[bhechinger]

just trying to come up with something, i tried 'vacuum'.

Does the same thing happen for you?

-brian

 

[Teutone]

Typing in 'vacuum lines' will get you tons of posts with gazillion replies. If you check on manuals (this is a wink with a sign post), try mb manuals (not mbmanuals), for index, type mb manuals index or any similar combination, and so on. Good luck

 

[white500se]

HorstK - 3/25/2006 1:24 AM

Typing in 'vacuum lines' will get you tons of posts with gazillion replies. If you check on manuals (this is a wink with a sign post), try mb manuals (not mbmanuals), for index, type mb manuals index or any similar combination, and so on. Good luck

It will if it works but i have yet to get the search at the top of the page to. Times out everytime. Last time i tried the main search function it said there were no posts anywhere on the site that had the word "seats" in them. It doesn't seem to be much better at times either.

 

[MBL87560SEC]

Hi white500,

I haven't done a single word search until this thread.

Just a couple of minutes ago, I searched for seats and got 251 active hits. ??

Good Luck, MBL

 

[white500se]

MBL87560SEC - 3/26/2006 12:05 PM

Hi white500,

I haven't done a single word search until this thread.

Just a couple of minutes ago, I searched for seats and got 251 active hits. ??

Good Luck, MBL

251 sounds about right, certainly not zero. I just don't think the search function likes me somedays.

 

[cyberdrakon]

though the indicators have seperate 'clickers', they won't work if you have a bad hazard switch.