From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #934 Reply-To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Sender: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Errors-To: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Precedence: bulk diesel-benz-digest Wednesday, March 19 2003 Volume 01 : Number 934 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: RE: $300.00 300 D and the $200 VW diesel Re: $300.00 300 D and the $200 VW diesel Re: Alternator woes - End of Story Re: Alternator woes - End of Story Re: Alternator woes - End of Story heat shields... Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 14:30:23 -0500 From: "Aimino, Michael" Subject: RE: $300.00 300 D and the $200 VW diesel I used to run VW diesels before I moved to the MBZs (mostly because my 6' 4" body didn't fit inside my Rabbit so well). I used to have a '81 Rabbit and an '82 pickup. My Rabbit "died" at 331k miles from lack of compression (worn rings, most likely). I paid $250 for it and ran it for 50k+ miles for little more than oil and fuel and some occasional repairs (bearings, muffler). My pickup was just sitting from lack of use, so I found it a home. Here's one thing to check right off - on the firewall, to the right of the air filter housing, is a fuse for the glow plugs. The cover is probably gone, so what you'll see is thick metal strip connecting two heavy wires. It's not uncommon for this fuse to be blown or gone, thus disabling the glow plugs. I've *heard* that a paperclip will fit in there in a pinch but I have no actual knowledge of that. I have a bunch of links at home to pages with excellent write-ups on common tasks like replacing the glow plugs, diagnosing various issues, etc. I also know of a place in Ohio that sells recycled VW diesel parts for DIRT cheap - I'll dig up their URL. Mike - -----Original Message----- From: Black, Waylon [mailto:wblack-at-deltacorp.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 1:46 PM To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Subject: $300.00 300 D and the $200 VW diesel Went and got a better look at the $300.00 300 D(everything is green - except the tires). Started poking around, went to look at the year/model. I opened the door - no ID tags. Looked for the VIN - gone. It was that way when they got it. Looked under the hood - I saw a '78' on the front of the block. Could that be the year? It looks like a 78 model. The only tag I found had the 123/300 D on it. The car had over 300K miles and some rust and some parts had disappeared (A/C, turn signals). I checked with the tag office - the missing VIN is not a problem if there is a title(there is). The wiring harness looks a little cut up. I passed on it and for $200.00, took the 81 VW diesel truck(with topper) LX model, instead(230K miles). Drug it home, opened the hood. Had to do a little poking around(I did not have any VW diesel experience), I cleaned out the interior, worked my way to the back - hey, a service manual, some glow plugs, and brake parts. Looked at the book a little, realized that the fuel/water/filter thingy is gone, there is no water in the reservoir(the jugs of water inside was the first clue), and wiring looks a little toasted/hacked - not looking good. I installed a fuel filter and some fuel lines, put in a battery, gave it a crank. It turns easily - like no compression then a sputter, couple of coughs, and........IT'S ALIVE! I turn it off - remember, no water in the overflow. I get my jugs full(didn't want to hydraulic the motor by filling it up if it had a bad headgasket), start it again and pour in the water. I look underneath - water coming out, fast. I shut the thing off - look underneath, the lower hose has been taken off???? I put the hose back on, start it, start pouring the water in. Get it full of water(the oil was full). It seems normal. I ended up driving the thing about 20 miles, in all. You know, you go around the block, first(staying close, in case you have to walk LOL). Then a little farther, and farther. Satisfied that it might live awhile I shut it off. Tried to restart - nope, just a few sputters. Keep trying - it finally comes to life. This happened again later, seems that the fuel drains back to the tank without the correct filter/water separator(I just used a plain filter and lines) causing excessive cranking(anybody have one of these for a VW diesel?) I took it and filled it up - 9.50$ -at- 1.69 a gallon. It needs a muffler and some other odds and ends but think I found a great driver, for work. Waylon Dallas, Texas ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 13:20:55 -0800 From: john Subject: Re: $300.00 300 D and the $200 VW diesel At 12:45 PM 3/18/2003 -0600, Black, Waylon wrote: cool, sounds like a score! I had a Rabbit Diesel pickup, pretty decent rigs... I'm waiting for about $300 worth of MORE parts for the 190D... this'll make an extra Grand I've put in this thing... ignition lock about $625, injectors and filters another $370.... john - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 15:23:04 -0800 From: Kevin Pekarek Subject: Re: Alternator woes - End of Story On Tue, Mar 18, 2003 at 09:19:03AM -0500, Aimino, Michael wrote: > Got all the parts I ordered and re-reinstalled the alternator last night. Also > replaced a leaking transmission cooler line (steel line from tranny side). At > some point, a PO had a new cooler line put in, but the installer neglected to > put the bushings in too, so the line rubbed against the clamps and wore a hole > thru at the bracket attached to the oil pan. Installed the new battery > and fired her up - ran fine, no leaks, battery charging. Very cool. > This Saturday, I'm putting on the right tie rod assembly - both tie rod ends > are shot. Wife's car is getting an inside front wheel bearing seal, R&R the > blower motor, find a vacuum leak that's keeping the motor from shutting down, > and then the Benzes will be done (for now). hehe > Alas, my work is never-ending. Over the weekend, the tranny went out on the > '89 Ford diesel van. Had to be towed home at 4 in the morning. Will drop that > out (for the 5th time) and see what happened there. Sounds like an E4OD - the overdrive version that replaced the C-6. They really REALLY liked beating themselves to death, especially when behind something with some grunt (like a diesel), especially when driven a lot around town with overdrive NOT being locked out - it would literally hunt itself to death. There are a lot of upgrades to that tranny, it is (essentially) still in use behind the PSD in newer trucks - they just call it a 4R100 now. Rebuilding it to current specs with all the updates will most likely solve your problems for good, but it's gonna cost you as much as an 82 240D. :-/ K - -- Kevin Pekarek Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:25:58 -0600 From: "Vernon Tuck" Subject: Re: Alternator woes - End of Story The E40D is dead. Long live the C-6! VT - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Pekarek" To: "Aimino, Michael" Cc: Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 5:23 PM Subject: Re: Alternator woes - End of Story > On Tue, Mar 18, 2003 at 09:19:03AM -0500, Aimino, Michael wrote: > > Got all the parts I ordered and re-reinstalled the alternator last night. Also > > replaced a leaking transmission cooler line (steel line from tranny side). At > > some point, a PO had a new cooler line put in, but the installer neglected to > > put the bushings in too, so the line rubbed against the clamps and wore a hole > > thru at the bracket attached to the oil pan. Installed the new battery > > and fired her up - ran fine, no leaks, battery charging. > > Very cool. > > > This Saturday, I'm putting on the right tie rod assembly - both tie rod ends > > are shot. Wife's car is getting an inside front wheel bearing seal, R&R the > > blower motor, find a vacuum leak that's keeping the motor from shutting down, > > and then the Benzes will be done (for now). > > hehe > > > Alas, my work is never-ending. Over the weekend, the tranny went out on the > > '89 Ford diesel van. Had to be towed home at 4 in the morning. Will drop that > > out (for the 5th time) and see what happened there. > > Sounds like an E4OD - the overdrive version that replaced the C-6. They really > REALLY liked beating themselves to death, especially when behind something > with some grunt (like a diesel), especially when driven a lot around town with > overdrive NOT being locked out - it would literally hunt itself to death. > > There are a lot of upgrades to that tranny, it is (essentially) still in use > behind the PSD in newer trucks - they just call it a 4R100 now. Rebuilding it > to current specs with all the updates will most likely solve your problems > for good, but it's gonna cost you as much as an 82 240D. :-/ > > K > > -- > Kevin Pekarek > Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and > Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 18:38:56 -0500 From: "Michael Aimino" Subject: Re: Alternator woes - End of Story On 18 Mar 03, at 15:23, Kevin Pekarek wrote: > There are a lot of upgrades to that tranny, it is (essentially) still > in use behind the PSD in newer trucks - they just call it a 4R100 now. > Rebuilding it to current specs with all the updates will most likely > solve your problems for good, but it's gonna cost you as much as an 82 > 240D. :-/ This is what I've discovered during my research today. I'm sure my local transmission duffer rebuilt it to it's original 1989 specs, without all the upgrades. Hah. He may not have even built it to the heavy-duty specs that the diesel requires. Live and learn. Does anyone recommend a good national brand of rebuilt trannies, or a company in my area (Pittsburgh, PA)? Thanks! Mike ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 13:18:08 -0800 From: john Subject: heat shields... up or down? just got my injectors... looking at the heat shields... currently the raised side is down... is that correct? Hurry, heading out to wrench... :) john - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #934 *********************************