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What happened? Suddenly my 85 300D is starting strangely

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What happened? Suddenly my 85 300D is starting strangely - 12/11/2007 4:10:56 PM   
write_on80

 

Posts: 2
Joined: 12/11/2007
Status: offline
Hi there -

First time poster here. I bought a 1985 California 300D about five years ago—I'm not too much of a mechanic; had a very reliable mechanic in LA help me bring it back to good working order.

Now I'm in Texas and I've noticed funny things starting to happen with the car (which I drove out here), especially when it starts in the morning. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

When I start the car for the first time after it's been sitting overnight, it kinda coughs and stutters for about 45 seconds, intermittently shaking violently, sometimes letting out a lot of exhaust. I've noticed this is usually worse if I've driven at high speed on the freeway the previous day. Usually it clears up, whatever it is, but I've noticed it happening sometimes when I'm just idling at a stop light—like a kind of hiccup.

A couple of other things I've noticed, that may or may not be related:
- the car seems to be really sensitive to different diesel from different stations, drastically affecting its pickup and mileage
- the car seems to be really sensitive to having less than half a tank of fuel; it runs a lot better with a full tank
- some days the car is *very* sluggish accelerating from a full stop; sometimes it is fine

I'll probably bring it in to a mechanic, but I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what it might be before I do?
Post #: 1
RE: What happened? Suddenly my 85 300D is starting stra... - 12/11/2007 6:22:18 PM   
nimwer

 

Posts: 14
Joined: 8/20/2007
Status: offline
hey,

You good try changing all the filters possibly.

my guess is idle speed , timing chain and tensioner, youd problably want a mechanic for those. Try getting a compression test on the cylinders. Replace glow plugs?




(in reply to write_on80)
Post #: 2
RE: What happened? Suddenly my 85 300D is starting stra... - 12/17/2007 4:55:58 PM   
compress ignite

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline
yeah,try new fuel filters (LOOK at the pre-filter [the small plastic one] any junk or black specs
in there? You're looking for example of dead algae which can grow in the interface of H2O
condensation and Diesel fuel in the tank. ...Startron diesel treatment will fix that.)
Try some Redline diesel fuel catylst in the fuel (adds lubricity,cleans injectors, cleans carbon.)

If you have a severe infestation of algae you may have to pull to fuel sock/strainer from the
bottom of the fuel tank...No fun ,messy.   

(in reply to nimwer)
Post #: 3
RE: What happened? Suddenly my 85 300D is starting stra... - 12/17/2007 8:25:58 PM   
write_on80

 

Posts: 2
Joined: 12/11/2007
Status: offline
Hey, thanks a lot. I had a hunch it had something to do with the fuel filter/algae/etc. Will take a look.

(in reply to compress ignite)
Post #: 4
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