Buying 1987 124 Turbo ( won't start ) ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rkpatt · #1 01-26-2006, 08:31 PM

I am looking at buying 1987 W124 300D Turbo with a clean body but it won't start . - No black smoke when trying to start . I disconnected the pipe between the turbo and intake manifold and it almost started, lots of black smoke coming out of the turbo and engine almost started - bad turbo ?

How much is used or rebuilt turbo ?
Can I bypass or shunt the turbo with a pipe and make the car a non-turbo .

How do I check for a cracked head besides looking for oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil (remember it doesn't run) ?

I also need more info on how to check out the EGR and Trap Oxidizer stuff ( any photos or drawings ? )

What else should I look for on this car .

-Thanks. ...................... Edited title/text per PM request.

Hit Man X · #2 01-26-2006, 10:01 PM

Trap Ox looks like a big football under the hood. It's an evil device if left in place.

I've yet to see a bad turbo keep a car from starting, air still gets around it.

Could be lacking fuel to start if you don't see puffs of black smoke... does the glow plug light come on when you turn the key all the way over? You could also check that fuseable link in the GP relay.

speedy300Dturbo · #3 01-26-2006, 10:03 PM

Loosen the injector lines to see if fuel is flowing through them.

rkpatt · #4 01-26-2006, 10:20 PM

Hitman X - I didn't see the trap oxidizer as you describe . No black smoke frome tailpipe but it did come out of turbo when I had the manifold pipe off . Wouldn't seized a turbo keep it from running by creating too much back pressure - like the potato in the exhaust pipe analogy ? Glow plug light ibut please tell more .

Speedy300dturbo- I did loosen injector lines and fuel is flowing .

Hit Man X · #5 01-26-2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkpatt

Hitman X - I didn't see the trap oxidizer as you describe . No black smoke frome tailpipe but it did come out of turbo . Wouldn't seized turbo keep it from running - like the potato in the exhaust pipe analogy ?

Well that's good the Trap Ox isn't there, but the moved it after the turbocharger...

So it could potentially be plugged up.

Can you verify if there is fuel in the tank or at least getting to the IP?

I've seen a few cars with seized turbochargers still run, but they were SLOW.

WANT '71 280SEL · #6 01-26-2006, 10:25 PM

Make sure the stop lever is in the up position, mine failed and the lever would not always release. So, make sure your stop lever is not staying down.

Thanks
David

MB-Owner-in-ind · #7 01-26-2006, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkpatt

- like the potato in the exhaust pipe analogy ?

Potato will not stop a car from starting, old wives tale. Check mythbusters, they did a story on this.

Hit Man X · #8 01-26-2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB-Owner-in-ind

Potato will not stop a car from starting, old wives tale. Check mythbusters, they did a story on this.

But a plugged cat can keep it from starting...

Targa-NF · #9 01-26-2006, 11:40 PM

I had a problem with my 81 300SD starting. My glow light was coming on
but only three were working. With a lot of cranking and pumping the gas
it would start with a cloud of black smoke. You should turn on the key
and when the glow plug light goes out do it again then again. Then touch
the top of each glow plug. You will know that the ones that are hot to the
touch are working.
Also I wish someone told me to do this...I will tell the story first. I just bought
my 300SD, it was sitting for almost two years when I got it. After changing
all the fluids I was ready to go. Then one day I was doing about 65 MPH
on the highway, then BANG and the motor stalled....I pulled over and tryed
to start it again, It started but ran and sounded like #%$@ !!! all I heard
was this god awful grinding sound coming from the top half of the engine.
After I got it home I found that three of the four cam bridges were broken.
And no oil up there. I pulled of the oil pan and found that the rubber pice of
the oil pump was rotted and half of it was sitting in the oil pan. So no oil
means BAD NEWS. I was lucky, I fixed the cam bridges and it runs fine.

So everyone that does not know the condition of this rubber oil pulp extender
should check it out. It only cost a few bucks and is easy to do. I wish I did..

89 190E " race car project"
81 300SD 137,K

Buying 1987 124 Turbo ( won't start ) ?-t4mh091628.jpg

Rich300TDMBZ · #10 01-27-2006, 12:08 AM

Even if the trap oxidizer is removed, there is still the oxidizing catalyst in the downpipe. If this is blocked then your car will have a hard time starting. Disconnect the pipe and see whether the car will start.

rkpatt · #11 01-27-2006, 05:06 AM

OOPS - Big mistake - This car is 124 300 Turbo diesel ,

Even if the glowplugs are not heating properly , shouldn't it start with a slight (1 sec squirt of either directly into the intake with the pipe removed - used after the glow plugs cycle ?

It is getting fuel but the black smoke is only coming out that turbo output pipe . I will try to disconnect the down pipe to see if it starts .

Also please advise me on the other things in my original message . I have to give the seller a yay or nay today .

Thanks

WANT '71 280SEL · #12 01-27-2006, 10:28 AM

You don't have to remove the downpipe to check for that. Just remove the plug towards the front of the manifold, that will be enough pressure release to let it run.

Thanks
David

dlssmith · #13 01-27-2006, 12:42 PM

If you're getting black smoke, it could be plugged exhaust, though, not all that likely. When did it last run?

As to the head, difficult to tell of problems unless you get an analysis of oil and coolant, or unless you can start it.

What does the coolant tank look like? Is it old and oily? Very oily, not too oily? Green coolant?

Vacuum shut off lever should be in the up position above the injection pump. Check the vacuum lines around there too.

This engine really needs glow plugs working to start, but it probably will start eventually, and if you use ether. Though if you search threads about ether on these engines, you'll see that it isn't advised!!! Can you hear the glow plug relay clicking off? Turn the key to on and wait 30 to 45 seconds and you should hear it and see the dash lights get brighter.

A seller in a hurry might be one to avoid...

DS

dieseldiehard · #14 01-27-2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

But a plugged cat can keep it from starting...

I can confirm that. A plugged CAT will make you spend thousands of $$ if you want to dump it into the car and it still won't start if the CAT is plugged!

Disconnect the crossover pipe and you will also have the same problem, I still can't figure that out but a 603 won't start or run with the crossover pipe removed.
You need that turbo, if you want a non turbo buy an e300 2.5

Hit Man X · #15 01-27-2006, 03:17 PM

It'll take a good while to finally start with dead glow plugs, I think it took my SD about two minutes to finally start up. It wasn't constant cranking, maybe 5-7 sec blips...