could be dirty/bad valves in the lift pump, especially after a valve adjustment.

__________________
1981 300SD 512k OM603

tank strainer?

__________________
You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

Just checking in....I have not been able to work on the car due to not feeling well and the fact that it has been raining non-stop here for the last two days (big surprise). Now I have to work for the next four days, so I will post back with any updates as I have them. I have disconnected the cruise control linkage and the vacuum shutoff line so we shall see if that helps. I just wonder if I may have picked up some crappy fuel? If none of the above works, I will try the tank strainer and hope for the best.

If anyone has any additional insight, I'm all ears

__________________
2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 102K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 238K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 211K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 246K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 384K (diesel commuter)

Well, I drove the car to work today with the linkage to the cruise actuator disconnected, and within a few miles I started to get the lite surging accompanied by a soft buzzing in the instrument cluster. I tried jiggling the key when it buzzed but no luck. So, out of frustration I smacked the top of the dash and the buzzing stopped right away and hasn't come back.
It still did the lite surging after the buzzing stopped so I do not think they were related (but who knows)
Then I had a good hill to try an Italian tune up. With it floored and the transmission in high gear I could get it no faster than 60MPH. After that I had a 5 mile flat straight stretch, so I dropped the transmission lever one notch down out of drive and held the engine at 4500 RPM (according to the tach) for five miles. Afterward it seemed to run better, then a short while later I had a three mile flat straight stretch, so I did the same thing again.

Now the car runs a lot better, with more pep and no surging. A lot faster from a standing start, and running up the same hill that this morning that I could not get above 60, I hit nearly 75 before backing off.

Long story short is that it seems to be fixed. Guess a good hard run did it a world of good. (along with cleaning the banjo bolts and new filters)

BTW, what is the redline on a turbo OM617?

Thanks for all the help,

Glenn

__________________
2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 102K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 238K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 211K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 246K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 384K (diesel commuter)