Get a local forum member to suggest another shop.
It sounds like they screwed up the valve lash and the compression test.
If it was a Chevy Chevette; with 120k, I could accept 50 psi, not a MB diesel.

83MB,

50 PSi translates into about a 100* temperature rise. So you can see at 50 PSI why it would not start.

Have you overhaeted the engine or run it without oil? Either can damage the rings that would cause low compression. I mean so hot all the water was boiled out.

However, I agree that all the cyliners should not read such close compression readings. I'd get a compression gage and check it myself to make sure no errors were made.

But even if it cost $3600 to rebuild the engine, wouldn't it be worth rebuilding. Thats only one year of new car payments and the car should last you another 10 years, probably longer than that new car would last.

P E H

Hi Cal.

I feel your pain,but I also think that the
suggestions for getting a second opinion
is a good one.

But just incase:

http://www.remanufactured.com/Mercedes_Engines.htm

I hope you won't need it.

Louis.

Eric, this is a very good suggestion. I will try this when I get the car back. I used to be able to turn on the car instantenously when the glow light went off (in about 5 sec), but I will leave it there longer this time around.

Speaking of the glow light, it seemed to have gone out months ago (maybe like 3 months or so), but I didn't think much of it. I would still put it in that position, wait for about 5 seconds, turn the key, and the car started immediately. Hopefully, with the new glow plugs, the light will be able to go turn on again.


PEH, as much as I hate to admit it, there have been several ocassions where the car was driven with very low oil levels, but not for thousands of miles. I know the car consumed oil, so I usually put in oil every now and then. (It is driven by other family members on ocassion too.)

I also find the uniform 50 psi on all cylinders very disturbing too, so I may get a 2nd opinion.

Thanks to all again.

__________________
83 240D (256K miles)

Hello 83MB240D
If you would have said this first........
Your light went out because number one glow plug died.
Gad zooks, you have been starting with no glow plugs.
If you started with no glow plugs, your compression was and is good, unless the shop lashed the valves wrong.

Hello 83MB240D
TheVirginiaDude may have hit the jackpot.
I have three compression gauges in my tool box; one of them goes to 300, but has no needle stop, at 350 it would read 50 psi.
The punch line is that the gauge will be junk now.
Go to the shop, ask to see the gauge, let us know the outcome.
A digital photo of the gauge would really help.

If this guess is right, replace the glow plugs and try to start it.

I've never had this happen, but might it be caused by the strip fuse blowing? I wondered if the experts at this shop bothered to check the fuse.

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Hello Rick Miley
It is possible that the shop is good with MB gassers; and does not know MB diesel.
Several shops around here are like that.
Have a great day.

83MB,

Observe the cabin light when you energize the GP. It should dim slightly because the high GP current will lower the voltage slightly.

If it doesn't dim, the GP are not working. This could be caused by a bad GP relay fuse or the GP relay itself.

An engine doesn't have to be run with out oil for thousands of miles to be damaged. A mile or 2 with out oil can seriously damage the rings and bearings. Low oil won't hurt the engine as long as there is enough oil in the crankcase for the oil pump to keep up the oil pressure. I watch the oil gage on corners and if the needle dips, its time to add oil.

P E H

What an interesting post. I know not for you. Stick with us and well get to the bottom of your problem.
I had a 220D that over a few short weeks started to idle very high. In 4th gear I did not have to touch the gas pedal to do 60MPH down the highway.
Brought it to a local import place. "your engine is shot" Lots of smoke, did a compression test. 20ATM (300psi) all 4 cylinders. I asked to how can you say its shot?????? They said it's the oil rings are all bad. I know, doesn't make sense. Had them button the car up and drove to the dealer. Again, without touching the gas pedal!!!!!
They had a knkowledgable 220D mechanic. It was a $40 part in the injector. Cost me $90 for the hole job.

Your car went from running, which requires about 17 ATM of pressure (250psi) to run, to not running normally. If the cylinder pressure was dropping your injectors would really start knocking. I know this. My 300SDL number 1 cylinder is down to 17ATM and really noisey at idle. So the shop says that ALL cylinders are at 50psi, ( 4 ATM). If you had run the engine without oil you would have known it. If the oil rings are bad your injectors would have told you.

Soooo what I'm getting at is-- Have them button the car up and have it towed to a good independent shop.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Yes, this is a very interesting thread, as sad as I may be. We're all learning a lot from each other, and hopefully this knowledge will help us better maintain and troubleshoot any future problems our cars may have.

I went this morning to pay and pick up my car from the local shop. Bill came out to about $200 and includes 4 new glow plugs, valve adjustment and compression test. As many of you recommended, I asked what kind of compression tool and/or gauge they used, and they told me it's the standard one they use to test all of their MB cars they work on. (This is a pretty reputable shop that works only on MBs and some BMWs.) They mostly have the older MBs in their shop, with just some newers ones (90s+). In any case, they sounded as if they were getting defensive because I asked such a question, so I decided not to continue on and ask to see the gauge. Based on all the cars they work on, which are mostly older MBs and many diesels to boot, I decided to let it go.

After I paid, I decided to test out the car myself. As someone suggested, I turned the key so that the glow plug light will turn on, and left it there for a minute or so. As I mentioned before, the light was not turning on, but since they replaced all 4 GPs, the light now turned on as expected. After about 1 minute, I turned the key and the car started cranking. Sadly, the car cranked very weakly. It sounded like a very sick person coughing slowly but repeatedly. It was pretty heartbreaking to see this. I repeated this a couple of times, but to no avail. Replacement of the GPs (and valve adjustment) did not fix the problem.

I wonder if the combination of the GPs being out for a while (2-3 months), low oil pressure, and putting stress on the engine for the past 3 weeks upon cold startup (it would crank for up to 1 minute before starting) all added up to this. I wish there was someone here local who would be willing to help me look into this. If it really is the engine, I hate to spend so much time and money for towing, having another shop tell me the same thing, towing, etc. etc.

As usual, thanks to all for keeping up the informative conversation.

__________________
83 240D (256K miles)

One other thing...The shop was also a little disappointed when telling me the news. He said that these cars (MB diesels) should easily run into the 400K-500K mile range on their original engines if maintained properly. They were disappointed in seeing mine go out so soon.

__________________
83 240D (256K miles)

What shop did you bring the car to? Some of the local guys are not that knowledgable about diesels. I tend to agree with the above posts, there's something odd here.

__________________
LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

As Peter pointed out your car could not have run down to 50psi... It just isn't possible.

Also based ont eh last post it sounds like your battery is very low. Try charging it back up and then do a restart.

Unless this motor got cooked on your last trip or we don't have the full story there are just too many ??? in all this.

__________________
'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

So now do you the car back?

Are you sure that your battery and starter are not fried at this point?

If you are in or near marin and want another person to look at it, send me a personal email, I am kinda in the neighborhood.

alec

__________________
84 300TD - 235k - Farbe "Surfblau" bought at 213k
87 300SDL - 131k - Farbe "PimpGold" bought at 115k
00 Klepper Faltboot Expedition Double