Welcome to Motorhomefacts, we are a thriving motorhome community (Largest in Europe). Why Not JOIN NOW and get instant access to more of the website. It costs nothing to join and only takes a few minutes. We have 200,000 different people visiting our site monthly and this amount of motorhomers in one place guarantees a fast response to any questions you may have. We also have unique facilities not found elsewhere such as our Online Logbook, stopover tracker, Motorhome directory with Ebay type feedback and the largest repository of motorhome campsites reviews found anywhere
hi i would start with the cheapest options first!! This was never going to be a stunning performance power unit even from new, but i would start by first check the hand brake/rear linings are not binding it was known for the handbrake linkage to seized and cause binding of the linings to the drum, its a simple check and a bit of wd 40!! Is the air filter clean, usually if this is blocked you would get some black smoke but not always, try removing it temporally and a quick run down the road will tell. check the vent to the fuel tank on this model it does not have a pressurised tank like the newer ones. If air cannot get in fuel can't get out. The next step would be to take it to a diesel fuel specialist as they would have the test equipment to check it properly, if the timing belt has been fitted incorrectly they will be able to tell because the spill timing will be out, and they will be able to check the fuel metering valve. good luck hope this helps.
Comments about 1987 307D on Carsurvey.org (I was trawling for info on the same subject, as my Talbot has an identical performance to your Merc:
'Purchased as campervan - man it's sooo slow!'
'Weird ultra low 1st gear only needed when heavily loaded'
'Sloppy gearchange'
'Economy not bad 25-35mpg'
'Uncomfortable to drive - heavy steering, noisy engine'
'Any more than 65 and it sounds as if a rod is going to pop through the engine'
'Reliable, starts first crank, even when freezing'
Is this one of your own posts? - because it sounds very similar! My van only improved when new clutch fitted but it's never going to keep up in fast traffic.
Do you sneak around the faster roads at 5 in the morning when setting off too? - If so, give me a wave, there's a few of us about!!!
Like jeffro, I had a similar truck up to five years ago. 65 on the flat absolute max, but 23 to the gallon, 168,000 miles on orginal engine with no major attention. Very nice to drive provided you had patience. Very very safe.
I sounds as though you have one if the following
Fuel limiting through bad filter or lift pump
Air limiting through blocked air filter (mine once had leaves in the inlet duct).
Wrong injection timing.
Lack of full travel of the actuating arm on the injector pump. This is the most likely. If the vehicle will not reach 60+ mph foot right down when desending a long, reasonable steep hill, then this is the most likely cause. It is easily checked on the vehicle without the engine running, just get someone to push the throttle right down whilst you check the movement on the injector pump arm, if you can turn the arm more than a snippet further, you are suffering lack of travel which would expalain you problem.
Good luck, rogerandveronica
Many thanks to all of you that responded to my questions. To answer some comments:
I'm afraid I don't know who re-conditioned the engine (if indeed it is a re-con engine but I don't think it would be painted blue when new) The mileage is 32000 'ish but I did find an invoice for a speedo head and the van was first registered in 1982.
This is the first post I have made on this subject, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one. Perhaps I should organise a rally!
Just after I bought it (last September) I had it serviced. They replaced gearbox and rear axle oil, both fuel filters, glowplugs, the air filter, oil and oil filter, the fuel pipe from pre filter to pump as well as both hand brake cables. The van passed it's MOT in December so I don't believe the brakes are binding.
I would like to pick up on a couple of points. The actuating arm. Is that attached to the throttle linkage? Because the whole shooting match seems to be loose. When the accelerator (Ha! there's a misnomer) is pressed fully down there is up to 1/4" play on one of the levers attached to (what I think is) the lift/injector pump. Do you know how it is adjusted?
Secondly when I bought the van there was no key for the filler cap so I bought a new one which looked the same as the original. Should there be a vent in the cap or is there a vent in the tank, if so do you know where it is?
I'm determined to solve this problem but just in case, we're based just outside Seaford in East Sussex so if anyone knows of a good, local diesel mechanic I'd be grateful.
If you are out and about and see a Mercedes Challenger Carlton struggling up a hill give me a push! I'm fed up with the wife and dog trying to look as if they're not with me!
Thanks for your latest information. My similar vehicle was M reg and had a vent pipe fed back to the inlet manifild for pollution control. If you have a problem with tank venting you would probably have normal power when you started a journey and the power loss would slowly get worse. Also if you removed the cap after a loss of power you would hear and feel the release of the vacuum in the tank.
As for correcting the throttle slack, make sure that` the pedal is going right down and not "sitting" on carpet.
As you stated the actuator arm is connected to the injector pump. The shaft vanishing into the injector pump should not wobble about much in its home. If it does you have a problem. The adjustment for slack in the throttle linkage on some vehicles is by mean of a screwed rod end or ends in one of the actuating rods, on some it is by means of slotted holes in a bracket on which is mounted a bellcrank (right-angled piece which rotates and changes the direction of movement by 90 degrees) on other vehicles it is normal to bend one of the actuating arms in the likage (not the one on the injector pump).
Good luck, rogerandveronica
The throttle pedal is a narrow plate hinged at the drivers end that pushes down onto another plate of a slightly smaller size therefore only allowing the pedal to travel so far. The carpet is under the lower plate and does not come into contact with the throttle pedal at all. So I have ruled out the carpet as the problem.
There is not a sudden in-rush of air when the fuel filler cap is removed so I don't think a vacuum is being created in the fuel tank.
I'll have another look at the throttle linkage over the weekend and report back.
Do you have any knowledge of the fuel return valve? and is it possible that a compressed spring may be sending too much diesel back to the fuel tank and therefore starving the engine?
Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most............ ozzy osbourne
Spins - sorry< I have no knowledge of a non-return valve. If it is this valve causing a problem you would stil be able to get up to speed downhill and crawl uphill.
If your speed limitation occurs all the time it is a revs limit that is the actual problem which must be due to the governor system in the injector pump not allowing you to raise the revs any more perhaps due to the throttle linkage.
If the speed/revs limitation occurs whether it is uphill, downhill or on the flat it is very likely just the linkage. If someone has fiddled with the limit adjustments on the injector pump it could also affect you the same way. Do not re-adjust the limits, get it set up properly if it turns out to be this.
But if it seems that you can you wizz downhill without effort but just crawl along the flat and uphill it is likely to be fuel delivery/air delivery/injector pump timing related. (i.e. a gross lack of power)
I think that the original engine and gearbox on my truck were painted grey - but it was some years ago.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 2 of 2Goto page Previous1, 2
France
