280GE Engine Problems-New Member from the USA

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Wed, 18/08/2004 - 02:55
Big Red G
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Joined: 17.08.2004
Location: Cecil County, Maryland , USA

Hi, my name is Chris Donahoo from the USA and own a couple of Gs. One is a 1984 300GD that we converted to a turbo and it runs perfect but the other I have is a 1986 280GE gas with an auto transmission, nothing but problems. I think the last owner didn't think the maintance was the thing to do. We (a friend who is a MBZ mechanic and myself) have started by the numbers to work on the different problems with the truck. The one we have not been able to figure out is the following. The engine has been tuned so that out of gear at idle she will purr at 800RPMs but as soon as we place her into gear the RPMs fall to stall out time. So we upped the idle to 1200RPMs, now she will idle in gear at 800RPMs but will hesitate as if it were ready to stall. Now everything we have read states that idle should be at 800 RPMs and that the engine should idle even under the load of the transmission at that rate. Has anyone had this same problem? I am on some forums in the states but we only have a few 280s in the country to start and fewer on the forum. I had one thought, that the transmission is not "relaxing" at a full stop as it should. Please let me know any of your thoughts, Thanks Chris.

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Wed, 18/08/2004 - 18:18
#1
ErnestTBass
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Joined: 19.12.2003
Location: Surrey UK/Miami USA
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280GE Engine Problems-New Member from the USA

I have not had that problem with the transmission but I have had what seemed like an idle problem caused buy the inaccuracies of the RPM gauge in the truck which indicated around 850 but when checked against a Snapon timing light showed it to be only 550
It did not stall except in winter from cold. The manual states 750-850 in P but if it stalls when put into D sounds like it’s a transmission problem. The simplest thing is to renew the ATF and drive it a while then change the fluid again and the filter: the new fluid might clean out the system.

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Thu, 19/08/2004 - 01:50
#2
Big Red G
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Joined: 17.08.2004
Location: Cecil County, Maryland , USA
280GE Engine Problems-New Member from the USA

Thanks I will change my transmission fluid and filter this weekend as I had it changed when I got the truck about 2K miles ago, so if you are right, I might be a change a way from prefection. When we tuned it up, it was set with a light, gauge was real close. Thanks again, Chris.

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