If the accumulator is bad, you will get plain old common garden variety vapor lock -- instead of liquid gasoline in the fuel distributor and fuel lines, you have gasoline vapor, and the resultant mixture will be much to lean to burn. YOu have to crank a while (with the fuel pump running as the starter does) to push the vapor out and get liquid gasoline to the injectors.

Best way to check is a fuel pressure test -- should be around 4 bars running, I think, and hold 3 indefinitely with the engine off. Requires the correct gauge, but thats better than the alternatives. As a cheapo (but dangerous) method, crack the fuel line fitting going to the distributor after the engine has been sitting hot for a few minutes. You should get a significant amount of fuel coming out under pressure. If not, the accumulator or check valve on the pump is bad -- check valve is much cheaper.

Also check for vacuum leaks -- a significant leak will cause too lean a mixture for the car to start hot -- cold is no problem because you have extra fuel then. Look at the idle control valve, the boot between the fuel distributor and throttle body, and brake booster line.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!