1983 300SD - It will not Start. I had two bad glow plugs. I replaced them. The car sounds like it is not getting enough fuel. All I get is black smoke when it is cranking. This happend all of a sudden. I just hit 300K a couple of weeks ago. The fuel filters are new. I used the hand pump to see if the fuel was getting through the system. It goes through the IP OK but there is not alot of pressure at the injectors when the engine is turning over. What do I do next. I am tired of driving around in My Ford 4X4 5 speed. Help!!!

Just for the hell of it:

Remove the fuel filler cap and try to start it.

Andy, does this sound familiar?

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Is the fuel pump leaky? if it is, think of how much air is getting in when fuel is coming out... get the bosch upgrade from fastlane...

when was the last valve adjustment?

How do you know that the gp's are working correctly? (if you dont know, PM/email me for a diagnostics sheet.)

Last diesel purge?

dpbrowne,

Did the engine die when was running or just won't start after it was shut off?

Describe the black smoke. If the engine was getting enough fuel but not firing, the smoke from the exhause would be white: unburned vaporized fuel.
Black smoke is Diesel fuel that is burned rich.

There won't be any noticable pressure at the injectors, just fuel flow, To have pressure, you have to have resistance to flow and when you crack the fuel line nuts open, all resistance is removed. You should notice fuel leaking out when you crack the fuel line nuts open and crank the engine.

P E H

That is the possible clue Andy.
Who else has thick black smoke and can not start on glow plugs?
Read #575 - #578 of the following thread.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/104222-wont-start-anything-1985-300sd-post841525.html

I hope this guess is wrong on your car.

Things to check:
#1. remove oil fill cap and try starting normal.
#2. Remove turbo intake hose and check for slop in shaft.
#3. Disconnect the exhaust pipe from the turbo and try starting normal.

Thanks guys. I bought a new air filter but that did not do the job either. The old one was bad. To answer everyone's questions

Brian - I removed the fuel cap still no start

1985 300SD Sady - New hand pump upgraded model (about 10K miles) - Last valve adjustment was about 30K - I tested the GP's with an ohm meter the first two read over 5 the back three under 1. Please send me another way of testing so I can double check (Diagonistic sheet). Deisel purge last year.

P.E. Haiges - The engine will not start after it was shut off. Happen all of a sudden. was running great. The black smoke is easy to see. i have a leak in the front exhaust pipe so the engine compartment fills up with black smoke when cranking. I craked the nuts at the injectors and I do not notice any fuel leaking out. How could this be if there is smoke.

whunter - How will I know if the IP is bad? what test can I do?

Thanks fopr everything guys. I do not know enough to take it from here I need more help to get this going. What next?

30K is a long time without checking valve clearances....

Maybe they are tight and in conjucntion with several failed glow plugs....

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Well, I was hoping for a miracle with the fuel filler cap solution.

Back to PEH suggestions.

It appears that the engine is getting so much fuel that there is insufficient air.
So, please explain your procedure for cracking the nuts at the injectors.

With all nuts loose at the injectors, have someone crank the engine so that you can watch the end of the hard pipes. Fuel should basically dribble out of the ends, not very much at all. You are looking for fuel pouring out of the ends of the hard pipes. This would signify a bad IP, meaning that something has let go internal to the IP and it is delivering way too much fuel.

If the fuel is dribbling out of the hard pipes, then the IP is working properly and you must try and find out why the engine cannot get any air. Check the turbo to ensure that it spins freely. Check the entire intake tract for an obstruction. Take the cover off the air filter and try to start it.

Roy wanted you to disconnect the exhaust and try and start it. If you have some type of blockage in the exhaust, the engine cannot get any air.

If it gets the proper amount of fuel with unlimited air, it has to run.

Where can I find the Bosch upgrade? Never mind,,, found it under diesel injection.

I don't know, but everytime I have had these mysterious starting problems come up I have always ended up finding some glow plugs that don't glow anymore.
Pull them out, clamp them in a vise and then ground the vise to 12 v and touch the end of the gp with the positive lead. If the gp has failed it will not heat no matter what you do. If it is good you will see a spark and the end of the plug will imediately heat up.