Replaced fuel filter on 95' E300 - Now it won't start - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

macarose · #1 08-31-2006, 06:26 PM

Earlier this afternoon I changed the oil out of a 1995 Mercedes E300 diesel without a hitch. In fact, I thought it was one of the more durable and environmentally friendly designs I had ever seen on a vehicle. Everything is thick steel and well enclosed to insure against leakage. Very nice.

However the fuel filter has been one true pain in the %&^&**%.

I put the 'stop' all the way down and cranked it about seven or eight times to make sure all the fuel was in the system. I then began to try to remove the fuel filter and the thing just wouldn't budge. So I removed the two screws on the vey top with the plastic housing. Then I was able to remove the fuel filter completely off, transfered the fuel from the old filter to the new filter, screwed the new filter on, replaced the upper two bolts, and turned the 'stop' all the way back to the open position.

It wouldn't start.

I tried after twenty seconds... wouldn't start.

I tried after two minutes... kept on holding it down for twenty to twenty-five cycles, wouldn't start.

It was then when I found out that the vehicle possible has some type of 'self- bleeding' process.

I am recharging the battery now since it ended up a bit low due to all the activity. I plan on attempting to restart the vehicle tomorrow. I'm afraid I may have to take the plastic shroud off the top and start playing with the injector lines... which would truly be a pain.

Long story short, I've got to figure out a way to solve this. Any help or insights would be appreciated. I KNOW that it was my mistake for assuming the process would be similar to gas and will get the factory manual as soon as this process comes to pass. I've already enabled a gas engine to go above 300K and look forward to doing the same with this non-turbo diesel.

Thanks for reading this far and I really do appreciate any helpful comments you may have.

macarose

activ123 · #2 09-01-2006, 02:56 AM

When I replaced my fuel filter I recall it took more than two minutes to restart... I was able to see air in the fuel lines and they were moving so I kept cranking (with rest periods - it wasn't two minutes of solid cranking) and it started fine after a bit. (I put the batt charger on "assist" when I did that)

I had fuel leak in the shutoff valve that would drain out a bunch of fuel every night. Unless I parked it facing downhill, it took a very long time to start. Similar situation - I could see the air in the lines moving.

I would have someone check to see if they see the air in the lines moving... I didn't have the problem you mentioned with the stop so dunno how that would affect it.

Hope this helps.

Andy

(Still learning what I've gotten myself into with 99e300td ;-)

Carson357 · #3 09-01-2006, 03:19 AM

filling the filter with fresh diesel when it is off eliminates ar atleast significantly reduces cranking time. try removing it and filling it with diesel fuel

TMAllison · #4 09-01-2006, 03:26 AM

Mine is diff than yours (606.962) but I think the fuel filter is the same.

I dont have a stop lever but do have a bolt on top of the fuel filter which I think you are calling a stop.

Some folks tighten that bolt up too much. I spin the filter on and then just snug it up a bit wusing the bolt to make certain it is sealed.

I think you should check yours again and make sure that it is sealed.

To prime you manually crank for 30-40 seconds at a time. After 3 cycles you let the starter cool for a few minutes.

Once it catches KEEP cranking for another second to two to be CERTAIN it caught otherwise you will start all over again.

If still wont start then look for other fuel leaks.

michakaveli · #5 09-01-2006, 11:08 AM

Geez what are you doing? When you reintall the new filter you fill that sweetness completely with diesel. I usually get the main filter in place, slide out lsightly toward the belt and fill it with a diesel fuel additive, as it's easy to pour, or pre-fill it 1/2-3/4 with diesel then put it into position so that it doesn't spill out of the filter all over the place. After I tighten her up she may stumble for 5 seconds tops...

F18 · #6 09-01-2006, 11:09 AM

Macarose,
It really does not take that long to prime the fuel system....it sounds like your getting no fuel to the injectors. If you were you would get some intermittent combustion and sputtering until all the air bubbles are gone in the lines. Check that filter again because I think your sucking air through the filters seal or mounting bolt. If someone shot air into your veins your heart would stop!
Hope you find the problem.
Cheers,

macarose · #7 09-02-2006, 11:59 AM

Thanks so much for eveyone's help in this.

A couple of different Mercedes Tech's told me that I need to try to start it for about two minutes straight so that the mechanical pump can get fuel into the system. When I did that the fellow with me found that no fuel had yet gone into the system and the battery more or less died after about 50 seconds.

We hooked up a battery charger that can also provide an additional 200 amps to the starting. We recharged the battery, hooked the 200 amp up, and tried again. After that we even put a couple of quick puffs of ether (diesel start-up in a bottle) onto the air filter so that it could get a boost.

No dice...

We also checked the fuel filter, and that thing is pretty much as tight as a drum at this point.

I know that each of the systems are slightly different (the fuel filter system design we have I believe only applies to the 93-95 models of that generation). ALLDATA says that this is a self-bleeding system and we should just leave it alone for a while. The Mercedes tech's say start it up for two minutes straight.

Next Tuesday we are going to do both. We'll start it up and see if there is any improvement. It could even be low on gas or have some algae problems (it was a repo and probably sat around for a month or two before I got it.) I'm also going to fill it up with more diesel fuel since it only has an 1/8 of a tank left.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and ideas.