I have a 1980 mercedes 300 SD turbo diesel, and for some reason my car will not start after sitting for 2 or more days. I just got a new battery and that is not the problem. I thought it was the alternator, but I just had it tested at the garage, and it worked fine. I don't know what the problem is yet, but there is a triangle that lights up right next to the fuel gauge everytime I shut the car off. Does anyone know what that triangle means, or what the problem may be???

Is the triangle the low fuel light? Will the car still turn over after 2 days, but just not start? How have you started it in the past if it is over 2 days?

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

Is there lots of air in the pre filter?

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

By the way welcome to the forum. If you are the Mercedesguru don't you already know all this stuff? Just joking.

I am sure you will be able to get to the bottom of your non starting issue on this forum. There is a wealth of real world experience here about working on these old diesels.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

Sounds like something is drawing current with the key off. Quick fix is to add a battery disconnect switch on the battery and cut it out of the system when it sits for a long time. Other option is to find the source of the current draw. Take of a battery cable, connect a multimeter or ammeter from the battery to the cable, see if there is a draw. If there is, start pulling fuses until the draw stops and then you know which circuit is causing your problem.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

You mention not starting, but then go into changing a battery, jumping to alternator...so I take it you mean its not CRANKING , not starting is a whole separate problem....

Check battery draw with it shut off using an ammeter, should be virtually or no load (pending things such as a radio memory circuit, etc. If you dont have one or arent sure, try leaving it set a few days with the battery disconnected after making sure its charged. Thatll tell you right away if you have a draw problem, many possibilities.

that orange triangle means you are out of or almost out of fuel

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'80 300SD - 315,xxx miles,
'79 300SD - 199,xxx miles

The triangle comes on even if I have a full tank of diesel, and it only started happening about 3 weeks ago. The car has sat for over a week before on two occasions, and cranked properly. This problem is only as of recent, and since the problem started, the triangle has been lit up.

My guess would be you have some sort of electrical short in that particular circuit then, if it came on and stuck at the same time as the battery drain began. You mention it goes on when you shut the car off, might be an alternator/regulator diode. Why it wont actually start is another thing, couldnt say without looking at it.

Check fuses too, I had a weird instance once with a cab light on a pickup, where the light fuse blew and the light began backfeeding thru another circuit (somehow) and became permanently turned on with the doors shut until I replaced the fuse.

.
If your car is cranking over fast enough it could be
your fuel primer may be leaking and letting air into the fuel system.
Try pumping your primer and if fuel is leaking out then that is your problem.
I had the same thing happen to my 83 300D ,but being cheap at the time I just pumped the crap out of the primer to get the fuel system filled again regardless of the fuel leaking all over my hand.
Got the car to start.
After that I started the car everyday until I got a new primer pump.
Of course it could be the fuel pump, but I 'd try the primer first.

If it won't crank, then it is electrical and the advice above should be looked into.

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