driving 1980 300sd from san diego to escondido...about 40 miles...halfway into trip the benz shutdown...decelerated and i coasted to a stop...

then could not start again...

i finally limped into escondido later that night...

battery was being drained.....my new battery from autozone will not start the vehicle...

the trunk is latched but will not open....

im wondering if there is a light in the trunk....or whether the alternator is bad?

i am going to run a test light from the neg terminal to the neg cable to see a light and hopefully find a drain on my battery

could a faulty alternator cause a drain ???

any help is appreciated...

lyle

Do you mean that your car stalled, and then it took a while to get it started again?

A bad alternator will not knock out one of these engines. Because it is a diesel it requires no electricity to run.

Sounds like a fuel issue to me.

if a new battery will not start the car look elsewhere for the cause of the shutdown.the 80 300sd will continue to run with a dead battery or charging system until you shut it off.thats because the engine uses vitually no electric whilst running.it sounds to me that you have a fuel delivery problem.possibly a plugged fuel filter.will the engine turnover with the new battery?

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michael cole 1980 300SD gone now but not forgotten,87tdt,90 300te 4matic 95 e320 wagon

Yeah, check your fuel filter. Replace, prime, and see what you get. Good luck!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

"new battery will not start the vehicle"

The engine turns, but will not fire? The engine does not turn? More info, please. Thanks!

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1989 300E 144K