Hi everyone,

I've been going through the archives for 2 days, and I'm stumped. I just bought an 87 190d turbo (OM602), picked it up on Saturday after having test driven it the week before, at which time it started up and ran great. Only 138,000 miles (verified). Started right up on Sat. and I drove it about 170 freeway miles home, stopping several times along the way, after which it restarted fine each time. Only problem I noticed on the trip home was a rough idle that seemed to be getting rougher... I figured it was filters or the EDS system or something like that. I got home, parked the car, and went inside for a while. Came back out a couple hours later to move the car, and it wouldn't start. It won't even hint at starting. Cranks good and fast but will not fire. Here's what I've done so far to troubleshoot:

- changed both fuel filters
- verified all glow plugs are good and relay is working properly
- rigged up a fuel bottle under the hood with supply and return, elimating tank screen or other fuel line blockage
- verified that fuel is getting to the IP, and coming out of its return.
- disconnected fuel lines at the injectors to see if I'm getting any fuel there while cranking (I'm not)
- rigged up an electric fuel (7psi) pump in line with the underhood tank setup so I won't have to crank for every test (trying to avoid killing the battery) and to eliminate the lift pump as the culprit.
- verified stop lever functions correctly and shutoff valve operates with mightyvac. also tried to start with vacuum line removed from shutoff valve to make sure it wasn't staying in the closed position.
- made sure to floor the pedal while cranking or while using eletric pump to try and force fuel through
- verified that I'm not getting any smoke or raw fuel out of the exhaust

Basically, I think I've narrowed it down the the IP, but that seems weird since it ran so well before, and this happened all of the sudden. I'm getting no fuel at all through the first four injector lines, and only a tiny bit at the 5th. The IP has plenty of fuel entering and leaving it via the connections to the filterhead. The car's acting as if the shutoff valve is closed, so I'm wondering if somehow the rack is stuck in the shutoff position? How would I test for something like that? Can I remove the shutoff valve and crank with the injectors disconnected to see if I then get fuel? Is it possible the delivery valve seals all went out at once? If I take the side cover off of the IP, will I be able to see the rack?

I'm a little pressed for time, as if I can't get it running by thursday night in order to move it across the street, I'll get a ticket at the very least, and possibly worse as I haven't been able to get an inpection sticker yet. So any ideas are much appreciated. I'm a pretty experienced DIYer and haven't had to fall back on a real mechanic in years, but if all else fails I guess that's always an option. Anyone know a good one in NYC or on long island if it comes to that?

thanks,

dave

__________________
1987 190d turbo, 5-spd conversion -- 146k
1973 280 -- back on the road with a euro m110
1980 300SD -- RIP - Sold for parts (lost battle with rust)

anyone?

__________________
1987 190d turbo, 5-spd conversion -- 146k
1973 280 -- back on the road with a euro m110
1980 300SD -- RIP - Sold for parts (lost battle with rust)

rack wasn't stuck (I took the side panel off of the IP and moved it manually)... I guess there was just a lot of air in the system. I bled and bled (ran the battery down twice) and finally got fuel coming out of the hard lines. reconnected them and it fired right up. you guys aren't kidding when you say the 60x engines take forever to prime.

Still confused about why this happened in the first place, and so suddenly. I'm guessing it was a combination of clogged filters, a possibly leaky fuel line on the suction side, and the fact that I'm parked on an uphill incline. The first two things were addressed earlier during troubleshooting.

anyway, hope this helps someone in the future.

- dave

__________________
1987 190d turbo, 5-spd conversion -- 146k
1973 280 -- back on the road with a euro m110
1980 300SD -- RIP - Sold for parts (lost battle with rust)