I just picked up my MD 300sd (w126) 3 weeks ago. It is in great shape fwiw I paid 1050.

I was planning a Diesel purge so I let the Fuel tank run low on fuel, but I ran out of fuel instead. I ran out as I was pulling into the parking lot. I purchased the purge and put it into the fuel tank with a gallon of diesel that I was carrying for this purpose.

Later that night I went out to the store and ran out of fuel. I called Mercedes Roadside Asst and they had fuel brought to me. The car would not start. We ended up towing it to my house which the tow truck driver did at no cost to me.

I suspected I might have a clogged tank screen. My Mech suggested blowing air thru the fuel line to unclog the screen. I dont have a compressor yet so I used a manual oil pump to pump fresh diesel thru the line back to the tank. I then pumped a gallon out of the tank and repeated the process agian and again and again.

My primer pump seems to be malfunctioning so I used the oil pump to prime the fuel system. I replaced the primary and secondary fuel filters and then blew the bubbles out of the filter but inserting the hose from the oil pump into the fuel line and then pumping fuel into the line. This cleared the bubbles/air out of the filter put would not prime the rest of the fuel system. I made a small temp. fuel tank and placed it in the eng. compartment with no success. Still won't start.

I've charged the battery several times. I have a very good battery charger. But cannot get the engine to start. It cranks slow after just a few tries. It just turned cold in Syracuse NY, about 40 to 50F.

A buddy of mine says that I could pull start this car by towing it to 20 mph and dropping it from N to Second. He says it is the recommend procedure in the SD300 manual. Can anyone tell me if this will work w/o damaging the car.

I would just take it to a diesel mech but I broke my foot the day after I got the car and money is kinda tight. If I can get the car started I could get to work and then get some winterization done.

BTW. The car ran it's best ever with the diesel purge. Much more power. She was smoking a lil bit at a.m. startups and after idling a bit at traffic stops. She also has some vac. issuues that need to be addressed.


Any help would be appreciated.
dePlane.