Hey all, my 87 300d won't start, glow plugs are new and working fine, fresh battery etc. I cracked the #1 injector line at the injector and at the IP and there doesn't seem to be any fuel coming out. There is fuel at both filters and at the banjo bolt going into the IP but not at either end of the line. What gives? It was bogging down and not running right and then finally just wouldn't start one day. TIA
-J

The most common cause is an air-leak upstream of the IP.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

1) Remove the fuel filler cap and attempt to start.

2) If no go.........rig up a small can of fuel under the hood. Run the supply line to the pump from the can and run the return line to the tank to the can. See if it will start.

3) If no go.........remove the output line from the fuel pump and run it into an empty container. Crank the engine for 15 seconds. Measure the amount of fuel in the container. You should have about 2 ounces. If not, report back with the amount.

Ok she started, I cracked all 6 lines at the injectors and rebled with the fuel cap off. But, she still is all bogged down, won't rev over 1200 RPM no matter how much fuel I try to give her, lots of white smoke, no chance of driving it anywhere, what could it be?
thanks
-J

It could be:

1) Bad primary filter
2) Bad secondary filter
3) Plugged tank screen
4) Weak fuel pump.

ok cool, even though I'm getting fuel at the injectors those things could be bad still? I changed the inline(primary?) already, but not the big one, and now my trunk won't open so I don't know how I'll get at the tank

Change the secondary filter...........that's the first step. Make sure you have some clean fuel to totally fill the new one.

will do thanks brian, you've been very helpful, and as I look through the search feature, I can see you're always very helpful

Jay: Maybe you have a blocked cat...sounds exactly like what I had, could not rev over 1200 rpm. Do search under my name and you will come up with some easy to do things if that is the problem..."No start."

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1987 300 DT

hehe take off the exhaust downpipe and see if that helps any.

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

White smoke and no power tells me it is likely not hitting on one or more cylinders.

Start the car, loosen the line at the injector one at a time, the ones that don't make a difference are the ones that are not firing.

This process might bleed the system and cure the problem, if nothing else is wrong. It is also possible that there is air getting into the system and causing this problem.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

You said that the glow plugs are new? Did you mess up any of the fuel lines when you had the manifold off? Drop anything down into the delivery valves?

Did this start all of a sudden or right after you did the glow plugs?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

it ran like a champ for about a month and a half after the glow plug change, then just started bogging down and really slugging along, now the white smoke just started.

Is the Trap Oxidizer still in place? (in the exhaust line, located under the hood)
if so is highly suspect. Emphasize HIGHLY suspect.
If not then possibly the CAT (under the car) may be plugged. Both have been known to cause symptoms like yours

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

If you do end up checking the tank screen, let me know. I got great instructions on how to do that from another forum member. It is accessed from underneath the car. The supply line on my car was on the passenger side of the differential. It's a miserable job, and requires a 46mm socket, which is rather pricey ($30-$40).

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1987 Mercedes 300D ~200K (Greasecar & Biodiesel)
1993 Ford F-250 7.3 IDI diesel 165K (Biodiesel)
1996 Thomas/International Bus with DT466 engine