85 300D Turbo was starting with starting fluid, but now won't - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

robertkni · #1 02-28-2008, 04:33 PM

I am trying to get my 85 mercedes benz 300D Turbo deisel to start. It has been starting with starting fluid for the past few weeks, but just last night it decided not to start, even with the starting fluid. Can you tell me what is wrong? Is there something that needs to be replaced? When i give it gas to start, it still just dies!! PLEASE HELP it is the only transportation for my wife and i right now.

kerry · #2 02-28-2008, 04:38 PM

I hate to break the news, but starting these engines with starting fluid can damage them. I hope that is not the cause of your non-start condition.
Typically when these engines don't start it's either because the glowplugs are not working or it's not getting any fuel. When they reach the end of their lives they fail to start as a result of a lack of compression.
Have you done any troubleshooting?

robertkni · #3 02-28-2008, 04:56 PM

That's really weird that you posted those mileages because my car just got to around 161,000 miles. I was thinking it might be the glowplugs, but wasn't sure. I have just been so busy that i haven't been able to do much troubleshooting

pawoSD · #4 02-28-2008, 04:58 PM

Replace the glow plugs and hope for the best. Starting fluid can do lots of bad things to these engines. Do. not. use. it.

blackestate · #5 02-28-2008, 05:05 PM

Where are you located. MAybe someone is close?

Diesel911 · #6 02-28-2008, 05:15 PM

Was there any reaction at all to the starting fluid?
Also if you simply have to use the starter fluid it is best to have someone else sit in the car to turn the key and crank the engine. You do the spraying as it cranks; this way you get a lot more control and are less likely to overdose it. If you just spray a bunch in and jump into the car and start cranking it will get a big slug of the starting fluid all at one time.
Getting back to my original question . I was sent to trouble shoot 2 separate vehicles at 2 separate job sites that were not starting. On both I had rebuilt the fuel injection pumps but did not install them. After checking the pump to engine timing which was OK they still would not start. As a last resort I used starting fluid. Even though the weather was warm on both occasions I got no reaction from at all when using starting fluid. I found out later that compression was so low on both of the vehicles that they would not even ignite the starting fluid. [Both engines were direct injection engines with no glow plugs.]

robertkni · #7 02-28-2008, 05:37 PM

I am in Charleston, South Carolina...Mount Pleasant specifically!

turbobenz · #8 02-28-2008, 05:42 PM

instead of starting fluid use wd40

pawoSD · #9 02-28-2008, 05:44 PM

If it won't fire on starting fluid there must be a compression problem or something with the engine as it doesn't take much to ignite that stuff....its pretty volitile....which is why it can destroy the engine.

vstech · #10 02-28-2008, 06:06 PM

have you got fuel in the primary filter? are your glow plugs working? have your vlaves been adjusted in the last 20K miles? you could easily have burned the valve faces to the point that it will no longer build compression to start. charleston is just a bit out of my way... if it were me, I would pull the valve cover adjust all the valves, and test all the glow plugs. a good digital ohm meter will show .6 ohms of resistance on a cold glow plug. of course, if you have blown the strip fuse in the relay on the dash, you will have no volts going to the GP's test for 12 V at the strip fuse first.
report back with what you find.

minimike1 · #11 02-28-2008, 08:12 PM

first I'd check to see if fuel is moving in the primary fuel filter. Is it still clear? or gobbed up and black? next I'd crack the nut on top of the secondary fuel filter and pump the primer pump until you spill some fuel from the same filter. Keep pumping and drive the air out of your system. If you have an older style, oem primer pump with the screw in lock, I'd have alook for leaking fuel when you try to prime the filters. If fuel leaks around the primer pump, replace it with a Bosch new spring style pump. about 9 bucks. I think you may have air in the system and it keeps getting airbound as you crank it. My guess is that the air is coming in at the primer pump! Buy a valve cover gasket while you're ordering stuff and do your valves after you get it running. (a shot in the dark?)