Got a problem starting my '87 300D Turbo sedan this AM. My wife said she was driving with the reserve fuel light on for a while last night so I thought she just ran out of diesel but this AM, after dumping 5 gal in, it still won't start.

Good battery power, the starter seems to be audibly worked strong, the glow plug light turns off in the usual amount of time, but I just can't get it to crank over.

I'm wondering if it is the fuel pump? Or maybe a clogged fuel filter....I'll replace the fuel filters next but how do I troubleshoot the fuel pump?

Other ideas? Can't think of whatelse it might be, although I'll probably check the glow plugs as well.

Thanks -Harv

I don't believe there is a primer pump on your engine. Once those engines lose prime, it takes a lot of cranking to reestablish it. I'd continue to crank it in 20-30 second bursts to try to get it primed.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

If it ran out of diesel then you pulled air into the lines, pump, injector lines. Getting all the air out is a real pita. You may need to open the injector lines at the injectors to bleed all the air out. Once you have the nuts on the injector loosened then you need to crank the engine over until you see fuel oozing out the lines then you need to tighten the nuts again and then try starting again with your foot on the throttle pedal to the floor, once it starts keep the revs up above 1500 to ensure that it stays running. Been there done that no fun at all. Unfortunately for you I don't believe the 603 6 cylinder engine has a manual primer pump as the 617 5 cylinder engine does. Good luck on this challenge.

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Gary
OBK #37

Crack the injector lines at the injectors and crank it with your foot on the floor.

See if you get fuel leaking all over the head.

Report back.

THanks for the response. I've cranked it quite a bit but still not able to start it. I'm trying to figure out now if it is the fuel pump..... thanks

Not likely it is the fuel pump. More likely you have lost prime.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

OK, I cracked the injector lines and I see that there is fuel at the injector but when I crank the starter over with my foot to the floor, it does not seem to be pushing out fuel.

Not that I want it to be the fuel pump....but doesn't that tell me it is not pumping fuel? Maybe a clogged fuel filter??

THanks -Harv

Could be air in the injection pump. Could also be a plugged fuel filter or a bad pump but since the description from your wife seems to point to running out of fuel, the most likely cause is air in the system.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Fuel filters generally clog slowly.........they usually don't prevent a start the next morning.

Disconnect the line from the fuel pump to the secondary fuel filter and put it in a small container. Crank the engine for 15 seconds and observe how much fuel you have in the container. You should have about two ounces or so. If you have minimal fuel..........the pump is suspect.

If you have decent fuel, I'd reconnect the line and see if you can get it running on WD-40.

Get a helper to crank it and continuously spray WD40 directly into the intake. Removal of the crossover tube would assist greatly with this. Keep spraying even when the engine starts.........because it will be running on the WD for at least 15 seconds. Then, stop the WD and see if it will run on it's own.

OK, I'm going to ask a bit of a stupid question here, cause I have a manual for my '85 but not for my '87 and they are fairly different in this...between the secondary fuel filter housing and the pump, there are two lines:
- one that comes from the top of the pump, at the fuel pump housing it has and arrow out.
- the other comes from teh bottom part of the pump, it has an arrow in at the fuel pump housing.

Which one do I remove for the test?

that one.

OK, it looks like it is pumping fuel so it must be air in the line, whew! But now the battery is dead so I still actually haven't gotten it to start. Charging the battery now.....

Thanks -Harv

Can these '87 models be tow started with auto trans like the earlier models can? I know that the previous style transmissions had both front and rear pumps, and could be tow started at speeds above 25-30 mph or so.

SteveM.

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'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

Yes they can, read the owner's manual, I think it's something like 25 or 35mph and slip it into 2nd.

However, the transmission is old enough to vote and drink, it is a stress that some have not handled well, better off with a jump/charge if at all possible. If you do burn up the transmission, keep me in mind, I might be interested in the car ;~)

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I learned this lesson the hard way too (the running out of diesel lesson).

From now on, 1/4 tank means 0/4. They should of recalibrated those things from factory.

Guess Im cheap, esp at $4/gal.

Oh yeah, it took mine 2 sets of jumper cables going from tow truck (which towed me to diesel station). 1 set on the rigs humongus battery, and 1 on his portable. Tow truck driver kept saying somethings wrong, I said keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep crankin. Eventually she sputtered back to her usual 500 rpm clatter of and idle.

Ive found the best way is to loosen 1st injector rubber line till you see fuel spilling. Then reattach that and move to #2 and so on. By 3 or 4 it usually starts.

For fun, try replacing main fuel filter with it dry and crank. I did that when I 1st bought it, took a solid 30 min, multiple dead batterys till it lit off. Diesels dont like air in lines, I know that now (and so do you!)

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Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !