Replaced the primer pump and now I cant get the car started. I installed the new style primer pump because my old one was leaking.

When I disconnected the right fuel hose to install new part, and even using vice grips, all of the fuel in the clear primary filter spilled out. Now that I have everything hooked back up, I cannot start the car. I pumped the new primer pump, but it does not fill up the primary filter. Am I doing something wrong?

In the DIY thread, it did not seem like people were having the same problem as me. Any suggestions?

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1985 300SD - 167k miles
1992 F350 7.3 (Soon to be converted to 2 tank Veggy/WMO)

You might try loosening the smaller (return) hollow bolt on the top of the filter while you pump. Otherwise, you just compress air in the filter.

Tango, I did this, but after 100 pumps, I had hardly any fuel in the filter. Is something wrong?

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1985 300SD - 167k miles
1992 F350 7.3 (Soon to be converted to 2 tank Veggy/WMO)

Guessing the seal at the new primer pump and/or a hose clamp is faulty.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Sounds like something is wrong. Perhaps the pump is not tight or a hose is not tight. If you disconnect a hose upstream from the pump, you should be able to feel suction when the pump is actuated.

Is you fuel tank fairly empty and/or is the car parked facing substantially up hill?

Yes, you should have filled up the primary filter some time ago, check everything again, good luck.

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83 SD

84 CD

Fill the secondary filter with diesel or DieselKleen. Then pump until you hear air escaping. Try to start it then.

You can also take the hose off the primary filter. Fuel should pour out of the hose if the car is level or pointing down. If the car us pointing up, the fuel could have run into the tank and emptied the fuel line it would take way more than 100 pumps to draw fuel from the tank.


Another thing to try if you have an air compressor or really good lungs is forcing air into the return line. If the gas cap is on, pressurizing the return line will force fuel down to the primary filter.

Good luck.

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

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Thanks for all of your responses. In terms of the filters: My Secondary(Larger one) is completely full, but my primary (Small one) was the one that was emptied. My car is parked in my driveway that does have an incline, so I will push it in the street and try pumping again.

Thanks again and hopefully I repost with good news!

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1985 300SD - 167k miles
1992 F350 7.3 (Soon to be converted to 2 tank Veggy/WMO)

Still cant get the small filter filled up. After moving into garage, I can get a little bit of fuel into the clear filter, but cannot fill it up? Any ideas?

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1985 300SD - 167k miles
1992 F350 7.3 (Soon to be converted to 2 tank Veggy/WMO)

How about using a bottle with some diesel in it instead of the tank? If you can find some diesel-safe clear fuel line to go into the bottle, you can watch the level move (or not) inside the hoses as you pump the primer pump.

Could you have swapped the suction and return lines to the tank in the process? The suction line pulls from the bottom of the tank, but I think the return line empties into the tank at a point above the bottom? If it does, and they got swapped, then you might be sucking air.

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'83 300DTurbo http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/318559.png

Broadband: more lies faster.

Ok, I finally got some diesel coming through the small primary filter and I thought I was finished, but negative.

While pumping the new style primer pump, the small clear filter does not fill up all the way, and new air bubbles keep coming through. On the old style pump I had, if I kept pumping it enough, I could start the car, but it does not seem like this new primer pumps as well.

The car would at least start and idle before on diesel, but had troubles once air kept coming through the system. Now I cannot start the car, and dont really know where to go from here. Again, any suggestions? Thanks again guys.

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1985 300SD - 167k miles
1992 F350 7.3 (Soon to be converted to 2 tank Veggy/WMO)

When I change filters, I always have a gallon of diesel (sits in the garage just for this purpose) to fill both filters all the way up. Makes the process much easier.

Is it trying to start, turning over just not catching?

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Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

This is a stupid statement, but do you have the primary in correctly? Easy to reverse it?
ron

Either you got a defective new pump or you have another problem I think.
As someone mentioned you did make sure the old seal under the finger pump was removed and a new seal went on? The new pumps are not quite as efficient as the old design either as you suspect. Less tollerant of other underlying conditions as well perhaps.
Loosen you fuel cap to make sure your tank is not under suction from a blocked vent line. An air leak from the hand pump anywhere back to the tank could cause this as well. If car was usable before you changed the part it is probably not an obstructed tank strainer.
Just reread your post. Sounds like you had pre existing air leaks somewhere in the fuel supply system before the finger pump. . Go find them and forget the pump for awhile. You might have been intaking air through the old finger pump but if so that should have stopped with the new pump.
If you feel you have to prove it put a hose as close to that finger pump as possible and insert the other end into a container of clean diesel.

I fill up the secondary, filling the primary should work, but would seem to be messy, awkward, and unnecessary.
RoysVeggy seems to have an air leak.

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83 SD

84 CD