1984 300D Cranking Issues
 

Hello Members
Here is the scenario. Trying to get my project car running. Replaced fuel filters,oil,oil filter,glow plugs, battery. I have voltage at the GP relay. I have voltage at each of the glow plugs. The glow plug relay kicks off after 30 seconds like it's supposed to. I have cracked the injectors and have fuel there. I even tried spraying WD40 in the air intake. She still won't crank up. Am I missing something? When I pump the primer, fuel comes out of the bottom of the primer, but it does fill up the filter. This is my first attempt at working on a diesel. I have read a ton of posts pertaining to this issue, but to no avail. Any feedback would be welcomed.

BB

Check the resistance of each of the glowplugs. You could have bad glowplugs.

Are you in an area that you could try "tow starting"? , after you make sure the GPs are working:D

Have you done a compression test on this engine?

glow plugs are brand new Bosch. I have the same resistance across all GP'S at the relay plug. I have voltage at the pins and voltage at the glow plugs. I don't think it's the glow plugs. Why is fuel coming out of my primer pump when I prime it? Could it be letting air in. I have not done a compression check. The car was running fine when the PO hit the deer.

sounds like your primer pump IS letting air into the fuel system, or at least enough to keep it from starting/running. does it sound like it wants to turn over or just keep turning and turning?

What is the resistance? It should be less than 1.
Those screw down primer pumps are known to leak. There is a replacement non-screw-down pump that is about $20.

Hand Primer Pump
 

I'm having trouble reconciling your start problem...If you are getting Fuel when
you "Crack" the Injectors...AND your Glow System functions correctly...The
only thing that will prevent it from starting is lack of compression.
EDIT: Whooops...How long since the Valves were adjusted?(That might just be
the compression problem!) I would check the Valve clearances before chasing
any other alleged faults.

If, however the old primer pump is allowing air in the system(AND if it's leaking
THEN air is getting back in the same way)you can "Crank"through 5 or 6 new
Batteries and never achieve "Start".
Once you manage to get all of the air out of the fuel system it should run O.K.

Picture of New Style HPP below:

How hard is it to replace the primer pump?

I know this may sound crazy but, how old is your battery? Sometimes there just isn't quite enough umph in an old one to get the job done. Just thought I'd throw that one out there.

Brand new battery with a battery booster. Still no go. I will try and get a compression tester tomorrow.

The primer pump is very easy to change. The not at least kicking hard or running for a few seconds with the wd 40 is concerning. You are shooting it down the intake passage with the cover removed from the air cleaner? Also when someone is activating the starter for you?

A ray of hope. Just had my wife turning over the engine as I bled the air out of the injectors, and it fired up for a couple of seconds. But I could not get it going again.Battery is charging, fingers are crossed.

Another thought there is not a whole lot of fuel in the tank as it is sitting on E with fuel I put in from a container(about a gallon). But there is fuel in the filter. Should there be any air in the fuel filter(not the screw on)? I still think it has air in the system. Any other way to get air out?

BB

Park it with the Nose Down (A Joke,it won't run... it won't move.)
 

YEEES,
I'd put more than a gallon of Diesel in the Tank...You may be asking the Impossible of the Lift pump and the Engine otherwise.
(In fact you could have successfully bled all the air out of the system...
AND THEN RE-INTRODUCED IT RIGHT BACK IN BECAUSE THE FUEL LEVEL IS
LOW ENOUGH FOR IT TO "SUCK AIR" FROM THE TANK.)
You've just got air in it...
'Replace the leaky hand Primer Pump.(with a leaky pump and low fuel,you can't win)
'Check all your fuel hose clamps for seal and tightness.
Throw 3 or 4 gallons of Diesel(at a Minimum) in the Tank.
'Make sure the Battery is fully charged.
'Re-fill your spin on Fuel Filter with Diesel (Or "Purge",Or Redline,Etc.)
'Hand prime that Baby until fuel shows at the vent screw.(secure HPP)
'Crank with the Injector Cap nuts loose UNTIL fuel shows at
the Injector Cap Nuts...Secure the Cap Nuts (tighten to specifications).
'Glow and Start! (9.5 volts is pretty good...considering all the power those
glow plugs suck up.)

EDIT: Please be kind to your Starter...ONLY activate it for 10 seconds at a
time...Then let it "Rest" for 10 or 15 seconds.IT IS NOT A CONTINUOUS DUTY
RATED ELECTRIC MOTOR.(And the quickest way to kill an aged one is to hold
that key in the START position for long periods.)
EDIT # 2: 'You check those valve clearances yet?