Hey guys. I just bought this 240D - 1979 w/4speed. Light blue w/navy interior. The exterior is nice - straight, and only a couple little surface rust scratches, and missing two pieces of the black trim on one side. Paint is oxidized, but not peeling. The interior is ok. mostly intact/unripped, but the seats are totally collapsed and a lot of the plastic interior stuff and the tex seems brittle, probably from sitting in the Cali heat. In the records, I only found addresses in cali and texas, so it has lived a salt free life!

The bad part: I knew going into it that it wouldn't start.

The odo is stopped at 156,000, but by looking back at the records, it has been stopped since somewhere around 1995, I would guess... So I am guessing it has anywhere from 225,000 to 300,000 on it.

The PO had been using it for a year or more and it had been a daily driver. One day it was running poorly, lacking power, seemed to be starved of fuel. Apparently it made it home, but wouldn't start the next day.

When I was there, he changed the both the fuel filters. When I pumped the primer pump, it didn't seem to do anything. I pumped many many times. Nothing came through it, and it didn't feel like it was pulling any suction at all.

We attempted to start it using a cup full of diesel with the fuel line before the small clear filter stuck in it. Also, the battery was weak from previous attempts to start it, so he ran a jump from his car. It turned over, and eventually almost caught - maybe fired on 3 calenders for a couple of revolutions, but it wouldn't quite catch.

Right now, I am charging the battery, because I think it has gotten pretty weak with all the cranking. The battery is 650 CCA. Is that enough?

Now, when I pump the hand primer pump, diesel comes squirting out of the top of it. Is it supposed to do that? Also, I can see fuel in the primary filter, but it doesn't seem to be getting very full. I know there is commonly a buble in there, but it seems more like 1/2 full. I am wondering if it is sucking fuel from the other direction or something (don't know if that is possible).

Oh, also, I checked the air filter and it is totally filthy. Is it ok to try starting the car with the filter removed from the housing, just for a test?

The glow light comes on on the dash, but it doesn't seem to go out automatically. I have only owned newer (relatively) mb diesels before (see sig), so I don't know how the glow system behaves in this car.

So where should I start? What would be the first thing you would try? I am tempted to try some more cranking it over with the fuel lines run to a soda bottle full of fuel. We didn't really get to try too much, because the battery seemed so run down.

Also, there was a seal around the bottom of the plastic tube part of the primer pump (on the outside). It was cracked and brittle, and I picked it off. Could this be allowing air into the system?

THANKS! Oh, and for your gratification, I included a couple pics.

Attached Thumbnails

     

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Verify that all of the glow plugs are working properly, and make sure the fuel filters aren't clogged...

I know the primer pump isn't supposed to leak, but I'm not really sure how much of a a problem that would pose...or if it would even affect the car's starting... :\

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

The fuel filters are brand new (both of them).

Do you know if the glow light would come on if they weren't working? It is the older loop style plugs, I think (it has these wavy solid metal pieces connecting them).

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Replace the primer pump. They're cheap on ebay. Get all or 98% of the air out of the system. Change the air filter. Lubricate all linkages. Replace the glowplugs as you don't know how many miles are actually on the engine. Also dump in some algaeside. Once you get it running, run a can of diesel purge through it and if you can, adjust your valves.

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1987 VW Jetta Mk II - Daily Driver
1992 W201 2.3 - sold
1985 W126 380se - sold
1985 W123 OM617.952 - sold
1981 W123 OM617.912 - sold
1986 W201 2.3 - sold
1979 W123 OM 617.912 - sold

nice rig! I love that baby blue color, I don't see that color around much
Good luck!

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1984 300D

UPDATE!

I got it running... for a bit.

I charged the battery up all the way, and then took out the air filter and ran a fuel line to a gas can full of diesel (with the line all the way on the bottom so no air gets to it). It took some cranking, but I got it started. A cloud of black smoke came out the back. It died after a little bit and then I put the dirty air filter back in.

I got it going again and set the idle knob to what I think is the correct position. It ran for 3-5 minutes just idling, sounding ok, and then it stuttered a little and died again.

Now, when I try to start it, it sounds like it is running almost as long as I keep cranking, but it slows down gradually if I keep going, or if I let off to let it go on it's own, it just stops.

I could see as it was running the first time that there was fuel dripping from the primer pump. When I pump the primer it does not draw anything out of the gas can. Is this a sure indication that the primer pump may be the problem here?

If I can get this car running reliably, it would be great. I spent only $400 on it. Usually, my "schemes" don't pan out. It would be nice if this one did.

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any leaking fuel would let air into the system. I would change the primer pump, get all the air out and I'd bet it would stay running. Algecide and a diesel purge are a good idea . Adjusting the valves, new air filter, oil change , routine maintenance and you'll be cruising in no time.

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'83 240D 264k on 100% biodiesel/ 31mpg
83 300D 217K the $800 gem
'82 300D 267K the new WVO project car finished and driving for free
International tractor B275 on B100
Ford 555 backhoe on B100
Sargent 25 ton Rough Terrain crane on B50

If the air filter was really filthy it sounds like the past owners possibly did nothing in the way of real maintenance. A lot of people also feel a diesel requires no maintenance. They just drive them till they stop or lose most of their power.

The 616 240d and 617 300d require things like at least checking the valve clearances once in awhile. Every 15k was the mercedes recommended interval. . Yet some have not been done for at least a hundred thousand if not more miles in my opinion. The clearances tend to tighten up with time and milage. This can impact the ability to start. I would start out by at least taking a feeler gauge and making sure there is some gap clearance on each valve. This does not mean you have to actually adjust clearances right now unless you find one or more valves with no clearance left. . If this turns out to be the case just adjust those tight ones for now. The approximate clearances are in the archives.

You obviously have to replace the primer pump.

Also trying to jump start one of these cars with a flat battery and a set of booster cables may not get enough current to the starter to initiate combustion. The engine is just not turning fast enough. So charge and check the existing battery. They will test it for free at many places. I still have a couple of 240ds. One is a nineteen seventy nine as well.

His original problem was probably fuel system related. Pay attention to the tank filter and condition of the fuel once you replace the primer pump. A real mess in the tank is possible.

Edit. I read back and see you got it to run for a few minutes. The primer pump is garbage from your description. Also it is quite normal for a diesel to smoke quite a bit after sitting around and loading up. That should clear soon. May as well throw that dirty air filter aside for the moment. You do not need it for testing and if the air filter is obstructed enough can make a diesel smoke as well. The engine just cannot get enough oxygen to burn the fuel cleanly. At least it ran for a few minutes so you have not got a totally worn out engine.

Thanks for your responses guys...

I should mention a couple more things.

The PO just did a valve adjustment, in his attempt to get it to start (he had been trying over the past few weeks). So that's taken care of.

The PO also actually purchased the car and was planning to do something with the engine, but then he lent the car to his sister and she was the one driving it. As you say Barry, I don't think she was paying much attention to the car. I am glad it is back in the hands of someone who will give it the care it needs.

The black smoke actually only occurred right when it first started. Once it was idling, there wasn't any notable smoke, though as you can see in the picture, there is a wall behind it and I didn't look too close for smoke from the exhaust pipe.

I am just glad at this point that I got it started at all - honestly I expected it to take much longer and more work than that to get it going because it seemed like the PO had tried several times.

I have been looking for a 240d with as much manual stuff as possible for a few months now, hunting for a good deal because I'm not able to set aside much money right now (but could use a car). This one has manual windows and I love the way the manual climate control is set up. I am also actually surprised to see that all the electrical stuff works except for the dash lights. The PO was a really nice guy too and towed it to my house from 1hr away and washed it before we left.

After giving up for the night on anything else mechanical, I spent some time cleaning up the interior - the PO really didn't pay much attention to that (this car was originally destined to be dismantled, so I can't blame him). It seems like everything plastic inside the car is coated in this oily dusty coating... so I am working on that - can't wait to get it out on the road!

Oh, PS, when I was cleaning it out I found a harmonica and one of those multi-tool pliers things... I already have a harmonica, but not a multi-tool, and I've always wanted one!

PPS - Primer pumps are cheaper at fastlane than ebay! $16 + $7 shipping charge.

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One question: is the primer pump supposed to squirt fuel out the top when you pump it?

If my pump isn't bad and it is just an o-ring at the bottom, then I will just replace the o-ring, but I don't recall anyone ever saying anything about the pump pushing fuel out the top of it, and I don't think it did on my 300SD when I primed it after changing filters.

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No, that means it is bad. If fuel can get out, air can get in.

I figured as much, but I didn't know if it was different when it was pumping vs. being screwed down when not in use. Thank you sir.

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Get the new style primer pump, I don't know why anybody even sells the old style except for the people who like to keep things original. It nice to just pump the pump instead of twisting and pumping and then push and twist to hold in place, I liked my 240 Euro w 4 speed until the tranny went out, but had been worked on before, so I sold it and got an SDL, no more valve adjusting.

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86 300SDL

Yea, I ordered a new one from fastlane. They only sell the newer type.

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So I got my new primer pump delivered from fastlane today and SHAZAM! It runs, and stays running! Thanks everyone for your advice on what was wrong.

I have two questions about the manual trans.

1. What approximately are the speeds you should shift at? (no tach). It felt like I was revving high in each gear, but not really going that fast. I felt like I should be shifting into 4th at 25MPH already.

2. Is it just me, or is the "sweet spot" for going into 1st from a dead stop very narrow? I have only driven one other stickshift car before (early 90's toyota), but had no trouble getting going from a stop, or shifting through the gears in any way, for that matter.

I stalled the car many times attempting to pull out of my spot in the driveway for the first time. Either it seemed I was revving too high or too low. I have no tach, so I don't know what RPMs I was at. Even when I did get it going, it was always with a lot of bucking. Am I letting out the clutch too fast, or missing the point where it is catching?

Any tips on that? What RPM would the engine typically be at as the clutch is first catching from a dead stop, how much accelerator are you applying? Yes, I am essentially admitting I don't know how to drive stick. I have done it before, but this car confuses me...

Anyway, it was fun to get it out on the road. I am glad no one called the cops on me as I was stalled at the stop sign in front of their house trying to get the car to move . I don't have it registered yet!

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