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  #1  
Old 01-01-2011, 12:57 PM
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Location: texarkana, texas
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83 240d wont start

Acts like it wants to start but seems to be missing a spark, if you will. replaced the glow plugs because glow plug light was not coming on. there is no fuel in the pre-filter. When I pump the primer still no fuel. someone suggested that I have air in my fuel lines. I and my son have been working on this car (his car) off and on 2 months. We know little to nothing about diesels engines. Will someone help us get this car started?

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  #2  
Old 01-01-2011, 01:30 PM
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Hi chief22

When you use the primer pump you should be able feel and see if it is pulling fuel through the primary filter or not. The primary filter (the little one near to the plunger primer pump) should be clean and clear enough to see the fuel going in. If it isn't doing that then I guess you don't have any fuel in the primary filter and it isn't surprising that the car won't start.

If you've been working on the car make sure you've got the fuel lines connected correctly. The line to the primary filter is the one that comes from the strainer at the bottom of the fuel tank. Mixing the return and supply lines could cause you trouble if the fuel tank is nearly empty - although I've run my car by accident once like that.
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



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  #3  
Old 01-01-2011, 01:32 PM
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If you have no fuel in the prefilter, the chances are you either have no fuel in the tank or the fuel line is plugged with foreign material. I would disconnect the fuel line feeding the in-line prefilter and see if Diesel runs out. It is a gravity feed system to that point and if no fuel flows, you have discovered your problem is with either an empty tank or a plugged line. In most cases the plugged line is due to debris or algae growing in the tank covering the strainer in the tank. If there is no fuel in the tank, you should also look for leaks in the fuel lines. Almost no one leaves a Diesel with zero fuel in the tank as that requires some extra work to do - the stuff does not evaporate easily so you typically have to drain the tank. If you did that you would recall. So, no fuel to the prefilter means you buy a gallon or so at the local station in a tank and pour it in. If it still does not make it to the prefilter the strainer/line is likely clogged and you have to remove the strainer to find out. That gallon will come out at that point.

Good luck, and keep us informed about how things are going.

Jim
__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)
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  #4  
Old 01-01-2011, 01:42 PM
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Location: texarkana, texas
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83 240 d

it does have fuel, but to be safe we added another 5 gals. no fuel comes out of the fuel line after we disconnected it from the pre-filter. where is the strainer locater that you mentioned?
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  #5  
Old 01-01-2011, 01:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief22 View Post
it does have fuel, but to be safe we added another 5 gals. no fuel comes out of the fuel line after we disconnected it from the pre-filter. where is the strainer locater that you mentioned?
On a saloon car crawl right under the back - just behind the rear wheels - kind of to the right hand side of the differential and a bit behind it.

EDIT:-

On this forum right hand side = the right hand side as though you are sitting in the car looking out the front
__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Last edited by Stretch; 01-01-2011 at 01:46 PM. Reason: Making it clearer
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  #6  
Old 01-01-2011, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: texarkana, texas
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strainer

I did as you said and saw a silver looking filter type contraption with a hose connected to it. Could this be the strainer? And if so do I simply take off the hose and the strainer comes off?
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  #7  
Old 01-01-2011, 02:13 PM
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If there is 5 gallons of Diesel in the tank, that's coming out too. You have to make provisions for collecting the old fuel. The fuel line comes from the strainer around the back of the tank to the driver's side (US) and then hugs the floor pan and goes up over the suspension.

Do a search on "fuel strainer" or "cleaning the fuel strainer" as this is a pretty frequent topic. The tank may have algae in it, as some kinds live on Diesel fuel, so if the car has been sitting for ages it is likely in need of a tank cleaning. Or an algae killing shock. Do a search on "biocides" or "algae" and you should get some idea of where to buy the stuff and how to use it. Typically you go through a lot of prefilters. Or you get the tank cleaned. I recommend the tank cleaning route.

Jim
__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)
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  #8  
Old 01-01-2011, 02:45 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
If there's a fuel filter in the line at the back near the tank, that is not original. Somebody must have added it. If it is a filter, that could easily be the source of your problem. You could clamp the fuel line on the upstream side nearer the tank and remove that filter and see if it is plugged. Then replace it with a new one or remove it.
You could also get the car started by filling a bottle with diesel fuel and running it directly to the pre-filter under the hood, bypassing the tank system entirely. If it starts that way, it confirms you have a fuel delivery problem upstream from the engine compartment.
Is your glow plug light working now?
Your engine will always lack a spark, that's the advantage of diesels.

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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
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