During a normal first start of the day, I guess you could call it "cold" start but its 88 deg outside. The normal glow cycle and turn the key, car starts runs for 5 sec and then stops. Re glow and it starts, runs rough enough that I can hear the air filter vibrating on the side of the valve cover. It drives fine, no apparent power loss and seems to be fine for subsequent starts throughout the rest of the day. What should I be looking for to fix the problem?

New fuel filters installed a week ago, valves adjusted a month ago and no strange noises while started or driving. Except the new weird fan groaning noise under the dash since I took out the blower fan and cleaned it and lubed the bushings (still have half of the brushes left and its a Siemens).

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1980 300TD, SOLD
1984 300TD, 275K
1999 C230 K Black & Tan
2013 C250 Black
1974 CJ5 Red
You might faint from the fight, but you're gonna find it. Every challenge could have paradise behind it. -John Popper-

Could be you have a small Air Leak or the Valves inside of the Fuel Supply/Lift Pump are not sealing well and allowing some your Fuel Supply Pump to lose its prime.

Before you attempt to start get on the Hand Primer and pump about 25 times. See if you feel any differenced during the pumping or if the Hand Primer is leaking.

If it starts and runs OK after the use of the Hand Primer you have narrowed down the possible causes of your trouble.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Okay, I will start with that. It just started happening out of the blue and if I add a little throttle it works past it.

I'll give it a shot in the morning and see if that is the right direction. Thank you.

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1980 300TD, SOLD
1984 300TD, 275K
1999 C230 K Black & Tan
2013 C250 Black
1974 CJ5 Red
You might faint from the fight, but you're gonna find it. Every challenge could have paradise behind it. -John Popper-

I went out an pumped the primer about 15-20 times and the car cranked right up! Then I went back this morning and it cranked up without priming it. Hmmm. Its a high mileage car, and it smokes some at higher rpms (black). Does this have anything to do with the difficult start if I don't use the primer pump?

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1980 300TD, SOLD
1984 300TD, 275K
1999 C230 K Black & Tan
2013 C250 Black
1974 CJ5 Red
You might faint from the fight, but you're gonna find it. Every challenge could have paradise behind it. -John Popper-

Time will tell you on that one.

Do you have the Old Style Hand Primer with the shiny Aluminum Body?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

No, I have the black push button type and it seems to work properly. Oh, and to answer you previous suggestion, the primer pump did not feel as if it was building pressure, it was constant.

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1980 300TD, SOLD
1984 300TD, 275K
1999 C230 K Black & Tan
2013 C250 Black
1974 CJ5 Red
You might faint from the fight, but you're gonna find it. Every challenge could have paradise behind it. -John Popper-