Well after a week of sitting on ramps my 300TD won't start anymore. The engine cranks but it won't start. The started motor seems fine and I've primed the fuel with the hand pump. I've searched this forum but the glow plugs don't seem to be the issue, worked fine a week ago.

What year 300td? When were your valves adjusted last? When were the glow plugs last replaced? Are they getting voltage? Is it cranking fast enough?

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Its a California 1985. I adjusted the valves no more than 3,000 miles ago. The glow plugs were replaced about a year ago with pencil types. I checked the glow plugs and they are getting voltage.

Searching for other post lead me to this video Trying to start a Mercedes W115 200D after 12 years. Failed - YouTube. My engine sounds exactly like this 200d but wont start.

Ramps under front or back wheels? How full is the fuel tank? The TD fuel tank is much lower than the sedan and requires a better functioning lift pump to get the fuel to the engine. It's also much easier to move the fuel away from the outlet by tilting the tank.

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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

Have you installed the newer black primer pump or is it the twist and pump? Could also be dirty filters.

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I'm dying_immortal's brother and we've been working on this car trying to get it started. It has the new black fuel primer pump. The car ran great up until a week ago when we did some regular maintenance, replaced the alternator, and installed a refurbished turbo. The car sat on ramps (front wheels) for the week while we did all of this work.

The car never had any issues with starting before regardless of outside temperature. The car will crank but will not turn on and there's barely a wisp of white exhaust.

It may be the lift pump. Crack the injector hard lines and crank the engine over. If you get fuel coming out its not the lift pump, there may be a air leak in the system then...and sitting on ramps caused the fuel to be sent back to the tank and thus replaced with air...

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Crack the injector lines at the injectors and see if you are getting fuel.

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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

Thanks everyone, I will check first chance I get.

well, my first thought is, what did you check on the glow plugs besides weather or not it is getting voltage? because that only tells you if the fuse is good, and the relay is working... it does not tell you if the plugs are working.
amp draw is needed to know if the plugs are pulling power. a resistance check can tell you if they are operating in acceptable range. even in LA temps, glow plugs are important to starting in the morning.

the 617 MW style pump is not prone to leaking, but it's possible with extended high angle and a leaking fuel line the IP got filled with air. hand priming to fill the system with fuel, then injector line bleeding, should get your car running if the Glow plugs are tested properly, and working.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Okay everyone, I fixed it. I cracked the injector lines and pumped the primer pump till fuel came out. It took a lot of pumping but it works now. Thanks everyone for your help.

I have found that even when doing routine filter changes, I have to prime and then crank much longer to get fuel up to the injectors on my '85 (fed) than on any other Mercedes diesel I have owned.

When I started looking around at old posts, I found that many other people seem to have the no-fueling issue with '85 OM617s after doing anything related to the fuel system. In your case it doesn't even seem you did fuel system work.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22