I changed the large fuel filter in my 240D and the car is NOT STARTING (ran down a battery trying, car just coughs a bit and laughs at me). I need to get it moved tomorrow before 7 am for street sweeping.

What should I do other than kicking walls, throwing tools, and swearing at the top of my lungs? Primer pump appears to be leaking a bit when I pump it, so I'm not sure if it's priming the system. After the alternator issues (fixed by replacing alt) this week, I'm ready to take a 5# sledgehammer and make my car resemble a golf ball.

See post #7…
Primer Pump

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83 SD

84 CD

Just a question for good measure, are you getting all the air bubbles out of the lines when you prime the system? It's probably safe to assume you've done this before, but you never know...

I would think that if the lift pump valves were shot you also would have a hard time getting fuel up into the new filter with the primer pump.

It's possible to bleed the fuel system without the primer pump working. I used to have to do it on Humvee's all the time, since they don't have a primer pump. If you haven't already, fill the filter with diesel or transmission fluid and put it back on. Then crack all the nuts at the fuel injectors. Crank in 20 to 30 second increments, allowing the starter to cool in between. After a while you'll start getting fuel dribbling out at the injector nuts. Once you're getting good fuel flow at a given injector, tighten that nut down. Humvees would usually start on 4 or 5 out of 8. Once you get it started, tighten down the remaining injector nuts (shutting down to do this is optional IMO) and you should be good to go.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

On my 6.5L I fill up the fuel manager will fuel or prime by stabbing the lift pump relay. on my 93 300D just filling up the filter was enough

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1993 MB 300D 245K died.

Your 93 300D Fuel Pressure Relief/Overflow Valve is not the same as the one on the 240D and theo one you have is designed to bleed to Air out of the Fuel Injection pump Housing better.

But, filing the Filter with Fuel often works on the Older Cars but even if I fill the Filter I like to use the Hand Primer to be sure.

The 240D just has a Ball Bearing and Spring in it. See the Pic for what the newer Fuel Pressure Relief/Overflow Valve may look like insidie.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

As the other menber mentioned about the Humvee.

When Air gets trapped between the Fuel Injection Pump and the Injectors inside of the Fuel Injection hard Lines that Air compresses inside of the Lines and dose not move much during Starter Cranking and can Kill the Batter and stress the Starter Motor.

Loosening the Fuel Injection Hard Line Nuts at the Injectors and then cranking on the Starter allows the trapped Air a way to easily escape.

Also the Air Trapping issue can happen to even the Newer Mercedes Diesels if you are diving and run out of Fuel (excluding the Common Rail Fuel System).

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

First time fuel filter changer? Sounds like it. The primer pump leaks fuel when pumping - that's normal. May need to tow the car off the street.

We need to be clear on what you did.

Did you fill up the fuel filter with diesel or ATF before putting it back on?

If not, then did you leave the spin-on filter loose a little bit, so you could see when fuel pumped up into it when you used the primer pump?

When you say the primer pump is leaking - do you mean fuel is coming out of it?

Really? Please explain. I have been driving these cars since 1997 and that is news to me.

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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

Yep, filled up filter -- guess I didn't put enough in it for the system to prime. Primer pump was leaking a bit of diesel when I tried to work it. Not sure if it was actually priming or just leaking diesel out when I primed it. Anyway, 2nd time the charm, car started with a bit more cranking after fully charging the battery.

Umm, I just did. They leak when pumping them. I've been driving them since 1969.

You didn't crack the banjo bolt when pumping the pump, is what it sounds like. That, and the filter wasn't backfilled to full. -That's where the cracked banjo bolt verifies the main filter is full, and primed. The hissing from priming on the left bank of the engine, is also an indication that the system is filled - and you're ready to crank. At no time, should a battery wear down cranking after fuel filter(s) change-out. That's a sign the engine is being starved of fuel, and you need to retrace your steps. Yes, the primer pump leaking is normal. After the system is closed up, no more leaks. -Thankfully, all pretty simple procedures - incl the alternator change-outs on those aged diesels. Easy cars to work on.

My 1968 220d with the old style primer pump (probably original) does not leak when pumping (or otherwise).

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

Only when they are broken. None of mine leak.

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1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

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Congratulations on driving Mercedes diesels with defective primer pumps since 1969 then.

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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