Non Starting 240D. Thoughts? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 12-15-2014, 08:41 PM

There's a car for sale locally that according to the owner ran ok for about a year until he let it sit for six months. Thereafter it had an increasingly difficult time staring and now will not start at all.

On the face of it I'm assuming it's compression is shot and it' needs a new motor. But just wondering if it could be a question of contamination in the fuel etc. Any ideas?

- Peter.

leathermang · #2 12-15-2014, 09:56 PM

Could just need a valve adjustment......
and a new filter filled with Diesel Purge...

and 3 seconds of starter fluid sprayed into the intake tube WHILE cranking....
that will point to fuel problems if that gets it to start...

and we are assuming a good battery....and glow plugs working...

gastropodus · #3 12-15-2014, 11:26 PM

I seem to recall reading on the forum that standard starter fluid spray (of the type typically used in gasoline engines) is not very gentle when used on our diesel engines. I think that WD-40 is recommended as an alternative? Others will chime in, I'm sure.

Kurt

leathermang · #4 12-15-2014, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gastropodus

I seem to recall reading on the forum that standard starter fluid spray (of the type typically used in gasoline engines) is not very gentle when used on our diesel engines. I think that WD-40 is recommended as an alternative? Others will chime in, I'm sure.

Kurt

Will this myth never go away ?
Check out what WHunter says about it....

gastropodus · #5 12-16-2014, 01:01 AM

I think that this thread:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/85676-ether-use-abuse-*flame-suit-*.html

is the one where the issue of starting fluid is fully aired. I'm sorry I brought it up, as there are evidently strong opinions on this topic.

Kurt

Diesel911 · #6 12-16-2014, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gastropodus

I seem to recall reading on the forum that standard starter fluid spray (of the type typically used in gasoline engines) is not very gentle when used on our diesel engines. I think that WD-40 is recommended as an alternative? Others will chime in, I'm sure.

Kurt

If someone simply must use Starter Fluid the recommendation is to disconnect the the Glow Plugs by pulling the Electrical Connector/Plug at the Relay to prevent pre-ignition.

Where Worked when My Boss used Starter Fluid He would have someone else start Cranking while he did the spraying and that made it easy to use only the minimum amount needed to start.

Stretch · #7 12-16-2014, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

There's a car for sale locally that according to the owner ran ok for about a year until he let it sit for six months. Thereafter it had an increasingly difficult time staring and now will not start at all.

On the face of it I'm assuming it's compression is shot and it' needs a new motor. But just wondering if it could be a question of contamination in the fuel etc. Any ideas?

- Peter.

It could be many things but like you say I'd consider fuel contamination.

Is this another possible purchase?

sloride · #8 12-16-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

It could be many things but like you say I'd consider fuel contamination.

Is this another possible purchase?

Or maybe no fuel in the tank. Cleaned my non working sender three years ago and has been working fine. two weeks ago I put in >18/gal showing that I had over a quarter tank. Search temporary tank for diesel to help rule out fuel issue.

Phillytwotank · #9 12-16-2014, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloride

Or maybe no fuel in the tank.

One should start by pumping the primer with the outlet disconnected to verify fuel flow and cracking the injector hard lines before the initial cranking attempts. Kill multiple diagnostic birds with one stone.

If there is high pressure fuel reaching the injectors, any kind of supplementary fuel in the intake will most likely not be needed.

leathermang · #10 12-16-2014, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phillytwotank

...... Kill multiple diagnostic birds with one stone. ......

I highly suggest NOT doing that.... you have mixed sterile birds in with your breeding stock and have no way to know which is performing their jobs after that....

pj67coll · #11 12-17-2014, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Is this another possible purchase?

An extreme outside possibility. But yes. Maybe. perhaps...

- Peter.

Stretch · #12 12-17-2014, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

An extreme outside possibility. But yes. Maybe. perhaps...

- Peter.

Peter,

I encourage you to buy it and give it a go. Try and fix it yourself. You've been sorry for such a long time that you sold your 240D after realising that the problems could have been easily fixed.

Things don't get much more simple than a 240D.

This might be a dreadful mistake - this might not be the car for you - but if you don't jump in there with both feet and and try to get something for a cheap price you'll never know.

pj67coll · #13 12-17-2014, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Peter,

I encourage you to buy it and give it a go. Try and fix it yourself. You've been sorry for such a long time that you sold your 240D after realising that the problems could have been easily fixed.

Things don't get much more simple than a 240D.

This might be a dreadful mistake - this might not be the car for you - but if you don't jump in there with both feet and and try to get something for a cheap price you'll never know.

Those are pretty much my thoughts at present. I won't have time to check it out before we leave town for the holidays. But if it's still there when I return in the new year I may well investigate.

Problem is my financial situation. I just don't have money to throw at a major problem. If it were any other car than a 123 there's no way in hell I'd even be considering looking at a non runner. But desperate times etc...

I'm a bit stunned at the amount of traffic this thread has engendered. Gratified too. I appreciate the comments folks have made. This is a great forum.

- Peter.

vstech · #14 12-17-2014, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Those are pretty much my thoughts at present. I won't have time to check it out before we leave town for the holidays. But if it's still there when I return in the new year I may well investigate.

Problem is my financial situation. I just don't have money to throw at a major problem. If it were any other car than a 123 there's no way in hell I'd even be considering looking at a non runner. But desperate times etc...

I'm a bit stunned at the amount of traffic this thread has engendered. Gratified too. I appreciate the comments folks have made. This is a great forum.

- Peter.

I lived in your area for a year... the one thing you certainly have going for you is the total and complete lack of any rust on anything...

I mean BARE metal can sit out for decades and not get more than a light sheen of oxidation in AZ... it's crazy. paint and interiors suffer massive sunlight degredation, and perfect top of the line a/c in these cars is a pitiful joke in the 135F temps out there... but at least you don't have the massive humidity too...

Phillytwotank · #15 12-16-2014, 10:34 AM

I'm trying to reason why NOT...

we are assuming a good battery....and glow plugs working... and strong enough starter
Right?

No birds nest in the intake... Check
Fuel making it from the tank to the lift pump and lift pump flowing...Check
Filters not completely clogged and IP not gummed up with chicken skin...pumping fuel into the hard lines...Check

That Diesel is gonna start!

unless all five injectors are completely F'ed... also assuming that the fuel has been deemed fresh enough or temp tank has been installed.