My newly acquired '70 W115 220D ran beautifully yesterday. Went to start it this evening and the salt shaker glowed, it felt like it wanted to start and actually ran for 15 seconds and then died. It went on like this for some time and never stayed running. There's fuel in the tank. This is my first diesel in YEARS so I really don't remember what I should be looking for.
Any help appreciated
Best,
SM Ross

Make sure you have fuel. If the car is new to you, you probably don't know how much if any fuel is in it. Add a little fuel. Keep the battery charged up. You can't start anything with a dead battery. Change the primary fuel filter, the plastic little thing down below the injection pump. When you change it, fuel should kind of fly out while you change it. If it doesn't, you are not getting fuel. But change it and it should have fuel in it immediately, have the battery charged and try to start it. If it still doesn't start, come back and ask for more.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

I'd check the throttle linkages

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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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