Starting issues

[elcaBob]

Hello, everyone.

I've searched the forum and found similar issues, but none exactly like this so...

I have a 77 240D W123 Automatic. When the car is cold in the morning (I mean on a warm spring morning), the car won't crank unless I shoot a touch of starter fluid into the air intake (I know, I know, shouldn't use starter fluid).

Now, when the car has been running for a few minutes, it will crank up just fine. I did some running around yesterday and, after finally getting it started, I made several stops and the car started normally each time. Went back out several hours later? No start. But, again, starting fluid worked.

I did change the primary and secondary fuel filters just before this happened. Could it be air in the fuel lines? I feel like I pumped it up plenty before starting it. If it is air in the lines, how do purge it?

Thank you!
elcaBob