Went to start the car last night only to hear the engine crank and crank and crank. Had been starting and running fine, drove it the day before with no problems. My first thought was that I had let the tank get too low, but starting off a can of diesel purge made no difference. Glow plugs and fuel filters are only a year old.

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

Did you crack the fuel lines at the injectors to see that fuel instead of air was present ?

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Is the stop lever stuck down?

Sixto
83 300SD

Tried cracking them, only seeing definite fuel at #4.

Stop lever looks good. Doesn't seem like it wants to go 100% up, but it isn't sticking in the off position.

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

Pull the vacuum hose from the shutoff actuator then try starting.

Sixto
83 300SD

Will have to try tomorrow when my battery is charged. I did bypass the fuel warmer, so maybe that will help. Something in that area has definitely been leaking, as the motor mount is falling apart.

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

Finally got it to start after much cranking and wearing down one of the batteries. Fairly confident it was the fuel warmer leaking, but hard to really say. Gonna trickle charge both batteries and see if it starts again. Hopefully I won't be posting back here too soon.

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

Car didn't want to start again yesterday. Battery died cranking it and I saw fuel bubbling out of the #3 delivery valve. Been meaning to replace the seals since the previous owner ran biodiesel and I knew there might be some problems down the road.

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

Ive got a similar problem with my w201. Besides the obvious. it struggles to start up on cold mornings, but after a few attempts it runs fine.

But last night I had noticed a rough idle when I pulled in late at home, the idle was aggressive shaking at low revs, almost felt like a cylinder wasn't firing. This morning went to start it up and wont turn on. I also noticed my fourth injector line at the pump is very wet (with diesel) but I checked to make sure everything was tightened down. Smoke starts to appear after cranking long, my guess is the hot starter evaporates the diesel that leaks out from the line.

Any suggestions guys would be great.

PS its a 1984 190D 2.2L

Ultimately filling my tank seemed to solve the problem of it outright refusing to start without me nearly draining the battery cranking away. However idle is still very rough at low revs even after (finally) installing my rebuilt injectors with brand new nozzles.

For your situation, I strongly recommend replacing the hard injector line(s) and possibly the glow plugs (ream the chambers when you do this). Does your glow light come on consistently? If it doesn't, two or more plugs are definitely bad.

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

The full Fuel Tank helping the issue could indicate you are having having issues with your Fuel Pressure Relief Valve or your Fuel Supply/Lift Pump.

There is rebuild kits for the Fuel Supply/Lift Pumps and 1 or 2 write ups on the rebuild.
Some of the Fuel Pressure Relief/Overflow Valves have a plastic piece insid that warps or falls apart reducing the valves ability to hold fuel supply pressure inside of the Fuel Injection Pump Housing. The effect is noticed more at idle.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I've been meaning to tackle the lift pump for awhile. Where is the pressure relief valve?

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

The overflow/pressure relief valve is located on the engine side of the IP at the of the clear hardline.

It's just a hollow bolt with a ball and spring that allows the fuel return to the tank when the internal IP pressure is too high.

Engine performance can suffer if the the base fuel pressure is too low (under 1 bar for stock IPs).
Some overflow valves can be rebuilt if the spring has fatigued.

Greazzer sells stronger rebuilt Performance Overflow Valves (or just the springs at this time, IIRC).
I have purchased two of the rebuilt overflow valves and installed them in my cars. They made a noticable difference.

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022