I installed a new Cruise Control switch on my 240D, gave it a test run, everything worked great. I ran it home and parked it. Next day it wouldn't start!
The manual pump works ok, pulled fuel filter to check for water in the filter, none present. I refiled the filter with the manual pump.
I removed the I/P tubes to the injectors, turned the engine over a few times, nothing, no fuel. Is this a proper way to check if the I/P is putting out fuel to the cylinders???

Regards,
81 240D,
Hugh

Did you bleed the air out of the system after you pulled the filter? Did you check/change both filters? Just pumping fuel into the prefilter after pulling it may not work. You need to bleed the air out at the banjo fitting on the spin on fuel filter (Haynes Manual has a picture).

Good luck.

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1976 240D
1987 560SL
2007 E320 Bluetec
1998 C280 (now son’s car)
1982 240D Manual - Sold

To check to see that fuel is being delivered, loosen a fitting on an injector and turn over the engine for a few seconds, you should see fuel dribble down the side do the injector.

Most practical bleeding procedure I've used is to pump the hand pump until a hissing sound is heard at the top of the main filter. Then loosen all the fittings at the injector tops. Have an assistant turn it over until you see fuel at an injector or two. Tighten that/those injectors. Turn it over some more until you see fuel dribbling around another injector or two, and so forth. This will bleed the system, if it is getting fuel, with the least use of the battery. I have done this a few times when I was worried about not having enough battery to get it started. It works great for me, although I haven't found this procedure in any book excepting the one for my Ford Diesel tractor.

Good luck,

Larry - I have found that as long as I have fuel coming out of one or two lines I can button everything up and it will crank. It does idle quite rough there for about a minute or so but then it will smooth out like it should.

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Jim

Jim,

Yes, usually two holes firing will get it started, maybe three will be necessary on a five cylinder. I just go ahead and bleed the remaining ones, since I already have them cracked open.

Have a great day,

Thanks all who have answered herewith. I have done all of the above, except I turned it over a few cranks with connectors to injectors one and two removed, I got only a very small amount. I had to look very hard to find it. It may have just driped off of the end of the tube. I tried this with two injectors with the same results. I am perplexed that it ran fine then parked after installing the cruise switch and now won't start. Gosh I have driven diesels for 46 years and have never seen this.
Hope I get more ideas. I will give it one more try regarding the things you all have suggested.
THANKS DIESEL DIE HARDS....
Hugh

Hugh:

If you got air into the IP, it can take quite a while to get out. Hold the throttle wide open when cranking to test, next to nothing is about correct at idle position -- even full throttle won't deliver a lot at cranking speed.

Also, check the suction line from the tank to the lift pump -- this line often goes bad under the fabric cover, and will allow air into the system instead of fuel. Fuel won't leak out, either, it siphons back into the tank if the car is level. Hose will be damp with fuel.

I cannot think of anything else you may have disturbed that would cause you trouble, unless you have the linkage messed up so that you are forcing the rack completely closed and don't know it -- check for proper linkage travel at the IP. If it is stuck at idle, you may have trouble getting it to start from fuel starvation.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I finaly found the problem as to why my 81 240D wasn't starting after installing new cruise switch. Just by chance the "Shutoff Switch" just happened to fail. It ended up in a stuck "ON" position, as result it had the engine in a constant shutoff position resulting in not allowing it to start.
Again Thanks to all who replied!
Hugh