1984 300SD.

3000 miles ago change all filters, diesel purged.

200 miles ago suspecting a bad tank of fuel (the one before the current tank) ran 2 cans of purge, replaced inline filter (old one was clear)

i always had some trouble that re-occurs:

re-occuring problem

1. now yesterday as i pulled up in my GF apartment driveway, it is a slight slope up hill my car RPM pulled down to ~800RPM. the car came to a complete stop. the engine was shaking. i had the pedal to the metal but the engine remain at the same revolution.

2. stalled, restart (no problem restarting). as soon as i take my foot off it stalled again. did this for about 2 minutes. then suddenly the engine was reving again and i made it up the hill.

3. this morning pulled up to a stop light same problem. had to put on my hazard light and restart about 3 times. the next stop light i finally got the power to go.

now i know this is a real problem i suspect it has to do with the fuel system. i do not notice any leaks under the hood.

1. everytime i open the gas cap i can hear a fizz. either air escaping the tank or entering. i have done some searches on a "vent line" in the tank. can somebody tell me how to locate this. and do i clean it out or replace it? how do i clean it?

2.the screw out fuel strainer. i have notice people say you can blow compressed air through. btu wouldn't this just blow the stuff into the tank? then wouldn't it be plugged again if this is the problem. i still have a full tank of gas. so i can't do this yet. but if this is plugged wouldn't the problem occur all the time?

3.other than these 2 what else should i look into?

i am really scared to stop my car at a stop light now. and this is my main way of transportation. any help would be appreciated. and i'll be your very best friend

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198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05

i notice one of the plastice lines (the one that runs up to the fuel filter (secondary)) has some air in it while i am idling.

when you prime it is there suppose to be diesel gushing out when you pump it ordoes this mean the seal is bad?

could air be getting in throughthis way?

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198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05

from what I've seen, my primary fuel filter usually has a small bubble in it- not a problem there (i'm new at this though)
but I have heard, often, that if the hand pump leaks fuel, then it should be replaced ($15 or so via rusty...) as you are correct- it will leak air into the fuel and make the engine run funny.

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

ned2683,

The tank vent on the W123, and probably the W126 cars but since I never explored mine for this feature I cannot say for sure, is a set of hard plastic tubes that go to a vessel or container in the trunk. This vessel is mounted on the passenger side of the trunk, behind the plastic liner on the fender. The vent then has a line that comes out and goes to a hole in the rear of the fender, usually behind the bumper trim or fairing piece just forward of the rear corner.

Hope this helps, and good luck. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

I had a similiar problem with hills. For me it turned out to be a problem in the throttle linkage (rubber part was breaking apart). Not sure how to post a link to it, but it's called something like Fuel Filter Frequency, and it was in the last week. I also suspect the fuel filters at first (which is more common). Anyway, jsut one more thing to check.

Good luck!

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Natalie

i wrapped my primer pump with some piping tape. and i haven't had the problem yet. so i am guessing the primer pump was leaking air into the hoses. thanks for all the help guys.

__________________
198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05