I have a 84 Mercedes 500SL, euro, that is getting fuel to the fuel distributor but no farther. Is the fuel distributor gear driven? I would like to talk to a knowledgable person 1 on 1 if possible. This engine will start and idle if I dribble gas into the intake.

I had this happen once on a different car. The plunger (the thing in the center) was stuck. I managed to get it out...found that just a smidgeon of rust had formed on an otherwise smooth pin. Polished it off, stuck it back in, moved it around to make sure it no longer stuck, and voila .. it ran again.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

When the plunger was stuck, did this also cauase the air metering valve (metal flap) to not move? I thought the movement of each was interlocked? If so, then it would be easy to see thats the problem.

In this case the plunger stayed inside the case that it is in.
The flap is more or less on one end of a teeter-totter - the other end makes contact with the plunger. The more airflow, the more the plate/flap lifts up and allows the plunger to slide down (since that end is now lower), which inturn allows more fuel to pass.

One thing I did notice....Before I fixed it, the plate/flap, would drop back down (after lifting it) with no resistance at all. After, its return seemed just a wee bit slower.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D