My brother drove the car (83 300sd) completely out of gas.

I put couple gallons in it, and tried to start it, pushed the gass pedeal couple times, to get some gass the the fuel lines, and at first it sounded like it was trying to start, but the more times i tried (15-20 times) you can barely hear the car, and towards the end a *clicking* sound was coming behind my cd player.

WE even tried to jump start it, and it didnt do anything.

Can anybody tell me whats wrong??

The battery might be dead, but i dont know if thats solely the problem.

And i assume that it might be the starter, cuz i did hold it over for almost 7 seconds in the begging tring to start it.

I could be wrong, but I've heard many times over the years if you completely empty the fuel tank of a diesel, you have to "bleed" the air out before it will run again.

How do you do that?

You will need to prime the fuel system using the hand pump. It won't prime itself without a LOT of cranking.

Best Regards,
Jim

Ouch, be careful you don't crank your starter too much, it will become very unhappy.

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(2) 1988 300 SEL W126

There appears to be a discrepancy (sp) with your fuel type and the nomenclature of your Mercedes Benz 300Sd. The 300Sd runs on and burns DIESEL FUEL.
If indeed your cousin has introduced GASOLINE into an almost empty DIESEL fuel tank, perhaps even EXASCERBATED by the fact of pressing the GAS pedal....almost starting.........You now have air in the fuel line....GASOLINE????.......and a DEAD BATTERY/ charging system.
The GASOLINE will NOT kill your DIESEL Mercedes Benz 300Sd. However, straight GASOLINE will not be GOOD. IF NO GASOLINE was introduced into the 300Sd,,,,,EVEN BETTER !!!!
Either RECHARGE the battery (assuming that it will hold a quality charge...) and do so.......Otherwise, JUMP STARTING the 300Sd DIESEL can often SUCK THE LIFE out of a "normal, late model gasoline" powered vehicle........Especially compounded by the "dead" battery.
A Diesel Mercedes Benz engine has tremendous compression (if healthy), which requires substantionally MORE POWER to "turn over".....A DIESEL (even NOT a Merceced Benz) engine becomes more of a "challenge" in very COLD weather. This places more of a burdon upon the starting ELECTRICAL system, as a battery will LOSE up to 60% of its RESERVE power from said COLD.
Now where were we .......
IF ther is a large amount of GASOLINE in the tank, PERHAPS you would be better off DRAINING it out.....If only a couple of gallons.....PERHAPS the remaining space in the DIESEL fuel tank should be filled with at laest 1/2 full with fresh quailty DIESEL fuel and possibly even some sort of ADDITIVE.
Ther remaining air in the fuel system will either have been replaced with GASOLINE or even DIESEL fuel........Try unscrewing the large nut holding the meatl canister fuel (DIESEL) filter for the BLEEDING PROCESS>>>
The air in the fuel lines needs to be REMOVED with pressure applied via a VERY STRONG CHARGING SYSTEM AND EVEN COMBINED WITH CHARGING SYSTEM OF ANOTHER jump vehicle...(preferably another diesel)...
The MANUAL HAND PUMP is located down near the small pre-filter for the fuel....Please read up further via the SEARCH BUTTON for SUBSTANTIAL and EFFECTIVE information concerning these and even MANY other similar bits of information concerning our "BELOVED" Mercedes Benz DIESEL automobiles (and even TRUCKS ).....
There is a NEWER style hand pump which many others say is preferable.....Anyway you want your's to NOT LEAK........PUMP till the cows come home unitl fuel "BLEEDS" from the loosened aforementioned BOLT atop the METAL FUEL FILTER.......Lock that baby down tight.
Prepare for the starting procedure.......We will not go into that aspect, as not being within the "DIESEL DISCUSSION" section of this SUPERB website.
Lets keep those diesels firing!
Good luck, best wishes always,
spo out
p.s. Let us here on the site know the outcome...Thanx

On the side of the injection pump there is a white knob about an inch in diameter. Unscrew the knob to release it from the pump body. Pull out the knob and push it back in to prime the injection pump. You have to go through quite a few strokes. At some point fuel will leak out to tell you it's gotten to the injection pump.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Alright thanks guys, ive fixed my problem, i need to get a new battery and it worked.

Thanks for all your inputs, it really helped me out.

Just so you know next time ...

... on a fuel injected vehicle "pushed the gass pedeal couple times, to get some gass the the fuel lines" does nothing at all.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles