Something strange has been going on with my '81 300TD.
This car is known for it's reliable and flawless operation over the last 20,000+ miles.
Last week at work the car would not start, it was the first really cold evening of the fall, about 32. I had a friend come over and jump it, and after quite a while we got the benz running. I drove home about 2 miles and noticed no problems. The next morning the car would crank, but wouldn't catch.
I checked the plugs, and replace three of them. I replaced both fuel filters, i primed the system, still wouldn't start. I bought a 1.5 amp trickle charger and have that on at all times.
A friend (the PO) suggested that i crack the injector lines and check to see that fuel would come out, it did. i adjusted the valves today, still won't start.

i've been running biodiesel for about three or four tankfuls, but about 30 miles before this problem began, i bought about 4 gals diesel from a busy shell station. the car had been quite close to empty at the time.

I'm getting at a loss for ideas. The battery reads about 12.7V at rest and about 11.6 or so when cranking.

:wtf:

1984 300d Turbo
Use A 6-10 Amp Charger And Check The Alterator Out 14 Volt +
May Need New Alternator Regulator $23.00 Diy 2 Screws On Back
Of Alt. And Use Tie Wrap To Hold Brushes In To Install

Biodiesel (I think) is like a solvent. When you first start to use it in old tanks and old lines...it is supposed to loosen up all that old gunk and stuff from the tank and lines, and send it into the filters, where it clogs them up pretty good. I think I read that you need to really stay on top of your filters for the first several tanks of biodiesel. Also...if your fuel lines are old...biodiesel can also eat them up and cause leaks. hope this helps

__________________
1990 300TE....all comments are about this car...in case I forget in the actual post

first off, make sure your bled well. might need to bleed the inj lines
at the inj while cranking. this is part of yer problem. now your problem
might be done as you did the glow plugs and the filters at the same time.
one thing that is forgotten is the fuel pressure in the fuel pump side.
the spring in the check valve controls this and gets weak. take it out and stretch it to about 22mm or so.
also forgotten is that the engine should spin purty good. if it struggling
then you need to check yer power and ground circuits. if ok then yer
starter just might be old and needing replacement. if draw is near 400 amps then its replacement time. fast engine rotation is a must during
cold starting times. needs to spin like it means it.

george