Diesels are very reliable normally.

If the compression is up to snuff
If the glow plugs are heating up
If the injector pump is pumping

unless the injection timing has been badly screwed up--it WILL start.

Is it possible your fuel cut-off is remaining closed, not allowing fuel delivery?

Take some of the lines loose at the injectors amd make sure it IS delivering fuel.

Yeah, I know quite a bit about diesel engines. I own a construction company. Those diesels are a little less complicated then a these.

I hear the pump prime

The plugs are good

No air in lines

New filter

The first turn it always almost starts, then the rest of thime it just turns over.
No smoke or smell of burned diesel at all.

I'll try heating the block and filter again, thats the only thing I have not tried again.

Have you checked for OBDII codes with a codereader?

__________________
2005 Pathfinder LE
2001 E55
1998 M3
1982 320i

No but that's next. I did get her started with a tiny bit of ether. Didn't want to do it but it worked. Seems to be runnign well now.

I do notice some air in the clear fule lines near the filter. Only the one coming from the back side of the filter and the long one going to the bottom of the pump seem to have air. The rest are fine. Return lines maybe?

The OM606 engines do have fuel line problems!

ON that engine the fuel pump must PULL fuel from the tank into the filter & then finally to the pump. Any leak in that part of the system will make the engine very hard to start.....You won't have a fuel leak

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I would suspect the O-ring at the top of prefilter as the air leaker.

Thanks for the info fellas.

I am going to check the pre filter o-ring. although that is one of the lines that does not have air bubbles in it. Your saying there entering after the pre- filter I assume.

Doc,

Should I replace all the clear fuel lines? It has been starting normally since yesterday. Car has 80,000 on it.