A week or so ago, I sent out a message about no gasoline flowing to combustion chamber on my 1984 380SE. I had the car carted off to garage. Mechanic rapped on fuel pump while I turned the key, and presto, it started. Problem was fuel pump, which was original equipment. Had pump and filter replaced (about $500), and she now purrs like a kitten. If anyone else has similar problem, you might want to remember giving the fuel pump a rap when turning the key. It can at least help in an emergency situation. Cheers, everybody.

would you please expand more on how to " rap " a fuel pump .
thanks in advance......

Fuel Pump Rap
 

Rudy wondered how to "rap" a fuel pump. The mechanic gave it a couple of sharp raps with his bare hand. Maybe he used knuckles. I suppose one could use a hammer. By the way, I've since been told by another mechanic that the fuel filter could have contributed to the problem. If fuel filter is dirty, pump has to work harder, leading to premature breakdown. So make sure you change fuel filters on schedule. Better a fuel filter than a pump, for sure.

so that's whay they mean " rapping ".....
thanks.....

mjgwmoore,

thanks for the tip.

welcome to mercedeshop, it'll change the way you surf.

Coming back from OH years ago in my 6.3 300 SEL, I stopped to get the kids some ice cream and the car wouldn't start. After a while I realized I couldn't hear the whine of the fuel pump. I tapped the fuel pump with the hammer from the MB tool kit and the fuel pump started to run. Now we all know what the hammer is for in the Mercedes tool kit. I had to do this 2 more times to get home.
I took the fuel pump apart and found it had bad bearings. I had another fuel pump that was electrically bad so I was able to make one good fuel pump out of the two bad pumps.

Cost: about 2 hours labor. Sure beats paying $500.

P E H