Help and Hello :-)

[Duelten]

First post here...this site looks pretty cool.

If this has been covered before...please accept my appologies...I'm in a pickle.

My 1981 300SD worked fine in the morning...then in the afternoon....on the way to pick kids up from school....it slowly lost power, like it was starving for fuel. Had to depress the pedal farther and farther....

Then it died. Managed to start and get to curb. Now it won't start..(towed it home) and I think it sounds like a fuel pump problem...but I'm no mechanic and diesels I'm totally a noob.

I did replace a little clear filter and another that looks like a small oil filter...no help.

I bought a chilton manual, but the information is schetchy at best...I tried to find the fuel pump underneath the car where the book suggested, but alas...I don't see it.

Can any one help with the location of it? Troubleshooting tips?

Can I get the pump off the car easily? Is it likely the problem?

The car has over 200,000 miles on it so perhaps its time for an new pump.

Appreciate any help.