I have a 76 240D (w115.117?) I bought from a person who apparently had no idea what he was doing when working on the car. There are multiple botch jobs all over the place on the car.

Because this is my first Mercedes and my first diesel, I am relying heavily on forums such as this one for info.

Here's the major issue: The car had a cheap aftermarket fuel pump mounted in line between the canister filter and the IP. The pump did not appear to be doing anything so I removed it and the car continued to run. I pitched the pump and drove the car down the street and back. Did the same the next day (after trash pick up) and then let the car run in the driveway.

I found out the hard way that the filter canister holds about 25 minutes worth of fuel. Now if I don't pour fuel into to canister, I can't get the car started. Any ideas?

I'm not afraid to rebuild the IP if need be, just can't seem to find a kit to do so.

Welcome. You will get alot more answers in the diesel forum so ask the moderator to move your thread.

The IP is the very last thing in a long series of much more probable causes. Bad fuel lines, bad filters, bad in tank strainer are but 3.

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

thanks, TnBob. Where should it be moved to? Also, I read somewhere to run a temporary fuel line into a can of fuel to rule out tank issues. Any thoughts? Also, I have never fooled with the hand pump because it seems to be seized. Maybe that's another possible problem.

Yeah man.. Try a mini tank(supply and return). Tie it down well so you can drive with it.

Unscrew the hand pump before you can pump it.

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

The fuel-filter canister will run out of fuel much more quickly than 25 minutes.

The IP pumps the diesel into the engine. Screwed on the side of the IP (and driven by the IP's camshaft) is the lift pump. The lift pump works by means of a piston and valves in the supply and pump line. The fuel supply needs to be working: the pre-filter and tank screen must not be plugged (if your 240D is a W115, it will probably not have a tank screen, but the fuel line could be plugged).

Another common failure point is the hand pump. The old screw-down type can leak air into the fuel system, which lowers the fuel pressure. The result is that the engine stalls. There is a new style hand pump available.

The valves can fail too, they can be replaced.