PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - 83 300TD 300d Air Bubbles in fuel lines hand pump? no start

bmitchell510 · #1 12-26-2003, 10:48 PM

After sitting in a snow storm for 2 days my 83 300td will not start. Here are the symptoms \ what I have done....

In the past month my car has acted like it is out of gas when it has had a half tank in it. There have been some bubbles in the return line from the IP.
I have had problems getting it started on two occassions (took about 45 sec to start)
Freeway/hill performance is solid no smoke

Drove the car to grandma's house in Tahoe for x-mas and let it sit for two days in the snow.
The return line from IP is full of air
All the hand pumping in the world will not fill pre filter.
Tried to bleed it out at return line banjo on top of main filter got only air or froth when hand pumping.
Blew compressed air back up metal fuel line into tank to clear screen....still no love.
replaced all rubber fuel hoses between metal line and hand pump.
removed gas cap while cranking
All glow plugs are working
Blah blah blah I could go on I have tried everything and can not get this thing to start. Until I get rid of that air I know things are going to stay the same. There are two obvious culprits and I would love an opinion. Yeah I know replace the POS white hand pump with the new style pump and get back to you. The rubber lines between the tank and the metal lines may be cracked, but wouldn't I see a leak on the ground? Could a leaky hand pump cause the ran out of gas symtom?
This car has consistantly started for me in 5 seconds or less in sub freezing temps on straight veg oil (it is on diesel now and I have made no modifications to the fuel system or at all for that matter). Anything helps, thanks in advance.

Brian
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