PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - 1999 E300 Turbodiesel won't start all of a sudden.

slowmoe · #2 03-20-2004, 07:12 PM

dtf,

There are several reasons why your car won't start.

1) Battery low on charge
2) Bad fuel - water, gas, gelled etc...
3) Low fuel
4) Air in the fuel
5) Fuel filters old and clogged or wrong kind
6) Glow plugs are bad
7) Glow plug relay is bad
8) Control module for fuel injection bad
9) Control module deactivated because of false "unauthorized start"

First, do you have any "check..." messages on the dash? these would likely give you a good place to start - if you can have the code read. AutoZones do this for free. MB charges $70.

Secondly, are the lights on your rear view mirror flashing alternately red and green? If so, this is a false "unauthorized start"

If there are no messages, I would start with the easiest/least expensive things first.

1) While the car is running look at the clear plastic fuel lines going into and out of the fuel filter assembly. If you can see any bubbles of air at all, the fuel lines and o-rings need to be replaced.

2)Have the battery checked - most Pepboys, AutoZones etc... will do this free.

3) Replace the fuel filters and add a fresh tank of diesel from a station with lots of diesel traffic - old diesel fuel is bad.

4) Pull off the intake manifold and check for current to the glow plugs - if no current then the GP relay, or fuel injection module is bad. If there is current then replace your GPs.

That is about it. If you have air, compression, charge, warm cylinders and fuel - less any electrical insanities - your diesel will start.

Please keep us updated as we are still in the process of learning about these cars on this board. Thanks