240D Very Hard to Start and won't idle in gear. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tuxkwb · #1 10-03-2004, 12:11 PM

Hello

I am new to this site so please bear with me. I have searched and have not found what I am looking for. I may have just missed it.

Here goes. I have a '79 240d with 150k miles on it. When I got this car I bought it out of Mesa, Arizona. It did not run. I flushed the fuel system and got all the bad fuel out. That is all that was wrong with it running. I have had that same problem with 2 others that I bought also. Anyways I have been driving this car to and from work almost everyday now for about 6 months 40 miles round trip. The problem is that it starts very hard I have ruled out the glow plugs as I have tried all the checks that have been listed on this forum already. I have also replaced the injectors with a set out of a '82 240d that I had that ran good. The problem improved but did not go away.

The temperature outside does not effect the situation and the engine temp does not either. Once the car is started if it dies and I restart it it will start ok if it sits for 5 mon or more lets say then it will be hard to start. I have not played with the timing yet. As going down the road it runs like a new one. It just will not idle in gear. I have to keep my foot on the accelerator to keep it running.

I am thinking it is the IP getting weak but would like some advice on this matter before I proceed.

Thank you

leathermang · #2 10-03-2004, 12:54 PM

Have you set the valves ?
Have you set the fuel timing ? ( drip start )

tuxkwb · #3 10-03-2004, 01:17 PM

Yes I have adjusted the valves and that did not change anything and no I have not done the drip test yet. I have been reluctant to do so as it runs so well at high speeds that I was not sure it that was the problem. But it is on the scope for possiblities I was just wanting more info first.

tuxkwb · #4 10-03-2004, 01:44 PM

Sorry I forgot this in the original post.

When I am cranking the engine it builds up on fuel( I can smell it and it smokes heavy) . Also I have to crank on it for quite awhile ( as I am cranking it the engine will wind up so to speak and then adventually start). If I stop cranking it I will have to start all over. Once it starts it smoke heavily for a few minutes then never smokes again except when I have to idle with my foot on the accelertor.

I have had 3 other 240D's and all have started very quickly. Not like this one.

I am trying to explain this as best as I can.

R Leo · #5 10-03-2004, 01:49 PM

Possible low compression engine? I wouldn't worry about timing yet but definitely check the valve adjustment and make sure it is correct before running it too much further.

leathermang · #6 10-03-2004, 03:06 PM

"I have had that same problem with 2 others that I bought also."

Well, what did you do to fix THEM ? LOL

Why are you drawn to old MB's with THIS problem ? LOL

tuxkwb · #7 10-03-2004, 03:14 PM

I may have miss stated something in the original post.
The other 2 cars with the same problem was not this problem of hard to start it was with the bad fuel and not running when I bought them. I just flushed the system and they ran fine this one just is hard to start.

Diesel4me · #8 10-03-2004, 03:17 PM

I would bet money that if you go ahead and replace those glow plugs you checked with new ones your hard starting problem would go away. I don't have any suggestions for your idle problem because I have never experienced that myself.

soydrivermatt · #9 10-03-2004, 03:51 PM

Had a similar problem on my SD, it turned out to be gunked up fuek tank filter. At higher revs the stronger punping action of the I.P. would pull fuel through the gunk, but at low revs it would keep trying to stall out...

#10 10-03-2004, 04:44 PM

When you flushed the bad fuel out, did you replace both fuel filters (primary and secondary)? My SD would cough out white smoke at idle until I changed them.

tuxkwb · #11 10-03-2004, 04:51 PM

Yes I changed all filters both fuel and air and oil.
I have been driving the car everyday for about 5-6 months now.
It is just really hard to start.

I have noticed that if I crank the car over about 30 seconds then sit for about 1 min. I t will start easier. I am thinking the IP is loosing prime to the injectors but I am not totally sure. I am thinking this because of what I have seen. If I try to start the car it starts to smell like it is flooded then I stop for a minute and wait then try to start it again it starts easier after the fuel in the cyl starts to disipate. But that does not explain the not idling in gear problem.

psfred · #12 10-03-2004, 04:55 PM

Check the timing chain, I'll bet its about 12 degrees too long!

Swap it out, then check the injection timing (which is now also very late, but will be close to correct with the new chain).

I'd also check valve clearances. If any are tight, chances are the valve stems are gunked up and you need to set them fairly loose (0.010" or so) and recheck in week. If they close up, reset again fairly loose and check in a week or so -- when they stop changing, set to spec. This will work the crud off the valve stem and let them close properly.

If you don't have much blowby, and still have problems starting with chain and timing OK, it's probably time for a valve job. If the valves are all tight, they are probably shot by now from neglect.

Peter

whunter · #13 10-03-2004, 10:32 PM

This would indicate a bad starter, if the cranking speed increases.
Danger, severe burn hazard in the following test, use at your own risk = it is totally your responsibility and risk.
Pull the glow plugs, use battery jumper cables to glow them out of the car, one at a time, bright orange at the tip, like an electric stove on highest setting, any other and it is bad.
Any loss of attention, failure to take safety precautions, failure to store hot glow plugs properly or other mistakes will cause human injury or fire damage.
Don't take risks, prepare for the worst possible accident, fire extinguisher, assistant with cell phone to call ambulance, etc...
The tip of these glow plugs reaches 1200+ degrees Fahrenheit ……..

Rick Miley · #14 10-04-2004, 09:26 AM

As for the idling in gear, the 240D has a knob on the dashboard to adjust the idle speed. It is just above and to the left of the steering wheel. Turn it counter-clockwise to raise the idle.

whunter · #15 10-04-2004, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Miley

As for the idling in gear, the 240D has a knob on the dashboard to adjust the idle speed. It is just above and to the left of the steering wheel. Turn it counter-clockwise to raise the idle.

Darn, now the rest of the world knows what that knob does.