Hard Start - Confused?
 

1983 300SD - Every other morning Iam having a problem starting the car. Every morning the car starts right away but every 2 or 3 days it dies after 5 -10 seconds. I have to pop the hood and use the hand pump to get the fuel going. The car starts and runs well for the rest of the day no matter how many times I shut it off and start it up. What could be causing this intermittant problem. It seem to be related with the amount of fuel getting to the engine. Any suggestions?

Just for the hell of it:

Take the fuel cap off and try and start it that way for a week. Return the cap once running.

See if the problem goes away.

If it does go away, the tank vent is clogged.

The SD did this once and I could not get it to start, no matter how long it cranked.

Brian,

Where is the tank vented to on the SD?

Underneath there appears as some type of in-line filter and a hard line running forward. But I haven't seen where it actually vents to open air.

I haven't had the desire to go and clean it out in the cold, so I cannot say for certain. IIRC, there is a steel line that vents near the filler door. You need a length of flexible wire to slide down there and clean it out.

Maybe someone with an SD who has done this recently can provide the specific location and the recommended instrument.

Thank you guys. I will start there and let you know what happened. Dennis

The vent on my SD (1981) is right in front of the drivers side rear tire. It looks like the bell of a trumpet sticking down near the bottom of the body (from underneath). Its sorta hard to find but you will come across it eventually. Mine had a bunch of dirt covering it up.

If the location is confusing to you, to the drivers side rear tire. Then, get down on the ground and look up, from underneath, at the bottom of the body directly in front of the tire well area. Shizam...there you go :)

I believe the hole by the fuel filler is simply a drain for water or excess fuel?? :confused:

Correct