1983 300D Turbo will not start - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

morris300DTurbo · #1 04-29-2006, 04:48 PM

I have a sweet 1983 Turbo 300D that will not start after a two year relationship. My daughter drives this car and it broke down on her while I was out of town. It is setting in a friend’s driveway until I have the opportunity to check it out. My neighbor, who owns an identical 1984 model, took a look at it and said that it sounds like it is not getting fuel. He replaced the fuel filter and noticed that a return fuel line was bulged. Could this be a symptom of the in-tank fuel screen being clogged?

t walgamuth · #2 04-29-2006, 05:36 PM

probably the line that is normal to be bulged, cant think of the name of it.

i would check glow plug function and possibly change both fuel filters and if there are black dots in the clear filter, i would treat the fuel with fungicide.

after that it gets a little more complicated. if none of that does it check back and tell us what it is doing.

good luck

tom w

slarson80 · #3 04-30-2006, 03:11 AM

Cigar Hose

P.E.Haiges · #4 04-30-2006, 11:49 AM

Morris,

When a non computer controlled Diesel won't run, its almost always a no fuel condition.

Loosen the banjo fitting on the top of the fuel filter and pump the primer pump. Fuel should come out. If it doesn't, either the primary filter or the tank screen is plugged. If you can blow thru the primary filter easily, its not plugged.

So next is to check the tank filter. Take off the rubber fuel line leading from the tank where its attached to the steel line. Fuel should run out rapidly. If not, the tank strainer is plugged. This is providing there is fuel in the tank.

No or dripping fuel means the strainer is plugged. If a little fuel is coming out of the fuel line, let it drip until the tank is empty or try to siphon the fuel out. Then unscrew the strainer ring and clean the strainer. If there is a brown silicone rubber like substance on the strainer, it is fungus and only a fungicide treatment will kill the fungus and clean out the fuel system.

If U have fuel at the secondary filter, it could be the secondary filter is plugged. Replace it and try starting engine. Pump the primary pump rapidly about 50 times after U replace tge secondary filter. Its easier if U put fuel in the new filter before U install it.

P E H

barry123400 · #5 04-30-2006, 12:18 PM

Morris, if your daughter parked it and the next time she went to use it and it perhaps would not start? Think possible glow plug function is down. Check for voltage on plugs with key on and indicator light lit. Of course if failed while driving it is not the glow circuit.

mbzkid · #6 04-30-2006, 02:44 PM

Was the car hot when she tried to start it?

morris300DTurbo · #7 04-30-2006, 03:39 PM

Thanks for all the helpful information so far. The car would not start after sitting overnight. It ran fine up until that time. I have heard of the screen in the tank getting clogged and slowing performance until it choaked the fuel off but I didn't know if that condition could happen if there were no symptoms before. Thanks again.

mbzkid · #8 04-30-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morris300DTurbo

Thanks for all the helpful information so far. The car would not start after sitting overnight. It ran fine up until that time. I have heard of the screen in the tank getting clogged and slowing performance until it choaked the fuel off but I didn't know if that condition could happen if there were no symptoms before. Thanks again.

It could go either way, but I would check the glow plugs if it didn't start after sitting overnight.

t walgamuth · #9 04-30-2006, 09:13 PM

usually if there is a fungus problem you can treat the fuel with fungicide and it will pull thru the filters without removing the strainer in the tank. also you can unhook the line at the first fuel filter and it will run out there by gravity too. but i ususlly work in my driveway which has the nose lower than the back so that might not always work.

tom w