HELP!! I'm on Vacation and my 93 300D won't start! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

HomeRunPark · #1 06-24-2006, 03:24 PM

I seek assistance gentlemen, I'm on vacation for the weekend in Augusta ME (160 miles away from my trusty mechanic) staying with family and my 1993 W124 300D 2.5 Turbo has decided not to start!

I drove it up from NH last night (160 miles, not a single issue or problem.) I parked ti overnight and went to it around 2 p.m. today and she will not run!!!

The car turns over and sputters for 2-3 seconds and then dies. I've never had this type of problem before and my mechanic is too far away to help.

My instinct is telling me it's a fuel problem, it seems as thuogh the car is starting fine but has no fuel to run it. It DOES have over 1/2 a tank of diesel thoguh.

Any QUICK help or suggestions would be appreciated!!

stcbenz83 · #2 06-24-2006, 04:13 PM

did u check the primary fuel filter???

RAYMOND485 · #3 06-24-2006, 04:28 PM

1984 300d Turbo 139k
Full The Tank With Fuel It Adds Pressure, Open The Line At The Engine Check For Fuel Maybe A Filter

TwitchKitty · #4 06-24-2006, 04:45 PM

Hi, sorry you are stuck but you could be stuck in a worse place. I don't know your car but here are some simple things to try.

Think clogged filters, lost fuel system prime, glow system malfunction, low voltage - slow starter, lost compression.

I hope you have not opened your fuel system and lost your prime. This could complicate matters.

Don't crank your starter for more than about 10-15 seconds at a time.

The most simple thing to try is to let the glow plugs cycle a couple times to build up some heat. Turn on the key and count to about 20. Turn the key off for a couple seconds and then turn it back on and count to about twenty, then start the car. If you can see lights dim or brighten that may give you clue when the glow plugs are pulling a load. Try this a couple times to see if seems to make any difference.

Try the same thing and hold the "gas pedal" to the floor when you try to start it.

t walgamuth · #5 06-24-2006, 05:19 PM

sounds like plugged fuel filters to me.

fungus in the tank, maybe. look for little black dots in small filter. if there, get some fungicide from truck tractor or marine supplier and treat fuel. fungus will break down and flow thru filter usually.

good luck

btw nice looking car!

tom w

dieselbeagel · #6 06-24-2006, 07:21 PM

I agree with the above posts - check the clear filter.

93 300D does not like clogged filters. I have a 83 300D that would run with a somewhat clogged filter, but the 93 - no way.

Change that filter and let us know what u find out.

Ken300D · #7 06-24-2006, 08:30 PM

A very simple thing to do is open the fuel tank filler cap to relieve any potential vacuum that has built up if your tank vent has clogged. Then if you have marginally blocked fuel filters, relieving the tank vacuum might let enough flow to get the car running.

If you do find significant vacuum, then you may have some confidence driving home with no more than 1/2 tank of fuel at all times and the fuel tank cap loosely fitted.

Probably not quite that simple for you - but at least try it.

Ken300D

HomeRunPark · #8 06-24-2006, 10:56 PM

Thanks for all the feedback guys.
I DID open take the cap of the gas tank and put it back on but that did not help.

I am a complete novice at auto mechanics/repair. So when you say to replace the fuel filter/vacuum lines etc. this is all foreign to me.

Where in the car, engine should I be looking for these?
I do not understand what "Open The Line At The Engine Check For Fuel Maybe A Filter" means or what filter im looking for to see if ti is clogged, and where this filter may be located.

I drive this car becuase I never usually have to deal with these problems as it has run perfectly for 200,000, so any simple instructions would be appreciated.

Thanks so much!!!

stcbenz83 · #9 06-24-2006, 11:29 PM

If you drive a diesel you MUST know were the primary fuel filter is b/c it is commen on diesels to become clogged when u least expect it. on my W123 it is a clear filter on the drivers side of the engine. the filter usually cost like 3 dollars and you only need a phillips head screw driver to put it in.

dieselbeagel · #10 06-25-2006, 01:39 AM

I would suggest u get someone who knows about auto repair to help u. Or better still, find a mechanic.

U say u r a novice mechanic. U may be better off getting someone who is familiar with car repair to help u. U may end up doing more damage trying to fix, what could be, a small problem.

I say this because there is a vacuum tube that runs from the vacuum pump to the master brake cylinder, that can be brittle with age. U may also knock loose some other hoses and then the problem could be even harder to solve, from here.

For now, get someone to help u.