The latest addition to the fleet is a 1984 300TD. I got a great deal on the wagon seeing as it has almost no rust, a clean interior, and the climate control actually works. I have drove if for a few days and everything seemed to be working great, but Friday morning before work it would not start for me. Well it started for about 3 seconds then died. I took my truck to work but came back at lunch and got it started after some extended cranking, drove back to work and then back home at the end of the day. Saturday was a repeate of Thursday, only it would not start at all.

First I thought glow plugs, checked them and found nothing unusual.

Then I decided to crack the hard lines going from the pump to the injectors, on the pump side. When I cranked the engine over fuel came out of the #4-5 outputs and the other three were dry.

What's next?

I have a good pump on my 300SD with about 180,000 miles on it. The one in the Wagon has 290,000 on it. Is there anything more I can do to trouble shoot this problem, or is this puppy fried?

Thanks...Joe

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1987 250D
1984 300TD
1983 300D
2002 Chevy 2500HD Diesel
1995 Dodge 12 valve Cummins Dually
All Biodiesel Powered

A diesel won't start for a few reasons, no fuel, low compression, or a starter and/or battery that turns over the engine too slow.

Fuel- Maybe your primer pump is leaking, and allowing air into the fuel system. Does your primary filter have a big air bubble in it. Try pumping it a whole bunch then see if she'll start. I'm guessing if she started then died you have an air leak.

Starter- Does the engine turn over good and fast when you are trying to start it? Or does it turn over slowly. If slowly then you may have a weak battery or a dying starter. Check the battery ground, ground strap, and all the connections on the starter.

Compression- A little more terminal.

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Really obstructed fuel filters would starve the pump or an air leak as mentioned. Remove fuel return hose on injection pump and see if there is any excess fuel while cranking. Should be if supply to pump is adaquate no mater what internal shape the injection pump is in. Lift pump could be marginal and other things. The clue here is it started and ran yet did a replay. The pump has no internal restorative abilities if it has stayed in weekly service in my opinion. I also think several pump elements would not fail simultainiously. Unless the injection pump crank broke and they would be towards the back of the pump. Any internal linkages inside pump if broken would tend to stay broken usually as well. There are probably rare exceptions but rare enough to temporarily disregard the pump.

My primer pump leaks like crazy when you pump it. I never noticed any other fuel leaks from the pump in the short time I owned it. The fuel filters have less than 300 miles on them, however they have been on the car for a few months. I will try replacing the primer pump, I just happen to have one. Then we'll see what's up.

As for the starter...It works fine. It cranks just like my 300SD that runs awsome.

As for compression, my crappy harbor freight compression tester took a crap the last time I checked the compression on my Rabbit. I really want to know what the compression is like on this motor, seeing as it has 290k on it.

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1987 250D
1984 300TD
1983 300D
2002 Chevy 2500HD Diesel
1995 Dodge 12 valve Cummins Dually
All Biodiesel Powered

I would do the "Purge"......get some of the LM Diesel Purge.....follow the directions......

you may have a couple of sticky delivery valves.....the "Purge" should clear this up.....

also, when you pump your priming pump.....do you hear a noise, sort of a squirting noise that originates from where the return line exits your Fuel Injection Pump.....the banjo bolt that secures the fuel return line to the FIP is not your ordinary banjo bolt.....it has an internal pressure regulating piston/spring.....the purpose is to keep a positive pressure on the fuel gallery within the FIP......the "Purge" will/should clean this up as well.....

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

I replaced that hand pump and everything is back to normal...so far...

__________________
1987 250D
1984 300TD
1983 300D
2002 Chevy 2500HD Diesel
1995 Dodge 12 valve Cummins Dually
All Biodiesel Powered