Hello everyone,
I found a 1969 220d for sale in the local paper last week. The previous owner stated he wasn’t able to get the car to start. The car belonged to his dad who was driving it until it was impounded for whatever reason. The car sat for two years until he came up with the money to get it out. He thought it had lost its prime and he didn’t have a clue how to do anything to a diesel. When I went to look at it I tried to purge the air out of the lines. I used the hand primer to get fuel to injection pump, and then I cracked the lines at the injectors. He turned the engine over while I tried to bleed the air out. After I did this the engine still wouldn’t start. I ended up buying the car cheep hoping I could get it to start. Today I tried every thing I know to get it to start with no luck. I checked the glow plugs. My volt meter only shows 9.5 volts when I preheat. Do I not need 12 volts? I also tried cranking it with starting fluid. I get white smoke out of the exhaust cranking with the starting fluid, but not any smoke when I don’t use it. I even tried pull starting it. My brother used my truck to pull it about a quarter mile. The car sounded like it was running, but when I would push the clutch in it would die. I think the engine is just worn out because it will not even try to start after all of this.
My questions are:
Is there anything else I might be able to do to get it to run?
Does anyone have or know of a good engine for sale?
Will an engine from a later model such as a 240d fit in this car?
What does it cost to rebuild one of these engines? Is it possible to get away with just putting new rings in if the compression is low?
Where would be a good place to buy parts from?
Very obviously, I know next to nothing about these vehicles, so any help is greatly appreciated. BTW, I am in Birmingham, AL if any anyone has a good engine for sale.
Thanks,
Carter

You should do a compression check to see if the situation is terminal or not. It probably should have started with the pull start.

No takers???

I don't know how the loop GP's work so can't comment on voltage you're seeing.

Use WD40 instead of Starting Fluid. MUCH better for the engine.

Check valve adj.

Change fuel filters.

Set up temporary tank in engine compartment with fresh diesel (1 liter pop bottle) and stick return and feed lines inside.

Install fresh battery.

Re-prime with teh fresh fuel as you did previously.

Try to start again, using WD40 in intake if needed.

It's prob got a gorilla knob too, might want to make sure its set to give sufficient fuel to start.

At some point you'll need to check compression if it doesnt start.

*edit* - Guess it took me fourr minutes to type this.....

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Its a four cylinder, ja?

The loop style plugs will spread the voltage over the four plugs. Meaning a longer glow time for you. But the current will decrease asyou get to plug number four. As said earlier, use WD40 or maybe even Marvel Mystery Oil. This is too good of a car to good to the crusher.

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http://www.betten.mercedescenter.com...n_banner_1.jpg
1976 300D
190,000 Miles
Colorado Beige

1975 300D
Parts Car
78,000 Miles
Rustbucket
Also Colorado Beige

1984 190D 2.2 (Dad's)
156,000 miles
Champagne Metallic Clearcoat

Pull the delivery valves from the injection pump and clean them. They can get stuck on the older diesel engines that have been sitting for a long time. Did you have any fuel at the injector lines? I bet you did not.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Fuel delivery doesn’t seem to be the problem. All of the lines leaked a good amount of fuel when I purged the air from them. After I posted last night, I noticed an oily substance leaking from the rear of the car. It was diesel fuel leaking from the muffler. I think a compression test is on order. What is the minimum compression, and maximum spread between the cylinders? If the compression is low, can I get away with lightly cleaning up the cylinder walls and installing new rings if every thing else looks good. The car is in good shape for it age but,I don’t want to spend a whole lot of money on it to get it running.

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