Hi everyone,

So I'm new to DIY on my Benz and the first thing I've attempted to do is replace the fuel filter. I took out the old one, filled the new one with fresh diesel and installed it. The car started for about 5 seconds and then cut out. I tried starting it for another 5 minutes, each time it cranked for progressively less time until not at all. I thought the battery might me drained so I let it sit and then got a boost from a friends car. Still nothing. I tried again 2 hours later and the car made strange machine gun type noises while attempting to crank. Now no sound at all and no reaction when trying to start. I did nothing with the pre filter, just the main filter. Please help!!

It sounds like you have air in the fuel system. Cranking is the only way to get it to start/bleed the air. I hope your tank was full. it makes it easier. Charge the battery & keep trying. When it tries to start, keep cranking until it takes over & runs. Keep your foot right down on the throttle. Crank for about 20sec & then a break for a few minutes & then repeat many times, once it starts keep it running at over 1500rpm for at least 5 minutes.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Ok I'm going to try again tomorrow morning. Thing is, its not even cranking at all now (and by cranking we mean turning the key and holding it there, trying to start it right? :p) It does not even make a sound now when I turn the key. If the battery was dead, then the cabin and dash lights would not be on anymore right? Everything works electronic-wise including the stereo, but I make sure everything is off when I'm trying to start. The tank is about a 1/4 full, so should I make the 10 min walk to the gas station with portable tanks? I guess I should be trying this again with the jumper cables hooked up again from the other car? I already tried this for about 10 min straight.. feels like I'm killing the car!

did you fill the filter with fuel before installing it (thinking a spin on type?)

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Yeah I filled it with diesel and a little bit of purge as well.

hmm. Well, when you get your battery charged up some, crank with the accelerator pedal to the floor. on the 603's with no primer pump like the 617's etc have it's been somewhat helpful

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Check your battery terminals as well to make sure they aren't dirty or loose. Also, as I remember, you have to take the key out and put it back in sometimes when trying to crank for longer terms.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Sounds like the battery is at the end of its life. Even if it starts after overnight charging, battery should be checked.

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97 210.020 252,500 Daily Driver
87 124.133 215,000 Daily Driver
87 124.133 605,000 Retired
87 123.133 345,000 Totaled
84 123.133 550,000 Sold
84 123.153 350,000 Awaiting Motor
82 123.133 505,000 Retired
77 123.123 Unknown Sold
80 42' Bertram 475HP 692's w/twin dry turbos

Having only a quarter tank of fuel isn't helping your situation either. Might help to make that walk to the station and add more fuel. Maybe even jack up the rear end via the differential if you've got a hydraulic jack. Once you do get it fired up, take a look at the fuel ines near the filters and see if there are any air bubbles. Might be due for new fuel lines and/or O-rings. I agree with others who say your battery may be on its way out. How old is it? Interior lights can still work with a weak battery.

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Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

For next time ~ make sure you have a full tank when you change the secondary filter.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Before you start Cranking again loosen the Fuel Injection Line Nuts at the Injectors and Crank until you see Fuel coming out. That will bleed the Air out of the Fuel Injection Lines.
After you see Fuel coming out of them tighten them back up and attempt to start.

When Air gets into the Fuel Injection Lines it compresses a lot but moves only a little bit and takes a long time to get out of the Lines by cranking the Engine.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

You probably have a leak which you'll need to track down. Might have crushed the oring on the spin on or on the bolt if you overtightened one or the other, or you may have dislodged one of the other fuel lines when installing the spin on. Check this out first.

Charge battery, refill spin-on AND pre-filter cavity, jack rear end up, add fuel to tank, and then crank manually (holding key) for 30 sec's at a time. Rest batt for 30 secs then crank again.

Don't bother holding down the pedal while you crank, wont help (its electronicly controlled) as its not connected to anything inside the IP.

If it coughs or splutters and sounds like it *might* be catching, keep cranking and dont let loose of the key until 2 or 3 secs AFTER its running, THEN put your foot on the throttle and goose it a bit until it evens out.

You'll probably set a CEL when you forget to glow and turn the key; it'll go away after 2 days.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

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

i had the same problem just keep cranking it till engine starts coughing then it will start

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1999 W210 E300 Turbodiesel

As others have said, a battery can perfectly capably run interior lights and fail to start the car. The "machine gun" sound you described is the universal "battery too low to run starter" sound of the starter solenoid. There hasn't been a car made in the last 60 years that doesn't make that sound when the battery becomes too weak to turn the starter for the first time, but before you finish draining it so low it doesn't even try.

Think of it as a garden hose with somebody standing on one section. If you only ever NEEDED a trickle out the end of the hose then you get the same trickle you'd expect. It's only when you expect a full blast (i.e. cranking) that the foot on the hose becomes an obstruction.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Thanks a lot for the help! I got it started! Going great now... I charged it over night and starts fine now, a lot smoother with the new filter. I'll have to get a new battery and make sure I do it right next time I change the filter!