I need a little help here, my car will not start unless I go in front and manually move the red handle up. Is it the release valve supposed to move to the off position and stay there, till you start the engine again?
If you turn on the key, is it supposed to go air into the fuel shut off valve and push it, so gas will go in the system and start the engine?
I am ready to replace the shut off valve, but the car turn off the engine fine, the problem is that it seems it is stuck in the off position and will not move from there, should I check air being pushed or sucked on the valve???.
I removed the line that goes to the shut off valve and same problem, engine will not start because lever will not go up.
Thanks.

If it has been that way since you've owned it, it is possible that the lines to the ignition switch are reversed.

If you remove the vacuum line from the shutoff valve does the lever rise?

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Okay, I had to open the air intake manifold (easy if you done this more than 3 times) and you have the right tools. I removed the fuel shut off valve, and I noticed that eventually the lever moved up with no restriction, so it must have being stuck some how inside, I try to rotate, so it will get stuck again but I could not make it repeat. I had an extra fuel shut off valve so I replaced just in case, now the lever moves up by the spring inside the valve. I am thinking maybe the fuel shut off valve was just to old an the spring was just defective.
Anyways, I put it back, and now the engine shuts off correctly and then the lever goes up, for next time I need to turn on the car.

The lever should stay down until you turn the key to glow.

Sixto
83 300SD

I did a test today, I turn on the engine fine, then turn off the engine with the key. I check outside and the lever is down for maybe 20 seconds and then slowly goes up.
My question is: Is the lever supposed to stay down till I turn on the key again? Like Sixto said?.
What makes the lever to say down. Is it the air being sucked on the valve?. If this is the case I have either a bad valve or a leak between the key and the valve.
Will I harm anything using it this way? it seems the gate for the fuel will be open the way I have it.
Thanks for any input.

It should stay down for days. Weeks even. If it goes up sooner, there's a leak somewhere. I wouldn't worry about it until the engine doesn't shut off with the key.

Sixto
83 300SD