my starting routine looks like this

https://youtu.be/ZRQbKdpgR3U

I took the oil cap off , and it still wont crank over.

That video you sent was of a car with a fuel leak.

__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

my starting sequence is like that video...

im not sure whats wrong, even with the oil cap off it wont start.
ive done manual prime of the pump ( unscrew cap, a couple of push downs and tighten again )

someone else told me it might be the check valve on the injection pump ?

What kind of glow plugs are they? I had a Bosch India one fail in 6 months or less (it shorted out). Check them again to make sure you don't have manufacturing defect in one.

-Henry

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1976 Mercedes-Benz 300D, Colorado Beige / Mahogany
www.hmclever.com

so
interestingly

i looked inside the injection pump , and it is bone dry.

I wonder if thats causing the starting issues ?

Is the pump "bone dry" of fuel or oil in the sump?

Good luck!!!

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

injection pump is bone dry ( nothing in it )
i removed the red cap on top oft it , had a look inside , dry

Add 30Wt oil then open the overflow plug on the side and let the fluid find the correct level. Reinstall the overflow plug and try it.

FYI, there is a factory procedure for cleaning the pump sump using mineral oil agitated with air.

Good luck!!!

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

so an update
faulty starter motor and one of the glow plug wires had shorted.
have now changed that starter and fixed the glow plug

Back to looking at fuel delivery issues now, a recent trip up a low gradient hill , and the car could not maintain 60km/h , had to drop it down a gear and still kept loosing speed

Fuel delivery or just maybe IP timing. Don't see how it could be anything else.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

compression ?
it does have medium blow by

so another update

found a mechanic ( a bit far from me ) and we took it for a drive along the coast and up and down highway with climbs. He noticed the distinct loss of power when climbing hills.

left it with them for a few days
report back is that someone ( previous owner ) had meddled with the injection pump.
Cam timing is ok

IP timing was off by 20 degrees , vacum pump has air leaks...
he says motor is ok ,

another update
the governber diaphragm is shot
the injection pump has been pullled out some stage in its life and looks to have spun a thread.

and i was so close to getting this all sorted.
mechanic says the replacement part for the diaphragm can be found , but not sure on how to repair the IP. Even contact specialist truck diesel places and none of them want to touch it ( fearing making it worse )

not sure what to do now

What exactly do you mean by "spun a thread"
How did the mechanic determine this? Has he removed the pump?

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S