My wife's E300TD wouldn't start this morning. There has been no indication recently of anything getting ready to die. The glow plugs came on and it turned over but wouldn't catch. I didn't smell any fuel which leads me to the question: Could I have ice in the fuel lines? The last place she bought diesel fuel was a discount gas station. It has been cold here and the car hasn't been started for 2 days.

How cold is cold? It should start fine if the temperature is above 20F. Below that point you could be seeing gelling of the fuel if it is not appropriately treated for winter temperatures. If you wife purchased fuel at an out-of-the-way, low volume station, they may still have unwinterized fuel. I always add a bottle of anti-gel when temperatures drop that low - a rare event around here.

If you can get it started, it should be fine. The car has a fuel pre-heater to help things flow better.

Try this trick. Let it glow for 15 seconds after the dash light extinguishes - the glow plugs stay on. Then crank it, but instead of releasing the key, hold it in the start position. The smartkey equipped cars will only crank for about 5 seconds before they give up trying to start, but you can hold the key in the start position to crank as long as you dare. You can try flooring the accelerator pedal while you crank too.

Have the fuel lines checked for air - you may have the o-ring problem.

- Jim

Jim, Thanks for the reply. I got it started last night doing exactly what you described. I wore the battery down but it finally started. The o ring suggestion might be valid becasue I do smell fuel after the car has stopped.

If you smell fuel, then you probably have the o-ring problem. My car smelled of fuel after being driven for quite some time before it really became a problem.

Try this. Do you know where the fuel filter is located? Its at the front, top, right hand side of the engine, as you stand looking at it from the front of the car. Looks like an oil filter. There are several clear fuel lines attached to its mount, running down under the big silver intake manifold. You should see nice, amber colored translucent diesel fuel in the lines, and nothing else.

Now go start the car. You should still see nothing but diesel fuel in the lines. If you see lots of air bubbles zipping to and fro in the lines, you've got the o-ring problem in a big way.

You only need to replace the o-rings to repair this problem - don't let the dealer sell you all new fuel lines (which come with new o-rings already installed).

- Jim

What would be the cost of replacing O rings vs replacing fuel lines, assuming having it done at a non dealer mercedes shop?