240D little/no acceleration

[sadira246]

Hi, everyone. I think I need some serious help.

My 1981 240D has been running fine until today. I pulled out of the parking space just fine, but when I shifted to first gear and pressed the accelerator the car didn't want to go. I released the pedal then pressed again; it felt like something had been stuck under the pedal but then had moved, and the car went fine until I reached my next stopping point.

After that, even when I pressed fully on the accelerator I got no power. The car wouldn't go faster than 5 mph, which left an unhappy me driving slowly toward home with hazards blinking. I tried shifting to higher gears; nothing. I tried pumping the pedal; nothing. My mechanic doesn't work today and I don't have another car.

Can anyone tell me what's wrong? Seems like a fuel line or pump problem, but my knowledge is limited.

Thank you for any help!