Hello all,

This is my first posting on the MB side of the forums. I recently acquired a 1989 300e that has been sitting for the better part of two years and in the process of restoring it to driving condition. Alas, I am unable to get it started. To date, I have replaced:

- battery
- fuel filter
- rotor, distributor cap, plugs and wires
- air and oil filters

It turns over strongly and when starting fluid is used it will catch and run surprisingly smoothly for a few seconds before flaming out. I'm a MB newbie, but this seems to eliminate the fuel pump relay and OHP from the equation. It seems to be getting air and spark since it runs when fuel is introduced into the intake system.

So I've been trying to logically eliminate causes starting at the ends to the system and moving to the middle. I can hear the fuel pumps energize when I turn the key and am getting pressure up to the fuel distribution unit. I removed and inspected the EHV and it was wet (but not leaking). The lines to the injectors are wet, but have no pressure when the engine is turned over, so somewhere between fuel entering the fuel distrbution unit, and it leaving, it would seem that there is a blockage or input failure.

The next logical step seems to be to replace the fuel distribution unit. Before I systematically start replacing components, are there any relatively simple tests to isolate items or common gotcha's I'm missing that might help...ie..vacuum line somewhere or voltage check on xxx component?

Thanks in advance.

Dan