ChuckDiesel

I am (as of last week) the proud owner of a 1980 300TD. 3.0L 5cyl Diesel (only combo for this model as far as I know) It was given to me by a fellow who owned it for the previous 6 years or so and drove it quite extensively. Then let it sit over the winter now, bingo bongo she don't run any more.

So I'm new to MB and diesel and I'm confounded. Cranks but won't start.

This is the trouble shooting I've done so far.

Fuel: added 5 gal of fresh (and bottle of HEET) to the 3 gal or so in the tank
changed both under hood filters and primed them using the primer
pump

I stopped pumping when fuel came out of the return

On the advice of a friend I cracked open the supply line to the first
injector and cranked it (no fuel came out and I think thats a bad thing)

Vacuum: all lines are hooked up (the best I can tell)

I pulled the line that goes to the brake booster and found very little
vaccum there when the engine was cranked (how much is needed?)

I love my new (and for the time being) free wagon but she won't run. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I'm fairly good with trouble shooting, but I'm getting owned by my new vagon.

harkgar

It sounds like a case for our diesel expert 240 DT with the 3.0. Sent him a PM. He is very good at replying with sound advice.

Green E-300 DT

On the advice of a friend I cracked open the supply line to the first injector and cranked it
(no fuel came out and I think that's a bad thing)

And that may be why he gave the car away.

Sounds like your fuel injection pump is kaput. I sure hope not, for it has to be expensive.

Keep us posted.

Good luck.

240D 3.0T

1: Prime some more. Pump the primer 100times and then crank the engine for 5 30second periods (Let it cool for a minute between attempts). That's usually enough to get an airlocked pump to bleed.

2: If 1 does not work, try lightly tapping on the side of the injection pump with a small hammer.

If that does not work, it may very well be time to go shopping for a used pump.

If it ran when parked and would not after a winter rest, rust may have stuck the injection plungers.

ChuckDiesel

Thanks for the advice. I will try some if not all of the above.

Does anyone have suggestions over and above a Chilton's manual? (not very helpful) Don't get me wrong it is way better than flailing in absolute darkness, but something that tells me what all the little vacuum operated doohickies do would be awesome.

I'm thinking of buying the $47 dollar "Mercedez factory service manual on CD" (here http://www.mercedesmanuals.com/Merce...ficial_s/3.htm) that supposedly has bumper to bumper all inclusive wizard knowledge. Any experiences with manuals of this type?