Help! Problem starting 1978 240D
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
W123 240D 1978
Help! Problem starting 1978 240D
Our W123 240D ground to a sudden halt with signs of fuel starvation. The car has had a full refurbishment in the last two years including removing and stripping down fuel tank and lines so we were fault sure filters hadn’t clogged.
However even after changing all filters (to be safe), doing a diesel purge, replacing the manual fuel lift pump, and checking the pump lifts fuel to bleed screw, inlet to filter, outlet from filter, fuel return from injection pump and from each of the injectors at the head we still can’t get the car to start without using a starter spray in the inlet.
So - any suggestions on what we should look at next? I’m loathe to change the injection pump unless that’s the last resort - but it’s such a simple set-up I can’t think of anything else to look at?
Thanks
James
However even after changing all filters (to be safe), doing a diesel purge, replacing the manual fuel lift pump, and checking the pump lifts fuel to bleed screw, inlet to filter, outlet from filter, fuel return from injection pump and from each of the injectors at the head we still can’t get the car to start without using a starter spray in the inlet.
So - any suggestions on what we should look at next? I’m loathe to change the injection pump unless that’s the last resort - but it’s such a simple set-up I can’t think of anything else to look at?
Thanks
James
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 207
Likes: 37
From: Beaverdam, VA
W123 300CD, R107 560SL, W211 E320
If the car started o.k. with the diesel purge, it should have started on diesel fuel. Are you using an alternative fuel such as veggie? If so, bad juju particularly in Winter.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
W123 240D 1978
Hi
The car didn’t start with diesel purge. It only fired up with starter fluid being sprayed down the air in take. Diesel is normal diesel - nothing bio or veggie.
Thanks
james
The car didn’t start with diesel purge. It only fired up with starter fluid being sprayed down the air in take. Diesel is normal diesel - nothing bio or veggie.
Thanks
james
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 4
From: Sunny So. Cal. , land of RUST FREE cars !
'80 300CD , '81 240D , more..
No Start
If it stopped running, there was prolly an air leak in one of the rubber hoses, it doesn't take much air to stop it .
There's supposed to be a clear plastic fuel intake screen between the chassis fuel pipe and the injection pump ~
It must be clear and have no crud in it and when you disconnect it as long as 1/3 tank of fuel, fuel *must* come pouring out of it .
Check this first .
If no free flow of fuel look under the ca, the tank to body flex hose may well be rotted (cracks) or clogged .
Sometimes the in tank screen gets clogged, it's a nasty, messy job to remove it but simple and easy to clean the screen .
If the 3MM fuel return hoses between the injectors are weepy, that too will make the engine impossible to start, hard to diagnose without being there to see .
There's supposed to be a clear plastic fuel intake screen between the chassis fuel pipe and the injection pump ~
It must be clear and have no crud in it and when you disconnect it as long as 1/3 tank of fuel, fuel *must* come pouring out of it .
Check this first .
If no free flow of fuel look under the ca, the tank to body flex hose may well be rotted (cracks) or clogged .
Sometimes the in tank screen gets clogged, it's a nasty, messy job to remove it but simple and easy to clean the screen .
If the 3MM fuel return hoses between the injectors are weepy, that too will make the engine impossible to start, hard to diagnose without being there to see .
