Mercedes 308d 1999 won’t fire up

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Wonder if anyone can help me? Mercedes van 308d 1999. Had a cylinder head gasket done, afterwards it would start but cut out as soon as you come off the accelerator, got it narrowed down to fuel pump timing, eventually got that sorted after 2 or 3 mechanics tried to sort it. Van started and ran lush but no breaks, turns out 1 of the mechanics had lost a screw from the vacuum pump and it found its way into the pump and by now the insides of the vacuume pump had shattered. SO... replaced the vacuum pump and now the engine turns over but won’t fire up HELPPP PLEASE. Anyone with any ideas? And that’s the shortend down version of events, it’s been going on for 10+ weeks now. Convinced it’s a fuel problem but there wasn’t a fuel problem before the new vacuum pump went on a few days ago and I’m not 1 for believing in coincidences. Any help or tips greatly appreciated
 

clarkmichigan55b

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Hello.
It looks as if the vacuum pipes may or may not been incorrectly fitted. Is your engine in this video the same type of fuel pump fitted, if it is the white vacuum fuel shut off valve is on top the fuel injection pump with a vacuum pipe fitted to it. Take the vacuum pipe off and see if it starts. Best shot of this is 0.30 seconds.
Adrian.

 
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Thank you for info, tried taking pipe off but still nothing. Do the vacuum pipes have anything to do with the fuel flowing? I’m starting to think the mechanic that rebuilt the engine has the pipes in the wrong places. Wish I’d taken photos of the engine bay before it got stripped down but hindsight would be a amazing thing haha! I can get diagrams of the vacuum pipes off the net but I can’t follow diagrams at all. Thanks again for your reply
 

clarkmichigan55b

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The vacuum pipes have nothing to do with the fuel flow only shutting the fuel off. When you had the engine running did it start with the flick of the key or did it struggle starting, these are good starters if everything is up together.
Can you post some pictures of the engine to see if anything is a miss.
 
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Once we got the timing set up right it started first touch of the key but it had no breaks, that’s when we found the vacuum pump was smashed inside. Replaced the pump, now it just won’t fire up? I will get some photos of the engine tomorrow. Cheers
 

clarkmichigan55b

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Just rereading your first post and you say that the vacuum pump had shattered, did the parts fall into the engine? if they did, did you retrieve the parts. If not you may have damaged the timing chain or worse.
Please check the you tube video.

 
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The bits were all still within the pump itself, at least I’m hoping they were all still in there, now you have me worried. Is it possible for the new vacuum pump to be on wrong? The guts in the wrong position when it was bolted on? Looking at that now but about ready to give up on it and buy a new van.
 

clarkmichigan55b

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Your vacuum pump is just a bolt on job the last time i did one which was some time ago.
Just makes sure all the timing is spot on and the timing chain is all secure, and fuel is being pumped up from the fuel tank. Undo any one of the injector pipes at a injector then crank the engine over and see if any fuel is coming out of the pipe.
Is your injection pump timing correct? static timing is 15 degrees After Top Dead Centre.
Hope this helps.
Adrian.
 
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Woo hoooo! It’s purring like a kitten again, the fuel pump timing was still out but got that sorted and i feel like I’m driving a Ferrari now haha! Thanks for your input matey, much appreciated
 
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Woo hoooo! It’s purring like a kitten again, the fuel pump timing was still out but got that sorted and i feel like I’m driving a Ferrari now haha! Thanks for your input matey, much appreciated
It took ages cranking it until it started, it took that long I was amazed the starter wasn’t damaged. Took it out for a run and it was terrible at low revs, adjusted the timing a bit more and it was better but not perfect, tweaked it a touch more and it’s absolutely perfect. Get another 10 years out of it now haha. Thanks again bud
 

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