1998 e300TD WONT START

[JohnE300TDAvtgd]

Hi, I really need some help, hope someone out there can.
My car is a 1998 E300TD Avntgd. I use it as a taxi here in the UK. Bought it 18 months ago with 55,000 miles on the clock, now it has 126k on it. I had to have a refurb gearbox on 108k and just spent another £1400 on various bits including engine mounts, viscous fan, blower unit, ... you name it, it seems to be going wrong.
I drive it very very sensibly, seriously, it doesnt get thrashed and it doesnt have a hard life in any way. ANyway ...

... this morning I get up to do a 05:30am job (bad enough) and it wont start. Its rained heavily in the night but it all looks dry under the bonnet. I did park it on an uphill slope, not sure that that would make any difference but i thoguht id put all the details in here.

I turned on the ignition and as usual after a few seconds the coil light goes out, so i turn the key the rest of teh way and it fires and runs for a few seconds, then dies. Since then wont fire at all. Which makes me think it is fuel related, but i am no expert (there is half a tank in there)

Please, can someone help me or suggest anything i can do to diagnose the problem. I have no more cash to spend on the thing, it is putting me out of business much as i love it. Help!

thanks

John

 

[Bolide]

300 Diesel parked on an uphill slope, nose up?

You've got an air leak in the fuel pipework round the diesel injection pump & filter. This allows air to get into the diesel system, the air bubbles mean the injectors won't open and the car won't start

Do a search on this forum for air leaks. You'll find all the info. Basically a set of new rubber O rings (about a pound each from the dealer) plus an hours work will cure the problem for the forseeable future

While you're replacing the O rings, change the fuel filter & fuel pre-filter and fill the filter with diesel before refitting. Make sure the shutoff valve (it screws down into the filter) isn't leaking. Replace it if it is

You'll need another car with a good battery to jump start it but it will go in the end. Just floor the throttle and try it in bursts till it goes. It may take 15 minutes

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[230K]

Hi

The o ring on the shut off valve on the side of the pump can go too if after fitting new o rings or new plastic pipes all is still not well try the o ring on the shut off valve.

Good luck

230K

 

[JohnE300TDAvtgd]

Thanks man, sound advice ... much appreciated
Will post an update tommorrow.
J

 

[JohnE300TDAvtgd]

thanks again. Yeah, got it going on the level. Obviously not a huge leak as it did eventually clear teh air leak but parked on the level now and running it drops diesel every few seconds so off to the garage tommorrow. Hopefully not too much cash,as there is not much left to splash.