320cdi not starting properly, any ideas?

[stivesvelo]

I had the car serviced about 3 weeks ago & the day after it took a lot of turning over before it fired, a bit hesitant/lumpy for a second or two before running normally.

After that it started almost straight away, not as quick as usual but slightly lumpy initially.

It then went into the body shop for repairs (1 week or so), when I went to collect it they couldn't start it & had to charge the battery. After this it started but not as sure as in the past. They thought it was a fuelling problem.

I've just got it back from the garage today (independant next door who comes with good recommendation, his brother in law also has the same car which they service & apparently they do a couple of others, but I'm beginning to have second thoughts about the recommendations).

They have changed a temperature sensor which was showing as defective on their diagnostic computer. Having started it a couple of times since, this has made no difference, it starts almost straight away but is 'not right', which for me is a problem.

My own thoughts are that there is air entering the system from when they changed a fuel filter but they don't seem to think so as they say the filter hadn't been changed (Mercedes sent the wrong filters so it was completed the day after, apparently).

Anybody have any suggestions as to what could be the problem as I'm beginning to get irritated & distrusting.

Rob

 

[Xtractorfan]

I would tend to agree that the car is probably taking in air, it is possible that the fuel filter seal is fouling or even one of the fuel pipes may have been disturbed during the service..
Best bet is try and find somoene who knows these cars and let him have a look..
The temp sensor you mention does seem to show up a lot on the non Star diagnostics...
also possible the MAF has gone down..

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Park it nose down overnight, so that fuel tends to drain into the engine, rather than the fuel tank. You can easily do with with a few planks of wood under the rear wheels.

See if the problem persists.

 

[turbopete]

as above. this helps in many but not all cases, as ive found out!

 

[stivesvelo]

Will try that, quite easy as I have a sloping drive...!

 

[s and k autos]

replace all plastic pipes on diesel pump as air gets in very commun

 

[stivesvelo]

Definitely air in the system, I parked it nose down on the drive & it started ok but not perfectly. Next time parked nose up & it started then stopped and took a further 4 goes before it started.

I will give them another go at sorting it out & if they don't then tI'll take it to either Merc or a Merc specialist & may offset it against their bill., Shame as they are almost next door to me at work & came highly recommended by several people.