95 sprinter non start

[fiction]

hi

first off ill say hello to everyone this looks like a handy forum!!

i found the forum because..

i have 95 sprinter, its got 220000 on the clock and iv hand it 5 years or so.

i dont use it a lot these days, only on the weekends and now and then in the week to pick up bikes.

its never ever let me down untill yesterday.. it was running fine nothing untoward, i used the van for 20mins in the evening then when i came to use it sunday morning it wouldnt start.

normaly if fires instantly cold or hot, with or without heater plugs.

it just turned over and over, ran the battery flat a few times but nothing.

i stuck a few puffs of easy start in it and it fired, spun up and died strait away.

tryed this a few times but still no go.

the only thing i can think of is i did run very very low on fuel.
i had a look at the suply line to the filter and there was a few air bubbles in that and i saw one rise from the pump to the filter.

do 95 sprinters need a bleed routine when you run low or out of fuel?

was also wondring if the fuel cut off that stops the engine can get stuck?

im a motor bike mechanic so have some understanding but diesel is a different ball game..

any help would be appreciated before i hand over a blank cheque...

 

[mister_cee333]

Some Sprinters have an in-line fuel filter in addition to the engine one. I'm not sure which vans have them (pre or post cdi) but it's sure worth a check. I believe it's under the van somewhere towards the engine compartment. Dava is the man to tell you - hopefully he'll read this and confirm for you.

 

[Bolide]

Almost certainly you have an air leak into the fuel lines. Just check every join, check & replace any O-rings that have gone flat, then try starting it by jumping it off something with a big battery

This is a known problem with some MB cars - I assume it can also affect Sprinters

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[fiction]

thanks for the replys got a day off tomorrow so can have a good look at it.

 

[hardtop]

try and avoid easy start if you ever need to dont use much

 

[hardtop]

try and avoid easy start if you ever need to dont use a lot

 

[fiction]

yeah iv never used it before, i know its not good but was just trying to get it to fire.

 

[Kenn310D]

I had a similar problem before. Jump started the van down a hill and the problem never appeared again. Also remove and change the fuel filter. No harm.

 

[dava]

Was my name mentioned?
Sounds to me like the fuel cut off solenoid on the fuel pump, check to see if there is a live there. As for the sniff, it's a sure way of showing it's fuel related, it's a simple test, but like others have said just a sniff not loads as it will knock. Itt would be worth changine the pre filter on the chassis about under the passenger seat, white plastic inline one, it wont have been changed, no one knows they are there, so change it and yes they do need bleeding, nipple on top of the fuel filter. Some other things to check for:

Black plastic bag next to the battery, make sure it's the right way up, it has a sign on it saying this way up. If not it fills with water and corodes the relay in side, MB design fault???? Ha Ha.

The wiring harness that runs left to right on top of the bulk head, this rubs through on the manifold and causes the fuel cut off solenoid to earth out.

Make sure the leaver on the back of the pump is not stuck, seized, this will hold the pump in retard position and will not start and if it's not seized, which I think it could be, lub it as they all do seize sooner or later.

Any more ideas I need more info.

Apart from that they were unbreakable, well not quite, drove like a pig look like a pig and some of the ones I drove smell like one too!

Hope it helps if these work come back and say as I wont be able to sleep

 

[fiction]

cheers dude ill have a go at that lot tomorrow ended up with my hands in bikes all day again..

day off to!!

ohh the cut off solenoid... is that the black thing on the side of the pump with a pipe that comes out and goes to the bag thing by the battery?

will let you know how i get on.

ill be sad to sell this van but as i live in london it has to go in the next 2 years because of the LEZ..

are cdi sprinters as good as the 5 cylinder td's like mine?

will only be able to afford around 03 04 plate

ps mine does smell like a pig as the ****** roof is leaking

 

[fiction]

well in true nooby, dont know what the hell im doing fashion the van is running again!!

errrr but im still not shure where the fault is..

i fiddled around under the bonnet and it fire first turn of the key.

the wiring across the bulk head seems sound and has been cable tied well.

i couldnt find and lever on the back of the pump just 5 steel fuel pipes and an electrical connection.

the pouch by the battery is the right way and and cable tied tight at both ends.

as dava said its a short of some sort, as i connected the battery there was a slight spark on the terminals so seems somthing is shorting.

i wasnt shure what the cut if solinoid was...

when i get the time il have to drop the front of the van off and get in for a good look around.

 

[dava]

Follow that wiring harness down, this is where the problem will be, it comes down the other side and also rubs through. If it's cable tied up then some one has had problems in the past the live to the fuel cut off runs through this. Look at the end of the fuel pump there is a leaver with a cable attached to it, this is what seizes.