E320 CDI Starting problem

[mattsurf]

Over the past month, twice I have had problems starting the car. It appears that sometimes when the tank is less than 1/4 full, the only way to start is to ensure that the tank is topped up with more than 20L of Diesel, then it starts OK.

The first time that I had this problem was after putting some fuel in Southampton - The pump was on its last dregs, and I only managed to get 10L into the car, which was plenty to get back home in Birmingham, as I was late for a party I did not stop to top the tank up

The car did get back home with No problems, the computer showed approx 1 gallon left in the tank. Next morning, the car started with no problem, I took the kids to school on my way to work. Getting back into the car at school it would not start, after discussion with WDM, I cleaned the fuel filter out and topped the car up with 20L of fuel and it started straight away.

This morning the car refused to start again, the tank was 1/4 full. When I added 5L of diesel it started. I have topped the car up now, in total I filled it up with 48L of fuel, which would indicate that around 15 - 20L was still in the tank, which is consistent with the fuel guage (so it was not running out of diesel - it is just conceivable that this was the cause the first time)

Both time it refused to start it was -3 degrees, although I am not sure that this is relevant

Anyone out there with any thoughts?

 

[television]

Hi Matt,, there was a thread running yesterday on the same thing,,someone should know the answer to this problem

 

[carabind]

diesel does get waxy and more viscous/thicker when the temperature drops. the petrols stations generally add an additive when they hear of a cold snap But what this about the piump being on its last dregs ? Is that the petrol station pump? Has it given your car the dregs from its tank ?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

This sounds daft, but the next time it won't start try removing the fuel cap. Also, take a look at the fuel pre-filter, make sure it isn't gunked up.

 

[jberks]

This sounds daft, but the next time it won't start try removing the fuel cap.

Makes sense to me, though I suspect if the tank vent was blocked it would give more starvation issues when full and would be happier to start after a long wait (giving time for the pressure to equalise).
Sounds like a blocked or damaged (how?) fuel pick up or maybe a loose baffle that's partially blocking off the pick up to me,. or ....
is a 210 E320 a single tank or a linked double?

 

[mattsurf]

diesel does get waxy and more viscous/thicker when the temperature drops. the petrols stations generally add an additive when they hear of a cold snap But what this about the piump being on its last dregs ? Is that the petrol station pump? Has it given your car the dregs from its tank ?

Yes it was the petrol station pump that was on its last dregs - took about 10 seconds per litre to fill. My thoughts are that it is the dregs from the petrol station tank - could this be blocking the pre-filter or the pick up?

Car is in for a service next week, I will ask them to have a look

 

[Ritapetita]

Problems starting 300 td

Hi Matt
We have been experiencing exactly the same problem - fuel guage indicates the tank is 1/4 or more full but the car won't start and appears to be out of fuel. Adding 5L into the fuel tank generally sorts the problem out but recently the problem happened when the fuel guage was at half a tank (although it started after adding 5L!). We thought at first that the fuel guauge was perhaps faulty but have established this is not the case. Did you sort your problem out? Any advice would be useful.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

suspect a faulty injector on this one, it will get progressively worse over time,

 

[ShinyF1]

suspect a faulty injector on this one, it will get progressively worse over time,

Similar issues for me - combination of factors making worst are:

Parked facing uphill
Less than 1/4 tank
Cold weather

If injector would it affect the running once started and on the move, as once I get it going it's like a train..

Thanks

Sean

 

[television]

Similar issues for me - combination of factors making worst are:

Parked facing uphill
Less than 1/4 tank
Cold weather

If injector would it affect the running once started and on the move, as once I get it going it's like a train..

Thanks

Sean

If OK when running then not an injector.

Facing up means air in the system, and that makes the starting hard, replacing the O rings on the filter and pipes normally solves this.

Not sure ón the ¼ tank, and quite a few post on this, unless air is getting into the system by a return to tank pipe.

Its harder to start with air in the system, as the air compresses making it difficult for the fuel to open the injectors