My E300TD W210 struggles to start when parked facing uphill

[Cornish Pasty]

I have a problem with my E300TD, it is absolutely fine when parked facing downhill or even on the flat but if I leave it parked uphill for any period of time when I go to start the car, it just does not want to start, the car turns over and when I push it to face downhill it will eventually start. My guess is a fuel pump issue but could there be an issue of air getting into the line? I'm sure there is a really simple fix like a one way fuel filter or something but I have not been able to find anything. I know the obvious answer is park facing downhill but my driveway is very steep and is not easy to reverse up onto so I would love to be able to just drive straight on. Please help!

 

[Alex Crow]

Definately air in the fuel problem, have a search on thr forum for lots of information on this subject and get back with any more specific questions.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

More than likely some seals on the plastic pipes or the pipes themselves.

 

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

hi cornish, i have the same car as you, i had a sucking air problem at 150,000 miles so i replaced all the o rings and fibre seals on the pump etc, problem solved. however i was once waiting to see my local inde (independant mb expert), when a car like mine was having a non return valve fitted in the fuel supply pipe 2 ft before the pump in the 12 mm rubber pipe. i asked what it was for, he said the guy lives on a steep hill and this will stop the fuel from running back to the supply tank. the return valves look simple and must cost circa £12 . i realise this may be masking the air problem, but it is much less expensive and the o rings etc are a very fiddly job. the valve is a good idea even if you do not have a sucking air problem IMHO, hope this helps. herbiemercman.

 

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

hi cornish, i have the same car as you, i had a sucking air problem at 150,000 miles so i replaced all the o rings and fibre seals on the pump etc, problem solved. however i was once waiting to see my local inde (independant mb expert), when a car like mine was having a non return valve fitted in the fuel supply pipe 2 ft before the pump in the 12 mm rubber pipe. i asked what it was for, he said the guy lives on a steep hill and this will stop the fuel from running back to the supply tank. the return valves look simple and must cost circa £12 . i realise this may be masking the air problem, but it is much less expensive and the o rings etc are a very fiddly job. the valve is a good idea even if you do not have a sucking air problem IMHO, hope this helps. herbiemercman.

HERBIEMERCMAN
Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PRESTON, LANCS.
Car: 97. E300.TD. 7 SEAT.ELEGANCE. EST.TOYOTA SUPRA MK4. RS. VAUX. CORSA.GLS AUTO. SPORT.
Posts: 802



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Hi UGM3, i fitted a priming bulb many years back on my 97 e-300 td, it has been a great additon to the fuel system, not just for changing your filter but also i had an air leak and the bulb was a god send untill i could get it fixed.

on another occasion i was on the m6 m/way and the main fuel supply o ring clip sprunk out at the bottom of the engine fuel pump, i struggled to rengage the pipe and locking clip on the hard shoulder, BUT the primer bulb was fantastic, without this the starter and battery, especially if it is a slightly tired one gets a beatting and it all takes lots of time to prime, not what you want on the hard shoulder of the m6 m/way.

i fitted mine where the 12mm plastic fuel pipe runs against the n/side inner wing. good luck. herbiemercman.

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Last edited by HERBIEMERCMAN; Today at 11:15 AM. Reason: added extra text.

 

[LostInFl]

Hard Starting of W210 diesel when parked uphill

The 98 W210 diesel has a problem with the plastic fuel lines from the tank to the fuel pump that after several thousand miles develop pinholes that permit fuel backflow into the tank when parked uphill. The fuel pump can't pull strongly enough to reprime the injectors when these pinholes exist.
The fix that many indies overlook is to replace these lines. Try that before spending the $$$ on resealing your injection pump.

Jim Kissane
Tampa
98 E300 (160k)
88 560 SL (98k)
84 E300 (302k)

 

[Cornish Pasty]

OK guys, thanks for all your advice. I have just spent £300 getting the problem investigated, during which, they fitted 2 x non return valves (to be safe) one near the tank and one further up the line as close the filter as possible. This did not fix the problem so they also changed all the clear plastic pipes and associated O-rings but not the actual fuel pipe that comes from the tank. This still hasn't solved the issue, they suggested it could be the injectors but I can't see how this would only affect it when its facing up hill. Is there any other advice you can give me?! Its a great car and I really don't want to have to get rid of it!!

All your help is greatly appreciated!!

 

[spock500]

Fitting non return valves is a bodge. Clearly the mechanic's don't have a clue otherwise wouldn't offer such a solution.

The fuel arrangement is pretty simple compared to newer electronically controlled systems.

The O rings in the stop solenoid will let in air especially on a vehicle of this age. I would also replace the delivery valves seals once you have the manifold off for complete access.

Last thing to check is the fuel strainer which is located in the tank. If this is blocked along with the plenum it can under some circumstances cause a vacuum pulling with similar results to those you mention.

 

[SilverSaloon]

All your help is greatly appreciated!!

take the car somewhere else.

As above, the fuel system is very simple. replace the o-rings and the clear pipes maybe.

also the ends of the main rubber fuel pipes will go brittle. replace these pipes with new or cut an inch off the ends if they are OK otherwise, but for the cost best replaced.

clean out the fuel tank strainer and all other filters

if you dont replace the clear pipes (£50 ish) - its a £10 DIY job if you want to get your hands dirty. it should of never got into £XXX territory.

it could be delivery valve seals otherwise, which will be more expensive if not DIY

 

[Pingy]

Hi, I have an E220 2001 with this same problem, did you find the cause of the problem in the end?

Many thanks

 

[spock500]

Is it petrol? if so, maybe a weak tank pump.

Also check the fuel cap for vacuum, i.e when taking the cap off after a long run there is an intake of air.

If so the fuel tank breather valve is blocked. This is a common fault as often forgotten. Not sure it's a service item either?

Some models have these located (valve) in the nearside wing.

 

[leszek68]

Same problem - Here is how I fixed mine

Here is what was wrong with my 99 E300TD. Mine had a syptom which made the problem easier to find. I would actually leak fuel but only during very cold weather right at initial start up for a few seconds and then for a short time at shut down. It did so for almost 3 years, but I pretty much ignored it as I live in Alabama and the cold that triggered the leak only happened a few times. Out of site out of mind. What prompted me to fix the leak was that if I had cold weather (but not cold enough to trigger the leak), parking facing uphill would cause the car to not start. I would have to roll the car to flat ground and then crank for a long time to get it running. Similar to when changing out the fuel filter. Once running again all was fine, and this would only happen when the engine was cold. All this was caused by a bad seal behind the fuel shutoff valve. I replaced the seal and so far so good for the past year. I am guessing that just maybe, others that have experienced this might also have a bad seal behind the shutoff valve that is not quite bad enough to leak fuel but still causes the fuel in the lines back to the tank to essentially "gravity suck" fuel back away from that spot and put air into the system.

Note: If you plan to replace this seal, do not purchase it online. Go to the dealer. I purchased two online only to receive an "O" ring each time (from different suppliers). The seal is not an "O" ring, it is sort of a sleeve, and thought I did purchase a new shutoff valve (Which I did not need) it did not come with the seal.

 

[Cornish Pasty]

Update! Albeit a few years late. I took it to another garage, they identified very quickly it was a hairline crack in the fuel filter housing. Changed that and it was all good. Thank you all for your advice. Sorry for not replying when I should have!