E300td won't start (sometimes)

[R Phillips]

If the car is facing uphill with less than a 1/4 of a tank, it takes a good minute or two cranking over.
is there a non return valve in the fuel line?

 

[230K]

Hi

Not sure if there is a non-return valve but you can fit one. Most probably your problem stems from air getting into the fuel system via the plastic preformed hoses that are scattered around the fuel pump and filter,could be as many as 6, the seals at the ends of these hoses start to suck air (mostly no diesel leak can be seen). Best to renew all of the hoses, dieselman will explain how many there are, he has advised covering the connections of these hoses with grease to stop the air being sucked in. The inlet manifold might need removed to renew one of these hoses but that is not that big of a job..

Also people working around these engines yend to move the connections and upset the seal, have you had any work done recently?

Good luck,

230K

 

[fwb44]

Hi

Not sure if there is a non-return valve but you can fit one. Most probably your problem stems from air getting into the fuel system via the plastic preformed hoses that are scattered around the fuel pump and filter,could be as many as 6, the seals at the ends of these hoses start to suck air (mostly no diesel leak can be seen). Best to renew all of the hoses, dieselman will explain how many there are, he has advised covering the connections of these hoses with grease to stop the air being sucked in. The inlet manifold might need removed to renew one of these hoses but that is not that big of a job..

Also people working around these engines yend to move the connections and upset the seal, have you had any work done recently?

Good luck,

230K

I had precisely the same problem and it was solved by replacing those 5 or 6 little clear plastic pipes, which were letting in air. They cost ? £15 and the job took 1 hr. We didn't have to remove the inlet manifold.

 

[R Phillips]

Cheers they look a Bu66er to get off without some plastic clips etc snapping.

 

[230K]

Hi

Think the clips move the opposite way from you would normally push them to disconnect, new hoses come with new ends obviously.

230K

 

[Ser Demec]

diesel leaks

I had exactly the same problem on my 1997 E300TD. Went through O-rings and nearly went for recon fuel pump. I noticed that air was getting into the pipeline through the pump as the fuel ran back to the tank. The fuel pump can pull fuel through but not air. I ended up flattening the battery one day trying to get the fuel up to the pump (without getting my hands dirty - in suit etc).

Took it to local independent. Brilliant. Actually a known MB fault with a MB approved mod required:

1 - Non-return valve by fuel tank.
1 - Non-return valve just before fuel pump.
1 - Ignition de-activated solenoid valve on bulkhead.

So, when ignition is turned off, this valve shuts off the fuel line very near the pump. 120k pump maybe leaks a tiny bit, but this sorts it out. Car been fine ever since.

 

[Ser Demec]

diesel leak

Oh and I forgot to say there is no non-return valve in the original spec (upto 1997 W210 anyway).

 

[fwb44]

Took it to local independent. Brilliant.

Do you use Four Wheels in Fulbourn?