mb c250td wont start

[andyexile2003]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I need help. I ran out of diesel yesterday. Took ages to get back up and running with the help of a second battery and fresh diesel. The car ran fine. Today I drove the car and while I was chatting to a friend I left the car running. After about ten minutes the car cut out. I tried restarting it to no avail. I called the AA and they were unable to get the car started so towed me home.

1. the car has plenty of fuel
2. checked for air leaks as there was loads of bubbles in the fuel filter but did not seem to have any leaks
3. cracked the injector at the fuel pump and there is no diesel getting through

Does anyone have any suggestions? Im new to mercs.

 

[neilrr]

When did you last change the fuel filter? Just a guess but is it possible the fuel filter picked up enough of whatever sediment was at the bottom of your tank & is now blocked?

If you do change it, examine the small mesh pre-filter next to it & clean it out if need be, then fill the space it lives in & the the new (big) fuel filter with diesel before installing. Unplug the glow plug relay (to save your battery) until the system has fuel throughout & is ready to go. GSF is the cheapest place I've found for good C250 fuel filters - about £6 IIRC.

Some of the boys over at vegetableoildiesel.co.uk - Powered by XMB take the fuel filter change as an opportunity to clean the injectors by filling the new fuel filter with mineral ATF. Don't know if that would be advisable in your case.

 

[Olivier]

Very good advice above about the fuel filter and the pre-filter.
If you replace the filter its good to fill up the new filter with dino to save on the cranking/ battery and starter motor.
If you have a tank strainer I would pull it out too as it might be clogged.

 

[mike_c250]

I have a similar vehicle, just not the turbo one. I am wondering what is the interval if changing mv belt and glow plugs?

 

[andyexile2003]

Do these cars have a lift pump in the tank? If so how do I get to it?
Sorted the initial problem. I found the Diesel leak-off pipe had come off no.5 injector. Also all the injector recesses were full of diesel. All of the pipes seem to be leaking diesel so it looks like the natural place for the diesel to find. I have an in-line diesel pump sitting in the engine bay just before the Injector pump. Is that supposed to be there or is it a case of whoever had the car last identified the problem and fitted this as a semi-cure? Anyway pulled the hose off the fuel feed line and dipped it into a gallon of diesel. I cracked all the injectors on the head and was up and running within twenty minutes. Is there an upgraded injector I can fit to this car?

 

[219]

Like you , I am relatively new to Diesel power .

I recently acquired a W124 E250 Diesel that had been laid up for three years , compounded by the previous owner running it out of Diesel .

After getting it running , and through the MOT , I had a problem with it spluttering to a halt - solved by changing the fuel filter and the pre filter . I have still to also fit the tank strainer which I had to wait a couple of days for - the dealer had the two filters in stock . The genuine items from MB were something like a tenner .

After asking the same question re fuel pumps , it seems that my car just has a mechanical lift pump in the engine bay , driven off the injection pump .

I guess yours may be the same ?

I'm not sure if your car has the same engine as mine .

 

[neilrr]

The C250 TD engine is an OM 605.960, a different kettle of fish with things most of the W124 diesels never had - 20 valves, turbo, intercooler, horsepower & torque.

Mercedes-Benz OM605 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SilverSaloon]

The C250 TD engine is an OM 605.960, a different kettle of fish with things most of the W124 diesels never had - 20 valves, turbo, intercooler, horsepower & torque.

Mercedes-Benz OM605 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Derek's E250 is a multivalve 605 engine, same as the C250 but without the turbo. its not 'ye olde diesel of the 80s'. they have enough power when required (well my non-turbo E300D's do).

back to OP question - change all the filters. anyone driving around these cars without knowing when the filters, pre-filters and tank strainers were last changed/cleaned are asking for a breakdown at some point.

 

[bolide]

The 606-engined W124s don't have an in-tank fuel pump, just the mechanical lift pump on the engine

AFAIK the W210s and W202s with 605 & 606 engines have an electric pump in the tank though, like most MBs, I am sure it will vary model-by-model

Also AFAIK the pre-filter & fuel filter setup at the front of the engine is common to all of them

Nick Froome

 

[SilverSaloon]

AFAIK the W210s and W202s with 605 & 606 engines have an electric pump in the tank though, like most MBs, I am sure it will vary model-by-model

the 606 W210's I've seen have a mechanical lift pump on the side of the engine, same as W124. i dont think they have a pump inside the fuel tank itself..

 

[Dieselman]

AFAIK the W210s and W202s with 605 & 606 engines have an electric pump in the tank though, like most MBs, I am sure it will vary model-by-model

No indirect injection Mercedes use an electric lift pump, they all use the one in/attached to the main IP.

The O/p obviously has either a very blocked tank strainer of an air leak.

 

[neilrr]

No indirect injection Mercedes use an electric lift pump, they all use the one in/attached to the main IP.

The O/p obviously has either a very blocked tank strainer of an air leak.

Might be wrong but I thought C250 TDs didn't have tank strainers.

 

[Dieselman]

Might be wrong but I thought C250 TDs didn't have tank strainers.

I think you are right, I just forgot.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I think you are right, I just forgot.

The EPC says otherwise (there is a pic of it and a part number, same as other models), but various people have tried to find it over on the veg forums but cant. i'd be surprised if they didnt have a strainer though considering all other models always do

 

[neilrr]

 

[bolide]

No indirect injection Mercedes use an electric lift pump, they all use the one in/attached to the main IP

I recall seeing an electric pump on the EPC for a W210 but, thinking about it, it was probably a 320 CDi not a 606-engined car

So all 605 and 606-engined indirect injection cars have a mechanical pump and the later CDi cars have an in-tank electric pump

Nick Froome

 

[Dieselman]

CDi of that vintage should still be using a mechanical lift pump, mounted at the front of the engine.
All previous MB diesels use a mechanical lift pump.

 

[bolide]

I give up!

Nick Froome

 

[andyexile2003]

Got the old girl back up and running. I found the previous owner or owners had crossed the fuel supply and return line over. Obviously to get round the in-tank strainer problem. My only concern now is the lack of low down power. It feels like it would not pull you out of bed in the morning. Any ideas?

 

[neilrr]

They don't have a strainer. See post 15.