Problems with 1995,W210-E300 Diesel

[raj-e]

Hi all, im new to the forum.

ok, im not the best with modern cars apart from knowing how to rebuild pushrod engines

anyway, im having problems with my w210 e300 diesel [non turbo].

the problem has been going on for over a year now,
the symtoms are -

1. it takes a while to start in the mornings.
2. it cutsout on long [motorway] drives,it will throw out blue smoke before cutting out.
3. at idle the engine will randomly run smooth then ruff[engine wobble]
4. at the same time the car started running ruff the "battery charge" display on the dash would come on[happens just after its started] ive charged the battery and it is still doing this. this must be related to the problem it cant be a coincidence as the same thing happened the first time round.

around 3 month ago i thought i cured it as i noticed air bubbles travelling in the pipes going to and from the fuel filter.
so i replaced the fuel filter and all related rubber washers on the fuel filter housing.
now this seemed to sort it out and has been running as sweet as a nut since then. but the air bubbles are back!!
ive changed the fuel filter and housing washers again but this time it hasnt sorted the problem and the air bubbles are still there.

also to add,
a while back, i had a diagnostic check carried out[this was before i cured it the 1st time round] ive since lost the details

but i do remember the technician saying something about my fuel pump + other stuff. he also said the cost of repair would be around £1200!! what the fffff!!!!!!

thats probably what the cars worth
i disregarded the diagnostic check as i cured it myself after, but the same problem obviously come back.


ive had the car idling for a while with no visible signs of lfuel leakage.

before i attempt to replace anything does any possibly have an engine bay diagram of where common parts are located? i cant stress enough how little i know about modern engines

also a blown up diagram of the fuel system? this would make it alot easier for me to suss out.

sorry if this is abit much to ask as i know nothing when it comes to modern engines.

this car is driving me nuts

 

[Dieselman]

It's almost certainly not the pump it couldn't make it misfire, much more likely is the air leaking in.
Just ensure ALL the fuel pipes are well sealed and the tank strainer isn't blocked. Try running it from a can as a test.

The charge light flickering is due to the revs dropping too low or at an outside chance a bad earth onto the engine.

Engine fuel pipes.

 

[raj-e]

It's almost certainly not the pump it couldn't make it misfire, much more likely is the air leaking in.
Just ensure ALL the fuel pipes are well sealed and the tank strainer isn't blocked. Try running it from a can as a test.

The charge light flickering is due to the revs dropping too low or at an outside chance a bad earth onto the engine.

Engine fuel pipes.

thanks for the diagram, sorry to sound daft but which diagram would be for the e300d? as both are very similar! im assuming all the part numbers are correct to date?

but just to confirm,im not getting a"charge light flicker". the battery charge sign will light up only when im cranking the engine, once the engine has fired up the sign dissapears.

i also noticed that once its fired up- i reverse the car off my drive, apply my brake, and change gear into drive ready to drive off and this is where the car also cuts out

i suppose first things first, i'll get all the fuel pipes and o-rings in the above diagram re-newed.

could someone also tell me how to run the car directly from a fule can..?

thank you.

 

[Dieselman]

Just connect a pipe to the main feed that goes to the pre-filter and another one that goes from the return from the filter head. Put both into a can of fuel.

See:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=57812

For ideas.

Where are you Raj.? There maybe someone who can help.

 

[raj-e]

Just connect a pipe to the main feed that goes to the pre-filter and another one that goes from the return from the filter head. Put both into a can of fuel.

See:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=57812

For ideas.

Where are you Raj.? There maybe someone who can help.

im inbetween derby and nottingham.
will give that thread a read, ive just gone and bought a new fuel filter with a few o-rings. i hoping this may cure it but i doubt it. so its on with the above. thanks.

 

[raj-e]

havent had much time to work on it but today i started the car and ran it around the block, it felt flat, like im having to put accelerator pedal to the floor to get it going, and still wants to cut out.

i them bought it home and changed the fuel filter and pre filter seal and now the car doesnt want to fire up at all its just turning over and throwing out blue smoke!

is there anyone in my area that could possibly help me at all? to be honest im no good with these cars

totally fed up, i think i may actually be better of selling it as spares/scrap.

 

[Dieselman]

Have you got a number to ring, can't PM you.?

 

[raj-e]

Have you got a number to ring, can't PM you.?

ive just set my account to receive emails, i think thats what the problem was?

 

[Dieselman]

You can't have PM until over 30 posts, unles an Admin can set that for you.

The problem still sounds like air leaking in, and the filter is empty. Did you fill it when fitting it?

Email me your number. I'll stick my addy up but only for a while.
gone now.

or put your number up and edit it out in a minute.

 

[raj-e]

email sent.
and yes i did fill the new filter with diesel before refitting.

 

[Dieselman]

Read and returned.

 

[raj-e]

would like to say thanks to diesel man who went out his way to come and help me with the car, everything seem alot clearer now and hopefully a new set of fuel lines will solve the problem.

your help is much appreciated mate

 

[Dieselman]

Cheers, no problem. Nice to meet you.

The clunker lives ..

 

[raj-e]

update.

ive now fitted new fuel lines

but the problem is still there! i think and hope that what ive just noticed maybe the cause!

bare with me as i dont know what what part is .. i think you call it the injector line? its the thin metal pipes that go from the behind the fuel filter housing route to the top of each cylinder. so im assuming this is the injector line yes.?
well where they are fixed to the part behind the fuel fillter housing ive noticed that one is seeping diesel very slowly!! its the one nearest the fuel filter.

how the bloody heck do i take it off? ive tried undoing it with a spanner and it isnt budging even with mole grips!

im assuming ill need a new pipe too.

 

[Dieselman]

They are the injector lines but shouldn't make any difference. Is it leaking or was that just a bit of spilt fuel after removing the pipe from the filter housing. I noticed it but thought that was it.

The starting problem was deffo air leaking in, it went running from a can direct to the filter housing.

If you mean the pipe union they do just undo with a spanner, but if that tight it's unlikely to be leaking anyway.

When cranking is there any air in the pipes.?

It ran OK after cutting out the pre-filter. Did you get a new one and O ring.?

 

[raj-e]

there is still air in the system, but when it fired up it idled ok.
when i revved it hard i could see tiny bubbles traveling. when i turn the engine off the pipe goes empty[the pipe that goes to the pre filter]

i can see the diesel rise up out of the injector line connection.

ive taken the fuel lines off again to give me some room to undo the said bit but it aint budging.
actually what size spanner is needed to undo the fuel injector line connector? as i try a 13mm and its to small..try a 14mm and its abit too big! wtf?

 

[Dieselman]

The starting problem is air leaking in early on, not the leaking injector union.
Remove the filter head from the engine to gain better access to the union.

 

[raj-e]

The starting problem is air leaking in early on, not the leaking injector union.
Remove the filter head from the engine to gain better access to the union.

ok thanks, but never the less i think ill replace that line while the manifolds are off.
when ordering,what should i ask for? is it injector line for no#1 cylinder.?

so i take it that air must be leaking in further back towards the tank as ive replaced all the fuel lines under the bonnet.

 

[Dieselman]

It might be the tank strainer is blocked causing high vacuum in the fuel lines so sucking air in at the O ring joints.

Try running it from a can again but at the union near the back of the engine. If it still leaks it's either a pipe/union after there or the fuel heater.

I'd be seriously surprised if the leak on No1 injector pipe is the pipe itself unless it's fractured.
Just get it undone and then inspect and reseat it.

Is the fuel leaking from the pipe union or the delivery valve just below it.?

 

[raj-e]

the leak is coming out from the top of the pipe union, and dripping down onto the delivery valve.
ive got it off now and it looks abit duff to me, there a few uneven grooves on the balljoint like it been on and off alot. ill replace it for piece of mind.

im not even going to attempt to go under the car with the weather getting worse.
ill book it into the local garage and tell them to clean the tank filter.

to be totally honest my hearts not in this car anymore but i still try