W124 E300 Diesel - Failure to Start (Help)!

[DITTRICH]

Bugger! (Now I've got that off my chest)

On saturday, the car was serviced. Sunday and Monday worked fantastically. This morning failed to start.

What happens.
Turn Key, lights come on. Wait. Glow plug light goes out. Airbag light goes out. Turn key. First time engine almost started, but then stopped. Second time, engine just turned over. Tried a couple more times a little later - no result. Didn't want to run battery down so didn't try again. Noticed that glow plug light took longer to go out this morning - normally it goes out much earlier than the airbag light.

It appears the electrics are working properly. A problem with the fuel system - ie no fuel reaching engine, maybe?

On saturday, the fuel filter, air filter, engine oil were changed.
Alot of other stuff was done but not relevant to engine.

I'm not yet a member of the aa, a stealership is 1 mile away and my independent which I use is 20 miles away. If I remember correctly, auto's can't be towed?

Firstly...

1 Any suggestions? Cause? Cure?
2 Can I be naughty and join the aa today and call them out tomorrow morning?

Regards

Les

 

[CAT220]

Had a similar problem last week, car wouldnt start and local MB independant garage was 10miles away. Called the AA and they towed the car, back wheels off the ground.

Call the AA, join today and then call them, just make sure that you get cover which will "relay" you to a garage (or wherever) from home.

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.

Cheers,
C

 

[DITTRICH]

Thanks CAT220 - great minds think alike! - Les

 

[jgevers]

Hi,

I would expect that there will be an airleak in the diesel system.

Use a mightyvac to check for vacuum leaks on individual parts of the supply and return system.

regards

Job

 

[DrNick]

I'm thinking the fuel filter may be leaking slightly, allowing fuel to drain back.I'm basing this on my experience of my 210 E300 turbo diesel, where leaks allow the fuel to drain back and so there has to be lots of cranking to fill it back up again before it will go. Various transparent fuel lines can be looked at for air bubbles/empty of fuel when cranking. Or a clue might be given by unscrewing the fuel filter and seeing how full it is. As the fuel filter has been tampered with, this is the obvious place to start.

Of course more knowlegeable people than me can tell you if this is rubbish and the W124 is completely different fuel delivery than the W210, but I thought that the basic engines were very similar in both!

 

[Howard]

where are you in London Les ? if you are near to SW london, i could be your passenger and you could take advantage of my AA membership.....

 

[DITTRICH]

Dear Howard
Very kind of you to offer but I have now made arrangements. I will let people know what happened.
Personally my favourite is that someone changing the fuel filter didn't put all the bits back airtight.
Everything was perfectly okay before it was serviced and although there was a 2 day interval before the non-start, I think that would be the real reason.
Les

 

[DITTRICH]

Just to let you know. There was air in the diesel system. Some "washers" at joint between fuel line and *something else* that's what they said on the phone today. I was told I could have turned over the engine to clear the air for up to 3 - 4 minutes but I was too scared - might "flatten" the battery. Maybe I just didn't turn the engine over enough. Now fixed - and many other niggles - car to be picked up tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Having the proper knowledge from the forum helps when discussing matters with garages. They begin to listen a bit more.
Thanks for all advice. I guess if I was a little more mechanical, I could have done it all myself.
Les

 

[Howard]

Woo Hoo......