W210 E320 CDi - Stuttering

[whizzkid11]

I have a problem which my local garage is trying to investigate:

I have a 2000, E320CDi avantgarde.

We have ascertained that there are two injectors which have leaking seals.

There was also evidence of a diesel fuel leak at the front and back of the engine, and further investigation (following a breakdown) revealed air bubbles and 'gunk' in the pipes..

Since then the three fuels pipes have been replaced, the diesel pre-pump at the front/top part of the engine had been replaced by the previous owner, and some leaking disel around the high pressure pump suggested issues there. We have therefore replaced the High pressure fuel pump as well.

Since the replacement of these parts, the car is now starting, idling for a bit then shutting down.

The mechanic reckons it is 'sucking in air' from somewhere in the fuel tank /pipeline.

The bit that baffles me is that this ar was purcahsed from an auction last week, and it came with 2/3 of a tank full of fuel - which is very odd for an auction. This problem came about when the fuel dropped to about 1/4 of a tank.

Any ideas on investigation direction/focus?

All help is greatly appreciated!

 

[ringway]

Sounds like a blocked fuel strainer to me. HERE.

If you need a 22mm hex key to remove the strainer I'll post mine to you. I may even have my old "Clean" fuel strainer somewhere.

 

[whizzkid11]

UPDATE:

Thanks for the guidance Ringway, and renault21ts on my other thread.

Having replaced the fuel pipes, the leaking high pressure diesel pump, and fuel filters... the car was still fuel starved. Ringway pointed out the fuel strainer, which i pointed to the mechanic.

Being a W210 Saloon, the fuel strainer was not easily accessible, so the mechanic decided to remove the whole fuel tank after draining it, and boy am I glad he did.

When flushing out the fuel tank, he found some bits in the fuel tank that should not be there.... 3 x 6" long plastic pipets, 1 x 4" hypodermic needle; and loads of gunk/sludgy material. and to say the strainer was clogged is an understatement.

Anyway, all back together the thing started, however, it is still suffering from fuel pressure related issues. I will be getting the fault codes read today and post later this evening or tomorrow...

I am thinking of starting a Dreaded Saga thread!!! I have learnt more about these cars in the last 7 days then I did in the last eight years.

 

[BlackC55]

Do al leak off check on the injectors.