I have a 1969 220D & I am having problems getting it to start, Ii had just replaced the battery & the car was running fine. I messed with a **** just above the ignition key (not knowing whst it is) a little to the left a few inches. I drove the car and it was running pretty bad, I shut the car off and now I can't get it to start. The car cranks over & almost starts but it won't quite fire up, the exhaust fumes are warm like the fuel is being burnt properly but it won't start. I have never owned a Diesel car before and I don't know anything about them, how to adjust the choke if there is one, or anything like that. Can someone please let me know what to do, or tell me how to start this thing the right way? I reallycould use anyadvice.
Thank You
Paul

 

how long are you pulling on the preheater **** before you pull it all the way out to the start position?

did you run out of fuel?
[align=left] [/align]

 

Try removing the air filter and have someone crank it whilespraying in some WD 40.( Don't use either, it could ruin your engine! ) If that fails, try removing the injectors and adding a bit of STP and crankcase oil. Have someone crank it until there is no longer any oil/stp coming from the injector holes... Your rings should now be tight with stp/oil which will raise the compression. Replace the injectors, bleed the injector lines, tighten back to the injectors.... and again, have someone crank it while you spray WD 40 into the air filter...It'll start...

 

Hi

Have you checked your glow plugs?, it happnes so that if one glow plug fails then all of them will not turn on, and therefore it wont start.

 

I checked the glow plugs and I even removed the ground and ran a wire to each glow plug so they all have power all the time and it still won't start. It almost starts but not quite, the exhause comes out of the tail pipe warm like its burning the fuel but it won't fire up.

 

That sounds like great advice, I will definatley try that and let you know how it worked out. Thank you soo much for taking the time and letting me know what to do next.
Thank You
Paul

 

I pull on the know and let it sit for a few minutes before I pull all the way and the car does have fuel, I even added a few gallons just to make sure & still nothing happens.
Thank You
Paul

 

loosen the fittings on top of the injectors just a bit and have a helper crank the engine. a little fuel should leak out at the fitting, sounds like you have air in the fuel to me
[align=left] [/align]

 

those glow plugs are wired in series. If you run a hot to each of them you will burn them up. There is a little element on your dash, if I remember it's to the right of the steering column. when you actuate the glow plugs, it should glow orange after a minute or so. also, you should feel heat in the solid wires rinnung from plug to plug. Don't burn yourself. If you have neither of these things happening when the glow plugs are "glowing", then one or more of them are burned out and this car will not start
[align=left] [/align]