Hello, just recently, after several days of slower starts, according to the wife, her car now won't start. I verified this, let it crank over for at least 45 seconds and no fire. I know it is either air or fuel, which implies fuel. I don't have a factory manual on engine yet. Any simplified fuel system drawings available? Any troubleshooting tips? I have used some recommended fuel system additive a couple of times the last few months and changed both fuel filters once and the primary twice more, usually due to symptoms at higher rpms. Isn't there a pump prior to the injector pump? The glow plug light works and the relay clicks many seconds later, I always wait for the relay click. What can I check and how please, thanks so much, Steve[]

 

have you checked the glow plugs? mine did the same. It was a glow plug that was bad.
good luck
Jay
1979300TD

 

After reading more posts, via search, and one post to my original, I replaced all 5 glow plugs. A bit of a problem to get fingers in, luckily did not drop any wire nuts. Took a couple of hours due to close quarters, but started right up! I checked resistance, some were open and some shorted. For $10 each, I just replaced them all. Just FYI, , I think by looking at my maintenance history, quite extensive records with my car, they may have been replaced once before and not sure if all replaced then, and that was 24 years and 240,000 miles. skp

 

try this:

remove the 5 injectors form the top of each of the cyldinders. then purge/prime the engine until diesel fuel comes out of the top of each of them. then put them all back on. this makes sure that there is no air in the engine, causing it to not fire. Also, if diesel wont come out hte top, then youve got a fuel supply issue.

 

what is the relay click? do all mercedes diesels do this? i just wait for the light to go out, then crank it over. wait to long after the light goes out, no start. dont wait for the light to go out, no start.

 

Remember that there is also a blade fuse in driver side fender,,, check it out while your there.