Hello all,

I have had a 1989 240DL wagon for about a month now and really enjoy it so far. This morning when I went out to start it, it turned over but didn't fire at all. I knew I was low on gas and thought maybe I had run out. I put around 6 gallons in and tried again...same thing. I knew fuel pumps could be an issue on these, so I jumped the #4 fuse to the #6 fuse in order to test the pumps. I could hear both run and they sounded smooth. However, they aren't getting power from the ignition, I have to jump them instead to make them do anything. Next I disconnected the fuel line right before the main pump and made the in tank pump run from the fuse panel. It seemed to be working, as I was able to collect a good amount of gas in a bucket. I put everything back together, and while jumping the pumps on the fuel panel, I tried to start the car...Still no luck.

So, it seems like I have two problems:

1. No power to the pumps when the key is in the on position
2. Even when I run the pumps and try to start the car simultaneously I still don't get any fuel up front. (I pulled out a spark plug after trying...bone dry)

I have also tried replacing the fuel relay located by the ECU on the passenger side.

Sorry for being long winded. Any suggestions?

EDIT: Also - forgot to mention that I have had a check engine light on for about a week now. I was planning on taking it in, but it was running fine yet and I was busy so I neglected to do so. I don't really have a way of checking the code...

Thanks!

 

Sure you have a way to check codes...you have an OBD connector on the driver side strut tower. How did you check the fuel pump relay? Did you replace with a new one or use another used one? There's a fuse near the battery that often corrodes and fails due to the proximity with the battery. Fuel can get to the rail and still have dry plugs. If the injectors don't pulse, no fuel goes into the cylinder...dry plugs. So...first pull the codes then....1. check fuses 2. fuel pressure relay 3. fuse by battery 4. ground fires attached to thetwo main injector rail securing bolts on top.

 

see this to read your OBD codes...
Engine and OBD Diagnostic Codes
(its for 740/940 but the engines and codes are identical on the 240s)... an 89 should be LH2.4 with the OBD reader on the strut tower as swiftjustice describes...)

when you turn the key on, it only pulses the fuel pump for about a second, then shuts it off until the engine turns over. and yeah, all the rest of what swiftjustice says