[Sonderbenz]

Quick question: is there a hand priming pump in a 1990 350 SDL?

Long version: I am somewhat embarrassed to be asking this, but I am in a bit of a bind since I am about to come home with a newborn to a car that isn't working. Early this week my 1990 350 SDL wouldn't start, so I went and bought Wik primary and secondary filter. Following these basic instructions (I think for a 300 SDL) I changed the secondary first and since I didn't see a hand priming pump, and gathered it would self-prime I started the engine and after some cranks it actually started, though I could see a small air bubble in the filter. The next day I went to start it to take my then pregnant wife to the hospital and despite many long cranks it wouldn't start. At this point I was off to the hospital and took my mother-in-law's car instead. I think I need to be able to prime the secondary for it to crank, but just don't see a hand priming pump nearby.

Any help? Also, the directions for changing out the primary seem pretty straight forward, but if there are any pitfalls folks would like to warn me about, that would be appreciated.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Chadahar]

Remove the secondary and fill it with diesel and replace it. there should be fuel in the primary filter(Little one),(you did change that one too, Right?) if you fill the secondary filter(big one) it will start and run, pulling fuel into the primary and lifting it into the secondary. If you have fuel in the primary and it isn't getting fuel to the secondary it would be the lift pump.

 

[ChiefRider]

Chadahar is right on. There is no hand pump on the 603, it is self priming. The lift pump is mounted on the lower face of the IP. They are usually shot by 150k miles.

 

[Sonderbenz]

Thanks for both of your replies, and also, I apologize for confusing the two. I was definitely thinking the smaller plastic in-line filter was the secondary. That's the one I have currently replaced. I will replace the actual secondary soon (filling with diesel to prime) and see if that works.

 

[SDLCrazier]

i could be wrong but if you fill with atf to the secondary it might turn out to be better.

 

[Chadahar]

Why would you introduce a full shot of straight ATF into the fuel flter??? ATF should not be used in the Secondary filter, maybe blended in the fuel tank, but I feel that would not help the starting one bit.

 

[Sonderbenz]

So I ended up getting everything changed doing the following: removed the old screw on secondary and put the new one in its place. Before screwing it on, I filled it with Diesel Kleen (had seen this as an option on some other threads and just went for it). Since I had already replaced the inline primary, I didn't re-replace it (though I now keep a spare in the trunk). Then I tried to start it for 30 sec WOT, wait 30 sec to let starter cool off, and repeat. I think it took about 3 cycles before catching, and at least for the day it would start right up. I swear it is running better now than before. The only problem is that for few days after, when I went to start the car in the morning it wouldn't start right up and I had to do a few "priming" cycles. This morning though it worked fine. Not sure if that means anything else is going out in my fuel system, but thanks to everyone for the help.

I have to get new front brakes, get my power steering pump looked at, and maybe tranny looked at, so will ask my shade tree man to confirm the fuel system is good.

 

[blowfish]

u may need to crack open all the injector lines, by now u may have air inside the pump,
with air lock u may never get her fired up.
as these pump wont pump air, also the inj needs up to 1400 psi to squirt.
i did that once I ended up bus home to get another car to boost her.
would have worked if u had filled the filter with dsl or motor oil or atf.
my f350 6.9 doesnt have a hand primer pump do need to fill the filter to the top with oil inorder to start.

 

[Sonderbenz]

Although I said it was taking a bit to get her started (but was still working), today it started up just fine, so I think all the air has worked itself through the lines.