I've got a problem.

Fixing up much neglected 1985 740 GLE for daughter's first car.

It was running alright in the fall, sat over winter, I started every few weeks and let run till warm during that time.

When I started working on it this spring, the first problem was the in-tank fuel pump. (This may have been the case all along, and I just noticed it when fuel level dropped.)The pump didn't run, and the hose on this pump was completely corroded.

I replaced fuel filter near main pump, but did not drain fuel tank. I put in used pump with good looking hose on. I did not test the pump. Said somewhere you could ruin it if you ran it dry. I put a little more gas in it, and it seemed to work okay, maybe because of higher fuel level?

Right after that I replaced water pump, and replaced radiator. When I tried to get it to run, it sounds like it's running on three cylinders and badly out of time. Also for the first time I noticed oil being pushed out of the oil cap, and a good rush of air out the dipstick when I removed it.

Other symptoms: Listened to injectors with stethoscope, and the number one, closest to front of engine, sounded very muted, almost no sound, while the others had a pronounced "snick, snick" sound. Removed electrical connector from this connector, which had almost no effect on engine running, it still sounded like a diesel, out of tune, and would not rev past about 4k.

Also: removed fuse #11 (in-tank fuel pump), and it had no noticeable affect;

removed various vacuum hoses, little effect;

put vacuum to the fuel return regulator(?) attached to fuel rail, and when I got up to about 25 in of vacuum I could hear and feel the engine run smoother;

when I removed large vacuum hose on engine side of intake manifold,(this is the lowest one on back, about 3/4" dia.) the engine shot up to about 4-5k and would not slow until I reconnected the AMM electrical connector, which stalled it out;

I cannot hear any sound from Throttle Position Switch when I move the throttle.

The engine will not even idle with the AMM connected unless a few vacuum hoses have been removed.

I'm not sure what all this means, but if anyone has any clues please post response.

**** Since, starting this thread, I've replaced the in-tank fuel pump with new, (the old one did run), and the engine still isn't running any different.