OK, I am curious too, why not just fix the glowplug system properly? As far as the WD40 is concerned, it is nowhere near as volatile as ether, so i wouldn't be overly concerned about the sparks. Yes, cycle the glowplugs prior to trying to start. I usually just take the air cleaner lid off and spray directly into the intake throat. I don't know how cold it is in NC, but if you plug in the block heater overnight or for 4-5 hrs. before it will help alot, even if it is not that cold out. I have started many MB diesels this way and it has worked nicely. Once it took me a couple days to get a 240 running, but after it started initially and I let it idle for about an hour, it started on the first try ever since.