Sorry Ben, I may have been too hard on you.

As far as pushing on the accelerator pedal, the only time my '80 300SD didn't want to start with the accelerator depressed was at Lake Tahoe NV (32 degrees F and 8000 FT. altitude). For some unknown reason I took my foot off the accelerator while cranking the engine and it immediately started. After that, while in Tahoe, I didn't push on the accelerator while cranking the engine and it started the first time. It must have had something to do with the altitude.

P E H