Hi everyone,

Just when I was bragging about my '82 240 not having any trouble starting, its my turn. I'm still waiting to get a compression tester to see what the bottom line is, but all of a sudden, I've had an intermittant starting problem which has turned into a will not start problem. I changed out the glow plugs and still no start. I put a test light up to the plugs and they are getting current. Then I noticed a weird deal, while I was playing under the hood, for the first time, I heard the glow plug relay on the fender click on and off when I cycled the ignition. Is it possible that the relays sometimes act up? I did notice that the previous owner had duct tape around the top lid of the glow plug relay box and the box has silicone smeared over the heads of the mounting screws to the fender. Is this an indication of a previous intermittant problem? Well, I know what the determinant would be after I made this discovery: will the engine start now? Haven't gotten to try because before this latest revelation, I took the valve cover off to check the valve adjustment. Which brings me to the next question....

I checked the valve adjustment (cold, very cold) and the balloting is in. After three recounts, the intakes were .003, .005, .006, .004 inches. Exhausts were .013, .009, .012, .014 inches. I see that the book says .004 and .016 respectively. Here is the question, are these settings ball park good to run on a very cold morning or are they a little too tight on the exhausts? Also, is it typical for the exhausts to come out of adjustment before the intakes?

As far as fuel, I cracked open an injector line and noticed that it would drip when I cranked on the started so I'm not suspecting a fuel problem yet. I'm new to the diesel game and forgive my ignorance but I figure I couldn't ask these questions from a better source. Thanks, Jim

If someone has used tape and silicon sealant on the glow plug relay,I would certainly suspect it as being defective.They do go bad and I have replaced a few. The MB part number is 001 545 98 32. You can get one from one of the MB parts places in Atlanta,Ga.They cost about $100.
Current to the glow plugs stays on for quite a while after the light in the dash goes out. So don't be in a big hurry to hit the starter as soon as the light goes out. After the glow plug light goes out and it is quite,you will hear the relay click off.
Good luck To you.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky.

I don't THINK your valves are too tight to keep it from starting, but it sure would be a good time to adjust them. If you don't have the special wrenches, you can manage with frustration to adjust the valves on a four cylinder, a five is a different matter. I'm not sure that .016 is correct for the exhausts, my memory doesn't serve me with confidence on this.

If your voltmeter is showing voltage for 20 or 30 seconds AT all four glow plugs, then the relay should not be your problem although it might best be changed.

Have you read the thread that I started about my daughters 300D? It would be worth reading, there is one suggestion in there to pump the hand pump while someone cranks the engine. Also check your fuel filters for cleanliness. Trashy fuel can block one or both of these.

We're in this together, my daughter wants her car running again, and I want to get it off my list of things to do.

Good luck to the both of us,

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Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, manual, 533K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles