Hello all,
I have a 1984 190D and it has recently developed a hard starting problem after it has been sitting overnight or while I'm at school. My glow plug indicator has long been burnt out, so I generally listen for the relay to turn off (about 45 seconds) before attempting to start the engine. Just in the last two weeks, it takes at least 4 attempts to start the engine, running the starter for about 15 seconds each attempt. As I crank the engine, I am getting a lot of smoke which indicates that the engine is getting fuel, but I cannot figure out what is causing this hard start condition. Another symptom which may or may not be related to this problem is that I am getting 40-50 fewer miles out of a tank of diesel. I have inspected all of the fuel lines for leaks and determined that there is no significant leakage. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or ideas. Anything will help at this point. Thanks in advance.

Blake

What makes you believe that the glow plug indicator is "burnt out"? If two glow plugs are not working, then you won't get any indicator. The lack of that yellow light is the indicator that you need to check the glow plugs to see where the problem lies.

Sounds like a good place to start. I would also like to add that I have never had trouble starting the engine in the last two years. I didn't mean to say that the indicator had burnt out, rather it operates intermittently. I find that the lamp does not illuminate on more occasions than it does illuminate. Could this intermittent illumination be caused by a failing relay?

I could be possible that the relay is intermittent and failing. But, I would place my bets on one or more than one glow plug not functioning properly. Check each glow plug for resistance. You need a sensitive meter and the value must be below 1 ohm on each glow plug.

Thanks

Anytime. Help is what we do here.