I've done hours of reaseach before posting this thread, but I still need some advice.

Here's the symptoms...

turn key to on
no glow plug indicator light
auxillary fan in front of radiator comes on (does not normally come on but always coincides with this problem)

turn key to start
starter engages normally but no engine fire

I can get the car to fire normally after turning the key on/off for several times. I know the engine will fire even before I turn the key to start because the glow plug light will come on/off normally and the aux. fan will not be on while the ignition switch is in the on position. No additional problems after car has started.

The first time I had this problem was after I let the car sit for a week while I was out of town. The problem was intermittant for the first two days and then then the car started fine from that point on. Then I went out of town for two weeks. Got back yesterday and the same problem again when I tried starting for the first time. Now the car seems to be doing ok.
I can have the symptoms when the car is cold or hot.

I have a few theories I would like to run by you...

Bad temperature switch or sender causing the aux. fan to come on and the glow plug light not to illuminate and the car not to start?

Bad iginition switch?

Is there an OVP relay on a diesel that may be bad?

Bad fuel shutoff valve? Where is it located? How to check its operation? Why would that make the aux. fan come on when the key is on (car not running) and the car is cold.

I don't think it's a bad neutral switch because the engine always turns over ok. It's just an intermittant starting/firing problem.

Hope you guys can shed some light on this. I'm taking a gamble in the morning and driving to my mom's for T'giving.

Neil Eaton

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Neil
1997 E300D - naturally aspirated
280,000 miles (as of November 2015)