Well I couldn't get the ol' 9 to start this morning. I did have a thread yesterday where I thought my GP relay was taking a dump on me but I looked at it and it was still clean and I could hear it clicking... that would alert me that it would still be okay. The GPs are new with < 3K mi on them, Bosch brand.

Could I have gotten some bad fuel in there from the local station I fill from? If so, what sort of booster/additives are best in this situation?

Prior to this, the car is and was running great. I drove it yesterday after it did start and drove like normal. Didn't seem down on power at all. Just doesn't want to start easily.

Also, when I was trying this morning it sputtered a few times upon cranking but wouldn't stay running. I also had someone help and did see puffs of unburned fuel come out of the tail pipe so I'm confident it's getting fuel still too.



Any help is appreciated!

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Do you plug your car in to keep heat in the block?

He's in TX................Cold is something they don't see a lot of compared to the northern states.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

It was only in the upper 30s here this morning.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Still sounds either glow plug or fuel starvation related.

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

Glow plugs + possible fuel jell.

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Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
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Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

What is the condition of your battery?

You can get a cheap $3 hydrometer type tester that'll give you a ball-park estimate.

Good battery, good fuel, and good glow goes a long way...

- Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

My dash light used to come on as soon as the key was all the way over... now it takes a moment to light up, then goes off sooner. If that makes any sense at all.

This just started recently too (like a week ago), so the relay has power to it but I'm going to look at the fuseable link later today on the relay itself. The GP's themselves are new with less than 3K on them... so I highly doubt they are bad and they're Bosch too. Each of the lil wires to the GPs are fine and connected. Could I have simply gotten a crap set of GPs?



Now the battery, it cranks the car over like a champ. Would it still be suspect if it does that or not?

I always buy my fuel from a station with a high turnover rate to prevent me from taking crap fuel or some with water in it.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I have replaced my glow plugs twice in roughly fourteen months.
There seems to be a quality issue with current production glow plugs.

Not what I wanted to hear. Looks like my GPs are shot and the relay is fine.

Should I go with Bosch again or skip them? I saw a brand... Beru... any good?

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Whatever you do, don't buy autolite! I just learned that among Ford PS owners 'autolite' is used as a family friendly replacement for many popular four letter words, such as, "What the autolite is this gummy autolite in my oil???"

I got a practical demonstration of this when my 3 month old autolite glowplug failed (only two in the car were autolite, replaced while out of town, the rest bosch).

Bosch seems to be the 'standard', but if there are quality problems then... I don't know who else to turn to.

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)