just spent 7k on new head because glow plug got cemented into head.
now the car won't start. You can here the engine trying to turn over but won't fire up. Tried all the various keys. Locked and unlocked the car. But it still won't start. Please help

Has it run since the head job? If not maybe the timing is off? I know those IP's are computer controlled maybe a sensor is off. If it is a bad sensor scanning it with SDS should pick up something.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

it has run since head job. We had it put on the computer twice already and
they say nothing showed as being wrong. We had it towed once to the shop and it started right away at the shop (of course). Now for three days it will not start. We will have to tow it back to the shop. It just acts like it wants to start but will not catch fire. help!!! I hate spending money to fix it. I feel like our mechanic ripped us off on the glow plug and head job. Don't want to give him anymore money.

Hi

Most likely your fuel lines, can you see bubbles in the clear pipes? These fuel lines do not like being disconnected and re connected which they most certainly have if the head has been off.

Check for bubbles in the lines when trying to start, also might have a better chance of starting on a full tank of fuel (less of a suck for the pump).

McCool300TD

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1988 190E Sold
1996 C230K Sport Sold
His: 98 E300TD Estate, 7 seater, Avantgarde, Silver, Black cloth, parameter steering, dipping rvm, folding mirrors, rain sensing wipers, pentagon tints, 17" Elegance wheels. 298K
Hers: 93 300TD, 7 seater, Grey MB Tex pearl blue metallic, 15" 8 hole alloys, OTG, Cruise, not much else 220K

Well $7k is a huge sum to spend on glow plug removel. I don't even think the dealers charge anywhere near that.

Could be an air leak, is their air in the clear fuel lines?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Wow, $7K. Couldn't the mechanic reuse the original head? After hearing this story so many times, I'm really afraid to touch my glow plugs now. Thankfully they're fine for now.

Is the problem occurring randomly or just when the engine is cold or hot? If it only happens when it's cold, it could be one of the glow plugs (new ones can be bad right out of the box). If not, then it's probably a fuel delivery problem or timing. When you're having this problem, check if you're getting fuel to the prefilter by disconnecting the plastic line that goes to the top of the fuel filter housing.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

One more vote for the fuel lines leaking (sucking air) as the best place to start looking for remedy.
Paul
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98 E300

we have put the dang car in four times for this. Our genious mechanics changed the battery this time. I have informed my mechanic about the suggestions from this forum and asked that they check the fuel line. I can see bubbles in the fuel line just like you guys said. How do I get the bubbles out. Thanks for your help. Two mechanics one in Addison and one in Ft. Worth can't seem to solve this problem.

If you do see bubbles in the fuel lines replace all of the clear plastic ones. They get brittle from the heat and age, if someone bumps or touches them they can leak.

This makes sense since they probably were playing with them when they replaced the head and didn't change them.

This is very commen, poor design on MB's part. But at least they are cheap to replace.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200