the last 3 times i've started my car were very bad, and all the times before that were no problem. it took many (50?) cranks over a handful of times. one of the start ups i thought i was flooding it, another time i didn't give it any fuel. i changed the fuel filter a thousand miles ago, i just changed the pre-filter in hopes that it would help. i have no idea what the problem is. once i get going i have all the fuel i need. i don't have any air leaks (i've got a frybrid kit and can see if there's air coming out of the engine on the return side). i don't believe this has anyhting to do with wvo as i purge for much longer than needed and it was quite warm here the last two afternoons.

any thoughts? i;m afraid of getting stranded.

david

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newfane, vt
84 300td 223k modified greasel conversion (sold)
92 300d 2.5 185k with frybrid kit

bumped up

i plugged it in last night, and it started up this morning jsut fine. however, the other afternoon when it was 70 degrees out it wouldn't start, so i'm not sure that the block heater was the cure.

any help?

david

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newfane, vt
84 300td 223k modified greasel conversion (sold)
92 300d 2.5 185k with frybrid kit

A Hair Line crack in the Glow-Plug relay Fuse has been known to do that. Its a quick $3.00 fix. The OVP Relay or its fuse, is another possibility.

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

If it started easily after being plugged in but does not want to start at 70 degrees glow plug circuit out has my vote as well. Never consider the lit dash indicator an absolute indication of total function. A simple test is the interior ceiling lite staying dimmer until the glow relay releases. Plugs draw probably at least 50 amps and are going to show as reduced voltage to some extent to the ceiling lite if they are functional.

hot dog...

something to check, at least.

thanks guys.

david

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newfane, vt
84 300td 223k modified greasel conversion (sold)
92 300d 2.5 185k with frybrid kit

so i checked the box where the wires from the glow plugs came to. couldn't take it apart at that time of night, but appeared that i had the right box. swung by my friendlt mechanic to make sure i had the right sot, which i did, but he said i didn't have a fuse.

no fuse?

can some of your helpful helping helpers tell me if i do indeed have a glow plug relay fuse and where to find it?

turns out the block heater is definitely allowing me to start. without it is reeeeeally bad, and with it is no problem, if that changes anyone's thoughts on the problem.

thanks

david

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newfane, vt
84 300td 223k modified greasel conversion (sold)
92 300d 2.5 185k with frybrid kit

The fuse is inside the Glow plug relay box. Its a metal strip. Does not look like a traditional fuse.

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

alright. i'll take a look. i pulled the top off and you could see the two plugs, which i didn't pull. to get into that box you had to take a handful of screws out. i reckon that fuse does not often need to be replaced...

thanks

david

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newfane, vt
84 300td 223k modified greasel conversion (sold)
92 300d 2.5 185k with frybrid kit

I don't have the same model car as yours, but from what I remember about all my previous cars, including my current one, all of the covers for the Glow-plug relay, just snapped on and off. There were no Screws. Are you sure its the right component that you are looking at?

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

yup.
wires from the glowplugs go into it, box about the size of a sandwich, mechanic went right for it...

the top pops right off and you have the plugs, but then most of the meat of the box is shut down. we've got a lot of rain here right now, but i'll poke around in there when i have some time.

thanks

david

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newfane, vt
84 300td 223k modified greasel conversion (sold)
92 300d 2.5 185k with frybrid kit