84 190d 2.2 glow plug light goes off right away - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chuni959 · #1 11-28-2007, 02:13 PM

Just picked up an 040 190d this morning. When starting, the glow plug light went off right away. Im assuming this is cuz of a bad glow plug relay. Would this be a good diagnosis? Any way to test it?

Anyways i let it sit for 5 mins in accessory mode hoping it would heat the plugs even though the dash light was off. After 5 mins i tried to start it and it just cranked and cranked. Then i turned it off and let the glow plug heat again for about 30 secs and it started to sputter. I gave it some gas and it slowly came to life running rather rough. After keeping the gas on it for about a minute, it held its idle.

I took it for a spin and noticed that when i let off the gas it made kind of a sucking in/compression sound that is definitely not normal. I was wondering if that is a symptom of a cylinder not firing and just making compression due to a bad glow plug. Does that sound about right?

Anyways if you agree with me, im going to order a new set of glow plugs and relay. If not, let me know what you think it could be! Thanks

LUVMBDiesels · #2 11-28-2007, 02:18 PM

The light will go off in about 10 seconds. The relay will keep the plugs glowing for about 30-45 seconds. The best way to be sure is to keep the door open and wait for the dome light to get bright or to put an ammeter inline with the battery. My RADAR detector flashes "Low Volts" while the plugs are glowing.

I can't help you on the sucking sound, is the car a turbodiesel or a regular diesel?

chuni959 · #3 11-28-2007, 02:43 PM

NA diesel, turbo wasnt offered on the 2.2

Thanks for the relay info, maybe just my plugs are shot. Would that make the light go off right away?

shingleback · #4 11-28-2007, 03:34 PM

Glow plug lights do funny things when one or more GPs are not working. If you just got the car, pull the glow plugs, inspect them and check the resistance to make sure they are not open or shorted. Also, make sure that the ends are not ballooned and ready to fall off.
I would start by replacing all of them; cheap at about $10 each and they will become part of your 'winter preparation'.

chuni959 · #5 11-28-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shingleback

Glow plug lights do funny things when one or more GPs are not working. If you just got the car, pull the glow plugs, inspect them and check the resistance to make sure they are not open or shorted. Also, make sure that the ends are not ballooned and ready to fall off.
I would start by replacing all of them; cheap at about $10 each and they will become part of your 'winter preparation'.

i took a look in the engine bay and it looks like they are buried beneath the intake manifold. Is there a write up for this somewhere? Also im so used to my 2.6 gas w201s, i was quite surprised when i saw the oil filter! Ill have to poke around a bit, but im pretty sure its this corroded cylinder shaped object in the drivers side front of the head. It has an IN and and OUT arrow stamped on the lines.

csp97 · #6 11-28-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuni959

i took a look in the engine bay and it looks like they are buried beneath the intake manifold. Is there a write up for this somewhere? Also im so used to my 2.6 gas w201s, i was quite surprised when i saw the oil filter! Ill have to poke around a bit, but im pretty sure its this corroded cylinder shaped object in the drivers side front of the head. It has an IN and and OUT arrow stamped on the lines.

Are talking about the oil filter? It's at the rear of the head on the drivers's side. I think that's the power steering resevoir on the front of the head.

chuni959 · #7 11-28-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csp97

Are talking about the oil filter? It's at the rear of the head on the drivers's side. I think that's the power steering resevoir on the front of the head.

I know im coming off as quite the newb here, but keep in mind i know the 2.6 gas gars in and out. So no, its not the belt driven power steering pump. I thought i looked back where it should be and it wasnt there. I must be blind. brb

odie · #8 11-28-2007, 05:31 PM

My 1984 190D 2.2 glow plug lights only stay on for maybe 2-3 seconds when I turn the key. Usually hard to get started if I crank right after the light goes out withut cycling a couple times. But it is winter and I run 50/50 WVO blends single tank.

I cycle the key/glow plug light 3-4 times and she fires immediately.

I never thought about just turning the key and waiting a few seconds after the glow plug light goes out to see if the glow plug relay is still on. I assumed the glow plugs are only energized when the light is actually on.

chuni959 · #9 11-28-2007, 06:30 PM

hahaha no wonder i missed the filter the first time! That HUGE 5 inch circle is the filter housing! Nothing like ive ever seen before. I thought it was part of the intake manifold.

Anyways, got the oil changed and installed the new 10 foot filter. The drain plug was stripped to hell, luckily the vice grips got it. As the oil started draining, i got a little on my fingers and it would appear as though the previous owner swapped out the oil for black fountain pen ink! I have no idea what its lubrication properties are like at this point, but i spilled a little on the WHITE routella oil bottle when i was pouring it into the old bottles and even the thinnest layer of this stuff blocked any white from showing through! Nasty!

shingleback · #10 11-28-2007, 06:36 PM

Chuni: welcome to the dark side. What you describe sounds perfectly normal for oil out of a diesel engine. I use Chevron Delo 400, and the oil will look just as black 5 minutes after an oil change.

I was wondering about the filter too but am not familiar with the 2.2 engine. I bought my filter at Autozone, so you can probably get it at any of your friendly autoparts places. I will start buying wix filters for all the cars so I am waiting until I am ready.

No panic bro, keep asking the questions.