weird cold starting problem - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BenG · #1 12-07-2007, 07:53 PM

so i know i need to change my oil and fliters and whatnot, even though the guy i bought it from said he had just changed all of it. last night, i was trying to start my 86 300sdl, and it just wouldnt start, and my battery died, but that looks pretty old as well. which brings me to my questions... last night when i tried to start it, the glow plug indicator light on the dash was working fine, and today, nothing. it doesnt turn on at all at any point. could it be a fuse? or do the plugs need replaced? the other question is, this is a pennsylvania car, would it have a block heater? if so, im SEARCHING for it, and dont see anything.

thanks

b

whunter · #2 12-07-2007, 08:30 PM

GRIESL · #3 12-07-2007, 11:28 PM

Lots of good info previously posted. Basically, I'd say you should test your glow plugs. On my 300d, the dash light won't come on if #1 is out or a combination of any two down the line are out. I just had two go out just in time for winter! Anyway, gonna be hard to start without the plugs. As far as the block heater goes, if you don't have a plug coming out of the grill or bottom of the bumper, I'd guess you don't have one. I'm not sure if mine is OEM or what, but it looks like a little black plastic motor spliced into a coolant hose. Good luck. I wish I had held out for an SDL, but I had to have a diesel to burn my bio and I jumped on the first decent car I found. Don't get me wrong, I quickly fell in love with my 300d, but, damn, the SDL is so smooth. Good luck!

barry123400 · #4 12-08-2007, 07:29 PM

Got a 240d out of new jersey a few years ago without a block heater. As far as I could establish it had spent it's life there up to that point without one.

compress ignite · #5 12-08-2007, 08:06 PM

If you have a Mercedes type , one of the freeze plugs will have instead a
device installed to heat the coolant.There should be a electrical cord snaked
it's way up to the grill or front bumper area with a male 120 volt termination.
'Just plug it into 110/120 volt 60 hertz supply for 5-6 hours.

tobybul · #6 12-09-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

so i know i need to change my oil and filters and whatnot, even though the guy i bought it from said he had just changed all of it. last night, i was trying to start my 86 300sdl, and it just wouldn't start, and my battery died, but that looks pretty old as well. which brings me to my questions... last night when i tried to start it, the glow plug indicator light on the dash was working fine, and today, nothing. it doesn't turn on at all at any point. could it be a fuse? or do the plugs need replaced? the other question is, this is a Pennsylvania car, would it have a block heater? if so, I'm SEARCHING for it, and don't see anything.

thanks

b

I thought you said your battery died? Could this be why it would not turn? or the GP not lighting up? How many miles does the car have? It helps if you use synthetic motor oil. My cars start all the time and I'm in the Great Lakes. Also, make sure there's no air in the IP or injector lines.

BTW, best investment I ever did was buy a battery charger. I have a Vector that I got from Sam's Club. Saved me from having to get a new battery every time.

nhdoc · #7 12-09-2007, 08:51 AM

New batteries can hasten GP failures, my experience says.

I put a new battery in my '79 300SD and after the very first start I blew out a GP. I can't imagine this was a coincidence and it makes some sense. If you have some weak GPs and they are running on an older weak battery and then you replace it with a brand new one you might just push them over the edge on that very first start...at least that's what happened in my case.

FWIW I bought a nice big 1000 CCA Bosch brand battery at Pep Boys for it for around $100 and it cranks great even when parked in a 20 degree garage.