Help please. Car won't start in cold.
 

Okay, my 84 SD won't start. I parked it in a lot on Friday night with the temps in the 30s. Didn't get home until late Saturday night (much later than expected). By that time the temperature had dropped to -10F. The car obvioulsy wouldn't start. I pushed it up to a building so that I could plug it in. Wouldn't start. (I had some help jumping it so battery wouldn't die)

I left it plugged in overnight. Went back to it this morning. Still wouldn't start. Wondered if the block heater was working.

Had it towed to my girlfriends heated underground parking garage in which the ambient temp is about 60F. It has now been sitting there for around almost three hours. Still won't start.

The starter just turns and turns and it just won't fire up.

I'm at a loss for anything to try.

My next thought is to take of the filters and put some HEET or something in it, but if I'm in a heated garage it shouldn't matter should it?

I'm at a loss. What should I try to get it started?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
-Ryan

Oh yeah, a couple more things.

Fresh oil change Thursday night with my usual Mobil 1 synthetic 5w40. I checked the dipstick in the garage (about an hour ago) and it looked fine, was on the bottom side of the range so I added about half a quart.

Valves were adjusted about 5k ago.

It has started in temps this cold before this winter (of course after being plugged in).

Thanks!
-Ryan

Check your glow plugs.

Thanks, I was planning on doing that after it would not start this morning.

But shouldn't it fire up in the 60F garage without glowplugs?? I would think so but maybe not?

3 hours at 60F is probably not enough. That block is chilled to the core right now.

Don't put Heet in the fuel filter! (Red Heet is Iso Alcohol. Yellow Heet is Methanol. Neither are a good way to start an engine.)

Plug it in and listen for the sizzle sound. That will let you know the block heater is working.

Could your fuel simply have turned to gel? -10 is pretty freaken cold! Do you have D2 or D1 in the tank?

It really sounds like a fuel issue.

-Jim

Get some Powerservice 911 and pour it into the tank. Crack injector lines and prime until you get fuel at each injector.
It is very possible that you got a bad batch of fuel and have gelled.
I regularly start my 83 300d at temp down to -10 without plugging in -BUT I have started diesels for years in these conditions an know that I'll usually only get one chance.
With gelled fuel, you won't get anything but a dead battery.
Good Luck.

Thanks guys.

Okay, no HEET!

I'll let it sit in the garage awhile longer and go get some Diesel 911. I rember seeing it last week when I was at the store.

D1 or D2? Well in MN they preblend and all pumps sell the same blends. It is supposedly mixed down to the lowest seasonal expected temps. I always buy from the same place because it is more high volume and they don't look at me funny when I say 'diesel on pump 19' instead of gas.

Wow -10F without plugging in? Man, that is a good engine! I have started mine down to about 10F without being plugged in.


Quick question about the glowplugs.
The light comes on right now. Last night when I was trying to start I was doing 2,3, and 4 cycles before starting. The light stopped coming on. Don't know if it just wasn't cycling or if something burned out but the light comes on now. Does that mean they are still good? I don't have my multimeter on me as I'm parked about 15 miles away from my house to check them.

Seems like the consensus is to just let it warm up. I'll walk across the street to Wal-Mart (I know, I know, but the car won't drive and they are the closest) and get some fuel additives to try and ungel it (if it is gelled).

Thanks. If anyone else has suggestions keep em comin'. I'll update. Going to go downstairs and try again!

The only thing that is really going to help with the ungelling is heat. 60F and give it some time.

The next thing would be to check out the glow plug system. That will keep you busy.

http://www.dieselgiant.com/glowplugrepair.htm

If you don't have one, pick up a cheap multimeter from Wal-Mart.

-Jim

Okay, got some Diesel 911 and while I'm at it I bought a 97cent coolant temp checker to check my fresh coolant change (about 2 weeks ago) and the protection was as good as it got.

I have 2 multi-meters, neither at my disposal at the moment. I will check the glow plugs if I ever get it to my garage! :)

I will let the Diesel 911 equalize with the fuel and eat supper, then I will go down and prime the lines and try it again.

I also listened for the block heater and I could here it so that seems to check out okay. I left it plugged in along with the battery charger for my crankings draining the battery.

Will update again.
Thanks!

don't forget you can keep turning the starter motor even if a couple of cylinders start to fire. it won't hurt anything. don't turn the starter for too long or you might overheat it. wait about 30 seconds after the glow light goes out before hitting the starter. good luck.

Well at least you are "stuck: at the girlfriends house. Things could be worse.:rolleyes:

are you kidding? this is fuel for a fire, you will never live down, don't think you are ever getting her to drive an "old Mercedes Diesel" (pronounced like a serious swear word....) and don't think if you ever get better than friends that you will be allowed to continue to have a OMD in HER house!

seriously, -10 should not gel properly mixed winter fuel. and since your heater is working, I doubt that's it... you are sure you have fuel in the tank right? try removing the tank cap while cranking... you could have a plugged tank screen.
and don't worry about how many meters you have at home, get a 10.00 meter from wal-mart and use it now, then keep the thing in the glove box! see how many glow plugs are out. since you have a light, you at least know it's not a fuse... but two or three dead plugs are gonna make it a very hard start.
also how long before your last valve adjust were they adjusted? 5K is a long time if the time before was more than 15K, or if many of them were tight. you should always recheck them after 100 miles or so, if you are not regularly checking them. (thank you Whunter!)
ALSO do you know how to start a diesel in frigid temps? DO NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE THROTTLE!!! let the motor spin up with minimal fuel, heavy cold fuel will kill any chance the GP's had at starting the car, only press down on the accel 1/4 way AFTER the motor starts to catch. and DON"T LET GO OF THE STARTER until the motor is on it's own with at least a good # of cylinders.
go start your car, I am sure it's warmed up enough now...

Still a no go. Starting to worry.

Starter turns and turns but nothing fires.

Engine is warm to the touch. When I turn to position II the temp gauge goes up to 40C.

No one has quite answered my question yet, if it is 60F and the car and motor and fuel are at that temp I shouldn't need the glow plugs to start it, right?

vstech, good advice.

Just realized my tank is under vacuum because when taking off the cap it sucks in after priming. But shouldn't it at least start to fire then die if this was the problem? Don't know, I'll go try it with the cap off.

PS- She LOVES my 'old benz'. She wants to get one. :thumbsup:

If you have vacuum at your tank when you open the cap, you very well may have collapsed your fuel tank, and be receiving an incorrect signal from your fuel sending unit. The gauge could say you have fuel, but you could have none due to the collapsed tank holding the float in position. The vacuum is created because the tank vent gets clogged.
Did you prime the injection pump with the lines cracked until you saw fuel?
If there is not fuel, there will be no fire.
Try to put some fuel in the tank, and prime.
Your car may or may not start w/o functioning glow plugs at 60 degrees. Have you checked the strip fuse, and or checked to see that they are getting power?

Does an '84SD have a strip fuse for the glow plugs like the 124? If so is yours cracked?