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#1
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Why won't this thing start???
So, I drove my car all day yesterday, battery is charged, everything is in working order. Overnight we get freezing rain and its about 15 degrees. Won't start. Cranks and cranks. I let the glow plug warm till after the light goes out. I use the plugs a few times before cranking. I attach a booster charger with the jumper cable attachments. Its turning faster and souonds like its running while it cranks but it just won't start.
I don't want to run the battery down so I leave it alone, but I would like it to start hopefully by Wednesday! Am I missing something? Does this happen sometimes or is it a sign there is a wink link in the charging/ignition system? Here she is today:
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1984 300D turbo, 250K 1971 MGBGT, 101K 2007 VW Jetta, 4K |
#2
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Do you use a block heater? How fast does the engine crank? Cold engine and cold battery, coupled with slow cranking usually means very hard starting.
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RRGrassi 70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car 13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete. 91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K 90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K |
#3
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Pop hood and put a hair dryer in there on high and close the hood for 30 minutes. Also plug block heater in if you have one. If you dont, get one.
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Terry Allison N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama 09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA) 09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.) |
#4
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Use glow plug circuit longer
On most W123's the glow plug light goes out in 20 seconds. On cold mornings, use your watch. I know a minute is a long time if you are in a hurry and freezing. But if you want it to start, give it a full 60 seconds, then quickly off on the switch and give it another 30 seconds. Crank it up, and even after if begins to fire, keep that starting running right in there. If you can "rev" the engine up to 1500 rpm, let the starter rest. And I think you will be on your way.
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Junqueyardjim Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis 1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA 2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage, Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it! |
#5
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Quote:
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread "as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do! My drivers: 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 1987 300TD 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere! |
#6
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As vstech mentions, a full cycle times two. Also synthetic oil, proper valve adjustment.
You may want to check the plugs to see if they good.
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83 SD 84 CD |
#7
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I agree. 5-40 Syn made a cold starts smoother for me. With my new GP's I can start down to about 10F without a block heater (I hate Chicago street parking!).
Just remember that the lowest temp overnight is what your block is going to be close to several hours into the day. Take your battery inside, charge it if you can, and give it go later in the day. Good luck.
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1987 300SDL-268k mi |
#8
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Just one GP out can cause your car not too start, quick check...Pull cover off black relay, pull off square GP harness plug and check the continuity between ground and each plug wire. If one if different (no continuity) ...theres your "dead GP".
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#9
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Put your battery charger on, make sure you have a good strong battery at this temp and you might want to put a small heater under your motor, but at this point it is your option.
Next while the battery charges, Check your glow plugs and make sure they are all good. If they are all good make sure the battery is good and strong and cycle your plugs 3 times for 20 sec. each time, use your watch. If the above doesn't work you will have to get a small heater under the motor and get it as warm as possible and repeat the above. I had the same problem you had, one day it started fine got cold the next day and would not start, I checked my glow plugs and I had 2 that were good, I changed them all. You should get some anti gel for your fuel if you are below freezing for long. Good Luck! Jim |
#10
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Check your glow plugs. If you dont' have a multimeter, a non-contact thermometer aimed at the plugs after they have glowed should show enough of a temperature difference to tell if one or more are not working.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
#11
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Don't we all just LOVE cold weather???!!!!!
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1989 300E 144K |
#12
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Hes proly fired up and down the road, would be nice too find out whatz up.
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#13
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No, not running. I'm at my apartment where I work (not where I live) so I have absolutely no tools or anything. Its OK. It should thaw by Thursday and then it will start I'm sure. It runs fine when it runs, but severe cold has always been a problem. I think I need to use synthetic oil for sure. Thanks anyways, guys, just wondered if there was a trick of the trade I was missing. I don't want to keep cranking it and run down the battery and so on. Oh well.
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1984 300D turbo, 250K 1971 MGBGT, 101K 2007 VW Jetta, 4K |
#14
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Well heres hoping the weather warms up for you. I would check the GPs if you can borrow a VO meter and consider a block heater for future cold spells. My 240D wouldn't start the other morning and it was only about 30 degrees, a GP had died.
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
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