It's a new to me car. It has a 617 with the old style loops glowplugs. I should have checked before I ordered new plugs, I would have ordered a retrofit kit for the newer pencil style.


It's got 5 new loop style plugs.Dummy light still does not work. How often do these plugs come bad from the factory? Where's the relay and fuse located for this system?

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

The relay is under the dash on the left side of the sterring column. It's an aluminum box about 1" x 3". Can't remember where the fuse is at the moment or if it has one. Try checking that the wire coming off the #1 glowplug has a good connection to the big round sensor between #1 & #2 glow plug. If it doesn't the light will not come on. I'd say the chance of all the plugs being bad from the mfgr are very low. Good luck.

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H.D.B.
OBK #45
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'75 W115 240D, wife's dd, 197K
........'75 W115 300D, my dd, 245K
.. .. ..........'82 W126 300SD, the 'someday' project

Is it recommended to convert to the newer style plugs? Is there much to the conversion?

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1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

Absolutely. Conversion is simple. Remove old plugs, throw away ground wire and wavy heavy wires. Install new retrofit pencil plugs. Put original hot wire to first plug and install jumper wires to each of the rest of the plugs.
Whole kit includes a new relay and jumper wires. I see no need for a new relay so I think it's better to just buy the plugs individually and make up 3 or 4 short jumper wires.

You get faster hotter glows with pencil plugs and no wasted heat escaping to atmosphere via the heavy resistance wires.

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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

Completely agree. I've done all of mine. Just take the grond wire off the last plug and tie it back out of the way, leaving it disconnected. It isn't needed on pencil type plugs. I didn't use a new relay on mine either, just new plugs & jumper wires.

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H.D.B.
OBK #45
-----------------------
'75 W115 240D, wife's dd, 197K
........'75 W115 300D, my dd, 245K
.. .. ..........'82 W126 300SD, the 'someday' project

Excellent...when I bring home the 115, this will be one of the first enhancements.

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1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

thankyou.


the large round sensor, what is it? - it dosnt look to be in the best of shape.


Also, I see you have a w115 for parts? what color interior and does it have a passenger side mirror?

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

the big round sensor is the temp sensor for the GP relay.

The interior I have is light brown, has all the door panels, B pillar and rear seat cover. Front seat covers are gone. Sorry, no right side mirror.

__________________
H.D.B.
OBK #45
-----------------------
'75 W115 240D, wife's dd, 197K
........'75 W115 300D, my dd, 245K
.. .. ..........'82 W126 300SD, the 'someday' project

looking for the drivers side door pocket.


this car is an olive green, I should be able to change it's color, correct?

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

I heard that by doing the conversion to the pencil type, that they don't last has long has the old style. Is this true? Is there a big difference between the two?

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1981 240D
Click Here To See My Mercedes

My retrofit pencils have been working for 6 years with no problems. BIG difference in very cold weather.

In fact, I have a Perkins 4-108 diesel generator in my motorhome with loop plugs and I'm wondering if there is a retrofit plug available for them I like them so much.

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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

The new GP relay has a temp sensor or the W115 itself has one? The W115 is all manual so a temp sensor would be a moot point.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

actually the W115 300D was automatic used the same type of relay as the early 123s. I didn't know it until I bought one, I was expecting the gorilla knob like my 240. The GP light is at the base of the speedo.

__________________
H.D.B.
OBK #45
-----------------------
'75 W115 240D, wife's dd, 197K
........'75 W115 300D, my dd, 245K
.. .. ..........'82 W126 300SD, the 'someday' project

Right I missed that one. Monomer didn't have the car listed, 617 was the key. I have both too and I forgot about the time. I am having my OM617.910 transplanted to replace my tired oil burning 240D motor and would like to convert it to fast GP relay. The funny part is that it will have a hybrid GP system since the IP is vaccum controlled and not cable shutoff so it has to have the 300D keyed to it.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Are you talking about the 'salt shaker'? There are quite a few variations of W115 glow plug systems... some with relays, some without. Do you have a gorilla knob for starting? We really need more info on the car to help you out.

I've had several W115 220d's with salt-shaker indicators and no glow plug relay (gorilla knob). The salt shaker doesn't glow real brightly and it takes ~45 seconds to get even a faint glow. When I first got the car(s), I thought this indicated glow plug problems. However, after a lot of troubleshooting (including glow plug current measurements), I found that the indicator didn't affect or indicate proper glow plug operation. When I upgraded to parallel plugs, I bypassed (i.e. shorted) the salt shaker indicator.

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1985 MBZ 300DT
1969 MBZ 220d
1984 MBZ 300TDT
1981 VW Vanagon