pressing the pedal does not help starting whatsoever (full fuel at cold start anyways, its all governed internally by the pump) In the mercedes manual it states to pump the pedal three times and hold it down then start the car after the glowplugs are warm. Glowing "cycles" means that either, one or two glowplugs are bad or are very very worn. Or you have an air leak into the fuel system wich is requiring you to prime the fuel into the pump. to check the Glowplugs, get a volt/ohms meter. set it to "contnuity" (wich senses if there is conductivity or not) go from the very tip of the glow plugs to a ground source, (you do not need the relay powered to do this I.E the car doesnt need to be on). If you get continuity that plug is good (or atleast it lowers it chances for being bad) If you get nothing from a plug, that means its a bad plug and replace it. Next test is to test on the bench or the ohm resistance test. then you can check for continuity from the relay to the glowplugs (just follow the wiring and you will find the plug for each one.) thats pretty much it for glowplugs...

As for fuel system, Jack the car up. get on a creeper (or your cardboard the worlds lowest creeper) and trace the diesel fuel and return lines from the fuel tank to the engine. check under each rubber mount on the metal hard lines to make sure that they havent rubbed through. make sure your primer pump isnt leaking either.. and thats pretty much it too.

Oh, and the glowplug light to the dashboard.. its an "idiot" light, the light senses voltage drop and then turns on. -shrug- its not reliable.

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

Thank you ALL, fine gentlemen. I will get to the T/S ASAP but one thing that REALLY annoyes me is the fact that I cannot hear the FRICKEN relay at all. Next time I start it, I will remove the knee boltster under the steering wheel and feel the relay to see If I can feel it disconnect. If the relay is bad, would I still get a light??

on your 240d it should be under the hood on the driver side.. its under a small plastic cover. you should be able to heard it go "click" in about fifteen seconds or so. in fact.. ill record a video..

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

I thought it was under by the pedals??

http://dieselgiant.com/mercedesdieselloopglowplugrepair.htm

I thought so too.

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83 SD

84 CD

I back tracked his ******** post to see what kind of glow plug relay he has. It appears that he dose not have the one that is in the eingine compartment.
http://www.***************/search/product.aspx?sid=sklnngizbpmzfum3cj2jbq2s&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1192957@240D&year=1978&cid=25@Ignition%20Parts&gid=7161@Pre-Glow%20Time%20Relay

It also shows that there is a temperature switch that is hooked to his relay. Could this also be a source of his problems?
See if item #15 at this site will help:
http://www.pauldrayton.com/uploadfiles/merc/Service/W123/Index/616index.html

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Ah, i see he has the older style i did not notice that. Im not too keen on the older style you may be better off with a momentary switch to activate the glowplugs.

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

It is.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine