Hey everyone!

Just wondering, my 78 240 has a hard time starting on a "cold" engine. By cold I mean ambient temperature. The glow light works and I keep the key to 'on' for a total of 45sec. or so and then crank, but usually it dies right away and requires a new glow cycle. Could this be a glowplug, fuel, or much more serious problem?

Thank you

Could be a bad plug or poor compression.

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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

How long does it take for the glow plug relay to open after the key is moved to the "run" position? (You should be able the hear the relay click open.)

tangofox,

I haven't really paid much attention to listen for the 'click' as the annoying buzzer is going off. Should I be able to hear it from the seat or should I have to move my ear toward the pedal area. The light coming on must mean the relay is opening no??

after 30 or so seconds you should be able to hear the click of the relay as it opens (turns off) you should have your seat belt on by then, thus turning off the buzzer...

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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!

If I don't hear an audible 'click' as the relay opens, which I don't remember hearing, what is at fault the relay?? The glow light does work.

Thanks again to all!

My relay does not click. It's more of a "thunk" like from a heavy sprung throw breaker.

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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

Follow the dieselgiant.com tutorial for the W123 to test your GP circut.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Are you using the original loop style plugs or the upgraded pencil type?

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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

They are the loop style by have been replaced by the PO last fall I believe.

when was the last time the valves were adjusted? it certainly helped my cold start problem on my 300D

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

There might be a fuel component to your issues.

I recently found out that my car is a lot harder to start on D#2 than B99. It takes a longer glow cycle and has more startup stumbling when started on D#2 than on B99. Found out when I went out of town for a week and filled it with D#2 because I thought it would be sitting undriven all week. Little did I know.. got reports from the wife about how difficult it was to start and how sometimes she had to start it twice before it'd stay going.

I'm sure the fuel isn't to blame for my starting issues, it must be exposing some other issue that I'll be tackling this summer. It is just an interesting data point.

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'83 300DTurbo http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/318559.png

Broadband: more lies faster.

Well, went to start the car tonight and it took 3 tries to get it running. According the the dieselgiant site, the relay is suppost to disengage when moved to start. I do not hear the relay click off while waiting for the glow cycle to complete. Could there be another problem causing like a dirty prefilter or secondary filter? Valves haven't been checked for adjustment yet. I hope to do the pencil style upgrade this summer, and wonder if anyone here has done it the same way dieselgiant has done it.

Does it seem logical that power would be cut to the glow plugs would be cut during start?

Remember, glow "cycles" do not help. your first attempt to start a diesel is going to be your best chance. crank that starter for up to 30 seconds let it cool for about 30 seconds and go back at it.

Check your compression, and make sure your valves are adjusted. check to see if your getting power to each plug as well.

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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.