Bypassing Ignition Switch
 

I'm going to be looking at an 80 300d wagon to possibly buy. It seems like a really good deal. I have yet to see it but the owner says that the car runs great but the ignition switch is "frozen". Is it possible for me to bypass the switch and see if the car actually does run "great " as he stated? I know you an jump the connections on the right fender to engage the starter solenoid but with this crank over the engine and start it or is there another safety/security measure I need to bypass? Thanks a lot

Since it should be running 'great'. There should be ample compression, as long asit is warm enough outside it will probably start with some effort. The GP relay will not engage unless you hijack that as well.

Also, relieve the IP from any applied vacuum that may be used to shut it down.--you will not get fuel

thanks for the info. three questions:

1)How do I relieve vacuum from the IP?

2)Is it easy to hijack the Glow plugs?

3) what connections do I jump (I think there are 3 in the black box) to engage the starter?

1-No vacuum to the Shutoff Valve= the engine should run; remember all of those "My car will not shutoff Threads".
Disconect the Vacuum hose at the Vacuum Shut off and plug it (remember if the engine runs away you may have no way to stop it except to shove the hose back on and hope the Vacuum Pump is working).

2- Jury rigging the Glow Plug wires is too much trouble unless you have tried to start and know that the car will not start with out them.
Put a charger on the battery or use your jumper cables hooked to a running car/with good battery.
Also, before attempting to start pump on the hand primer to bring some fuel up to the IP and air out. Might even be a good idea to loosen the 1 and 5 injector hard line nuts and crank a little and bleed out any air that might be in IP.

3- If the car has that Terminal Block on the passanger side front Fender Well you can jump it there just as if you were bumping the eingine over to do a Valve Adjustment. There are some Threads that have some pics of where to hook up.
With the Vacuum Shutoff Hose not connected just cranking the Engine should get it to start.

I do not know if running the car without the Inigition Switch in the "Run" position will damage any of the electrical stuff. Someone else will have to answer that.

Not at all.