Cold weather coming here in MI...my first MB winter!

So far, no problems at 26 above. I'm going to try to see if the SD has the installed heater, or get one of the ones that stick onto the oil pan.

I bought the car to drive, as well as a hobby. I want to reduce the start up wear, as well as quicker starts.

Any tips/hints on checking for the original install? I've seen here that they are often installed, and just need to be wired.

I'll keep everyone posted on my progress!
LT

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83 SD 143 K miles
93 Grand Caravan 130K miles
92 Buick Regal (winter car)

I hate to tell you this, and NO I'm not being a wise guy. A VW Jetta shouldn't take more than half an hour to put in a block heater. I'll give you a little secret (I also had a friend who called me one day after it took him almost 5 hours) The trick is this...REMOVE the passenger side drive axle FIRST. With this out of the way you have a lot of room to swing a 2lb hammer. Use a BIG punch and drive the plug in, grab it with a pair of channel lock and pull it out. install the heater, then put the axle back on. Don't forget to torque the axle nut to 176 ft. lbs. ( I know supposed to use a "new" nut) That is where the second trick comes in...put some anti-sieze on the nut and you will get about another 1/8 of a turn on the nut at the same torque setting, almost like having a new

I assume that was for me......

We did take out the axle, the sucker was just in there really well.

Even with the axle out it was a tough thing swinging a hammer in there. Also we were working nights and in the garage, which in it's self is hard

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2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT -Silver/Black "Siegfried"

1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/119226-1982-300d-sale.html#post852260

1989 VW Diesel Jetta Blue/Blue "Bodo" RIP

I understand about being under a car in the dark! I guess the "correct" placement on the VW diesel is in the center hole, but I have bought Rabbits that had the heater in the one on the #1cyl. end hole as well. I was a glutton for punishment on those ones....I put a new plug in the "incorrect" hole and installed the heater in the center one. The other thing that I seem to like to do is wait until there is SNOW on the ground before I get around to doing it!

Thanks to the welded tool of A. Bonger, we did two 300 D's this past week. You can find him in the above entries to this post and he'll mail it to you.

One of us took off all the upper junk that was in the way (manifold, etc) and one of us did it the lower way.

I prefer the lower if you have a pit to work out of. Took off only one steering rod so as to have enough travel. Put a 5' cheater bar on and went flying when it finally gave.

Don

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed