My turn to have Glow Plug/Relay problems; Glow Plug Light stopped working yesterday.
I could not see that the Strip Fuse was cracked as it was still a little dark when I was checking. My polking around with the Volt Meter during the Glow Plug Cycle produced a spark at the crack making it visable to me.

Not taking my own advice I do not have the spare fuse in the Car. It has yet to be found in one of my part Boxes.
Fortunately I live in S Californa so starting is not the problem it would be in other States.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Got a soda can?

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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

Cutting up a Soda Can is too much work.

I used an Alligator Clip on the Fuse and I believe this will preserve the protection of the Fuse.

I looked but did not find my 1 and only spare Strip Fuse.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Good idea.

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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

I know the Strip Fuse Cracking does not happen often but I am thinking of putting in a Circuit Breaker.
The reason is I am likely to loose or not find another strip fuse and that my Wife is the one who normally drives the Mercedes.
If the Strip Fuse cracks again while She is driving She would not be able to change it or even remember that the Fuse might be the cause of her not starting.
A Seller on Ebay has one for about $12 total cost. But, it is shipped from Honk Kong. Don't know if I want to wait that long.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I have a spare strip fuse you can have and I'm just in Anaheim. Let me know if you want it.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Thanks! But, there is a Dealer near by. Up on Spring St near Signal Hill.
Dealer Ships are strange territory for me; In 58 years I have visited various ones 3 times.
It might be time to get over my adversion/phobia to them.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Arthur Dalton suggests putting a "Slight" upward bend [semi-circle-like ?] in the
center of the fuse to allow room for "Heat Stress Flexing".He says that if you
"Crank Down" on the Two Retaining Screws with the fuse stretched TIGHT
between them, the FAILURE rate is greatly accelerated.

EXAMPLE: your pictures,that bad boy is cracked "dead center".

He also reminds us that the GP fuse is a REGULAR maintenance item.
(You don't wait to see how long it'll last...
cause it'll surely go at an inconvenient time)

That's a "Slow Blow" fuse MB put it in for a specific reason...
the greater Amp/Heat load at Pre-Glow start up.

I'd not try the Circuit Breaker idea ,That power lead for the GP relay (Red Wire)is Hot all the time...with a straight run to #30 (Battery Volts/Amps) AND if something went wrong with the Circuit Breaker with you inside (or away from) the car, an Un-Authorized Bar-B-Que could be the result!

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Good News
I went through one of my parts boxes again; this time I did a better job looking and I found my 1 spare Strip Fuse.

I see what you/Dalton means; unlike the origional Fuse the replacement is entirely flate (I do not think it is a OEM Fuse) and will need to be bowed a litte as that guy said.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

On the loop style plugs, the fuse was forced into an arc by a plastic ridge in the fuse holder, dead center under the fuse.

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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