Engine still won't fire??? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kerry · #31 06-15-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkouvaras

I replaced all of the glow plugs yesterday.

They all tested at 11.5 volts with the ignition in the on position.

Anything else?

That's not the same as actually seeing them glow. Voltage does not necessarily mean they are working.

gkouvaras · #32 06-15-2009, 04:43 PM

So how do I check if they are glowing?

Do I take them out and leave them connected to the wiring harness and ground them and turn the car on?

Or can I test each one individually with a jumper cable?

All five are brand new. I replaced them two days ago.

kerry · #33 06-15-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkouvaras

Do I take them out and leave them connected to the wiring harness and ground them and turn the car on?

Or can I test each one individually with a jumper cable?

You can do either. I would do the first, since then you are checking the wiring harness too. You could just use a jumper cable to ground one at a time.
It seems unlikely that they would all be bad, but something is causing your car not to start and you need to positively exclude non-functioning glowplugs.

t walgamuth · #34 06-15-2009, 05:54 PM

The car might start with a pull.

Also if there is a fuel problem you can take the air cleaner off and spray directly into the intake with wd 40 and if it has compression and glow function it will run on the wd 40 as long as you keep spraying it.

gkouvaras · #35 06-15-2009, 09:47 PM

WD40 test did not work. Engine didn't start. Guess I have to get a compression test kit tomorrow and i am going to remove each glow plug and see if they work.

Should the plugs actually glow?

kerry · #36 06-15-2009, 09:53 PM

Bright red.

gkouvaras · #37 06-16-2009, 05:59 PM

I was told by a mechanic that my engine is probably flooded because I have been cranking the engine for about a week with no combustion.

I started another thread about the engine flooding.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=254848

Going to try this today... maybe it'll work?

t walgamuth · #38 06-16-2009, 08:05 PM

you really cannot flood a diesel I don't think.

I'd be surprised if you are getting glow function.

kerry · #39 06-17-2009, 12:22 AM

For a 617 diesel to start it needs air, compression, fuel and glow all at the right time. So far, you have confirmed fuel but none of the others have been confirmed. Check your air filter, check compression, check that the glow plugs are glowing thru the harness, assume your timing is still the same as when it was last running, and report back. Before all these necessary conditions are confirmed, it's a wild goose chase looking for things like flooding.
On top of that, you know there is something awry in your engine because your fuel is getting filthy. The cause of that black fuel has to be determined because it could easily be related to your no start condition. The only possible source of that contamination in the system where you were running a bottle under the hood, seems to be engine oil to me.
Can anyone with more knowledge comment on whether a failure in the IP would cause engine oil to mix with diesel fuel?

t walgamuth · #40 06-17-2009, 06:03 AM

That sounds like a possibility, or somebody dumped used engine oil in the tank, which would possibly cause all kinds of trouble.

Shawn T. W. · #41 06-17-2009, 08:13 AM

A little un-related and I don't mean to be mean, but some peolpe are not aware of how much wear and tear a starter takes. 29 sec is quite alot of time to be putting on your starter, if it was going to start it should take less than half that, if it doesn't . . . give your starter a break to cool off.

gkouvaras · #42 06-17-2009, 12:20 PM

The air filter was replaced 2 weeks ago and still looks ok. Except I noticed a black area of oil where the vacuum line enters the housing.

Is it possible the vacuum pump is bad? Would that cause starting problems or just issues while the engine is running?

Should I disassemble the entire intake system? (Air filter housing, turbo, etc.) If so, what should I be looking for besides an obstruction?

I have no time today to do work on the car so I am trying to compile a to do list for Thursday.

kerry · #43 06-17-2009, 01:03 PM

Shouldn't be a vacuum line on the air filter on an 82 SD. There is a PCV line going from the valve cover to the air filter. It is normal for that to carry oil droplets. I would just check for an obstruction in the air filter housing, but if you were trying to start it with WD-40, I assume you had the air filter top off and were spraying directly into the bottom of the air cleaner so that should pretty much rule out any obstructions there.

barry123400 · #44 06-17-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Is your fuel that color as it drains out of the hose coming directly from the tank to the primary filter?

This test should be done. The flow directly out of the tank that is at the back of the car. If it is much cleaner then you can start to locate where and how the engine oil is getting mixed with the fuel.

Not much sense checking other things first now. Whatever is making the fuel dark has to be located first. I assume at this point used engine oil or something simular was not just dumped into the fuel tank.

An extreme situation if your fuel tank flap does not lock for example. Someone may have dumped something into the tank.

The reason I suspect something unusual is the engine should probably still have run on a fuel engine oil mix. Also a chance you got some real contaminated fuel somewhere. No gaurantee the darkness of the fuel is engine oil. In simple words deal with the obvious first.

kerry · #45 06-17-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

This test should be done. The flow directly out of the tank that is at the back of the car. If it is much cleaner then you can start to locate where and how the engine oil is getting mixed with the fuel.

Not much sense checking other things first now. Whatever is making the fuel dark has to be located first. I assume at this point used engine oil or something simular was not just dumped into the fuel tank.

He wrote that running a purge-style bottle of diesel independent of the tank/return under the hood caused the fuel to turn that dark without the engine even starting! Something weird is going on.