240D Glow Plugs W114
 

One of my glow plugs has died on my 240D, these are the old series wired glow plugs so when one goes they all go. I am having some trouble getting hold of a replacement quickly so i wondered if it would do any damage if I missed the dead one out when I put the wiring bars back.

Anyone know if this would cause a problem?.

I don't think these guys are that far from you, and they should have your part.

http://www.sparshatts.co.uk/


I would not run a car w/o a GP if available but that's me

I tried to start the car with three plugs wired but no good which I was surprised about.

So I took all the plugs out and tested them individually (don't have multimeter handy), connected body to negative and touched positive onto the thread. Nothing on all three remaining plugs that look OK.

These are old loop plugs, can they fail internally.

Am I missing something?

They are like 2V plugs. They are in series. If you put 12V across them there is every chance you will kill them. We can only hope that you miss connected them when you tested them. You need to have them tested properly. that is resistance between the 2 terminals, not down to earth. What makes you think the other one is faulty? Do you have 12V on the supply wire when in glow mode?

Next phase.

I should any day now receive a fast glow plug kit in the post for my W114 240d (in w123 chassis).
S shown here
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-Bosch-Fast-Glow-plug-kit-240D-220D-190D-/170403899701?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27acdd2935#ht_1324wt_939

I need some advice on fitting this kit. My glow plug system is activated by pushing a button on the centre console and holding it for 20seconds in the morning and less as the day goes on. It is directly wired to the battery.

I want to fit the new system directly to the ignition but I am not sure everything is in place as the car was originally a petrol. I am fairly confident about wiring the system to the ignition ( I think) but would I need a relay here or is this handled by the kit.

As usual any help will be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Brett

In my opinion, your push button system is superior to a relay system. There is no timer or relay to fail and your own mind can control the length of the glow. I would simply install the new pencil plugs, run the jumper wires from plug to plug, remove the ground from the loop style plugs and hook the loop style hot wire to one of the new plugs and you're good to go.
It's a little late to tell you this because all you really needed were 4 retrofit pencil plugs and some wire which would have been cheaper than a whole kit.

Its a good reply. I will probably do what you said and see how I feel about it. Its just the if I go to sell it people question the start system. Its good because I run a bit of WVO on this car.

Thanks Brett

You could say that you are trying the keep the engine authentic since the 616 engine in the 114 had the gorilla knob system from the factory I think.:)

It was more a case of the 616/w114 engine in the W123. Although it is not something I have a problem with as the engine is fantastic and it drives beautifully. Eyebrows are raised when the gorilla knob is on the W123.

But I don't have any plans to sell it at the moment so ill see how it goes. But it would be good to know how to complete the installation.

exactly!
to make it authentic, you could go find a gorilla knob and retrofit it into your car...
or you could wire in a signal to the ignition circuit and connect your kit relay and have authentic keyed glow plug control. of course there is no glow light, so you don't get the benefit of burned notice... but it would be controlled by the key. you would also need a wire from the starter relay to tell the glow relay your motor has been cranked...

edit
hmmm I just looked at the kit you ordered. it is not the MB relay, so I hope it comes with instructions.

If your 123 was original a gasser, does it have a diesel ignition switch retrofitted to control the on/off of the engine? I can't imagine a gasser ignition switch using vacuum controls.

No, the on off of the ignition is controlled by a pull switch on the centre console.

Pull it out and it stalls the engine.

I have opened a new can of worms haven't I !!!

I do have a diesel instrument panel, I am taking the bulb and orange decal out and fitting it to my one.

I need more help.

I have fitted the plugs with new wires but they are running through the old w114 glow controller which is taking a long time before they kick in.

I want to remove the controller completely and use the glow plugs with my button but I believe I need an in-line current resistor, does anyone know what value this resistor needs to be?

Not sure why you think you need a resistor. If the wires to your button are heavy enough, nothing else is needed. If you're not running the heavy wires thru the button you need a relay activated by your button. Any heavy relay is fine. Lot of people in the US use a Ford starter relay because they are cheap.
Why is the controller taking a long time to kick in?

Hi Kerry,

So remembering that my system will be without relay I can directly wire my plugs to the battery with a button and light on my dashboard. All the wires are heavy duty. So there is not a chance I will burn the plugs out or anything?.

I think my old timer is naffed, it takes over a minute before it clunks and the plugs start to work.