1982 300 TD (Turbodiesel Wagon)

Based upon the information reported in my previous post here (yesterday or the day before) entitled, “Blowing 80A Strip Fuse in Diesel Glow Plug Relay” and the kind replies to it, for which I am grateful, I have all but concluded that my problem is in the Glow Plug circuit. I have ordered out the necessary parts, including a Reamer, and will report back on the results of my repair.

However, I am haunted by the prospects that the Glow Plug circuit, while perhaps contributing to the problem, may not be the root of the problem causing my “No Start” condition. For those of you who are more gifted diagnosticians than I, please consider the following events that happened moments before the No Start condition presented itself:

1. I had been out running errands and the wagon was at normal operating temperature when I pulled into my driveway and shut her down.

2. Moments later (she was still at operating temp.) when I attempted to restart, I heard a “Pop” (like a firecracker!) soon after I turned the ignition and she began to crank. However, the Pop did not prevent her from catching and firing up.

3. I drove two blocks to the Library and shut her down.

4. A half hour or so later, when I came out of the Library, she would not restart. The engine just cranked, and cranked. I noticed I had no lit Glow Plug lamp in the Instrument Cluster. When I pulled the cover off the Glow Plug Relay, the 80 A Strip Fuse had burned through.

5. What bothers me is that after all that cranking, I could not smell any Diesel fumes under the hood. After all that cranking, wouldn’t the smell of Diesel be pretty strong under the hood? To make sure she was getting fuel, I loosened the Fuel Union Bolt (on top of the Main Canister Fuel Filter Housing) and hand-pumped the Primer Pump to make sure fuel trickled out around the top of the bolt. Is this the best way to make sure she is getting fuel?

6. I guess the reason why I am suspecting fuel supply is that it hurts my feelings that my beloved wagon, I call her “Leigh”, would not start-up without the Glow Plugs at all, given the fact that it is 85 degreed F. here in Texas (although, in all honesty, my valves are ready for adjustment!).

6. Was that “Pop” the sound of the Strip Fuse burning through? What else might it have been? Could it have been anything fuel supply related?

Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated.

-Bill