So I threw an alternator belt 2 weeks ago, overheated.
Got that squared away - and now of course the temp drops to the lowest its been in 2 years - and I can't seem to get her started.

I have an oil pan pad heater, a battery pad heater and a lower radiator hose heater. Had all 3 running last night, went out to start this morning and could not get it to turn over.

I glowed 2 cycles, I depressed the pedal one time fully - then about 1/8 down during the start. I held the ignition in starting position for over 30 seconds, and could not get it to turn over. Tried again in a few minutes, prob held ingition in start position for almost a minute - I heard a few good stutters like it was about to kick over but did not.

The last 12 months I have had rough start issues, after it does turn over I get a bad shutter, stutter like all cylinders are not firing - I know I need new injectors, and always attributed this to poor fuel flow, since it went away after it warmed up

How do I know if my starter is not strong enough to do the job?
Could the old, knocking injectors just make it even more difficult to start?
I have replaced the glow plugs once, moving to the new style injectors (did not replace the gp relay).

Thoughts, suggestions?

__________________
Marty Watts - Concord, NH
1979 300D NA - Maple Yellow - Palomino MB Tex

When you stay 'does not turn over' do you mean the engine does not fire or the starter does not turn the engine? It could easily be that your battery is weak and not turning the engine fast enough. Do you have synthetic oil? Thick oil can be a serious impediment to an engine turning fast enough to start at those temperatures.
Also a little unclear on the glowplugs. When you say you went to new style injectors, do you mean you switched to pencil style plugs as opposed to loop style plugs?

__________________
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

Engine does not fire, the starter is working hard and trying to turn it over. The battery is 4 years old, 900CCA. Do not have synthetic oil...should I drain and put in some 5W/40 Rotella? Did not change injectors, assume they are original (I know they need to be replaced, have been knocking for a while). Did go from the coil style glowplugs, to whatever the kit dieselgiant sells, (cant remember if its pencil or loop sorry).

__________________
Marty Watts - Concord, NH
1979 300D NA - Maple Yellow - Palomino MB Tex

Synthetic oil would get you a faster cranking speed which might get it going.

IF -- big big if -- your glow system is in good shape -- then I suspect you've got the same problem my 240D has... just worn out. Low compression from engine wear = cold starting becomes harder and harder.

I've got a PERFECT glow system on mine and it STILL won't start at 15 degrees or colder without external heat. The only remaining possible explanation is low compression. It also burns oil like a burning well and has huge amounts of blow by so it makes sense.

If yours is equally worn out then it's probably just not going to go. If it's low miles, low wear -- then keep checking glow and voltage systems.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

How many miles on the engine? Is the glow plug light working? Have you checked for voltage at the glowplugs and ohmed them out?

__________________
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

237K miles, I drive it everyday - not sure how to gauge engine wear. Ive never done a compression test. I also burn oil, and have blow by.

__________________
Marty Watts - Concord, NH
1979 300D NA - Maple Yellow - Palomino MB Tex

237K miles, GP light works fine.
Have not ohm tested GP's.
My voltage meter is like japanese to me...all symbols...what would I set it to to test? Put neg to neg term on batt and touch pos to each gp?

__________________
Marty Watts - Concord, NH
1979 300D NA - Maple Yellow - Palomino MB Tex

The ohm's symbol looks like a horsehoe kind of. Put it there at 20 ohms and put one one on the glowplug and one end on a ground on the engine. Each plug should show less than 1 ohm's resistance or thereabouts.

__________________
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

in order to test with an ohm meter, you will have to remove the wires from the plugs.
the DG upgrade kit uses ONE wire for all the plugs. this makes it difficult.
another test you can do is turn on the glows, wait about 30 seconds, then put your finger on the end of the wire and see if it's getting hot or not. if you have a amp meter, you can measure amperage, but since you are having difficulty with the symbols of the standard meter, it's unlikely... if you cannot tell if the plugs are working, the next step is to pull them back out, and power each one individually, and verify it gets bright orange/yellow quickly. any that don't, need replacement.
let us

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Heat. My 240D needs a valve adjust, maybe just some anti gel- won't cold start when soaked to low teens like it used to. The 2 previous winters I drove it a hairdryer under the hood for a couple hours and blowing on the block would do it. About 1/2 hour with a torpedo heater pointed at the car will get you a toasty block and heat on startup- be sure not to melt the bumper rub strip.

Another useful thing is bring the battery inside overnight. Cranking amps and life are much better when it's warm.

Are you glowing for a full cycle and cycling the key to start on the second?

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

When checking ohms its always a good idea to short the probes which should result in a 0 (zero) reading. If it comes up reading .3 ohms or something at least you have a known to deal with for your GP reading.

Doing that on any scale but ohms does nothing.

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

VSTECH - the DG kit contained multiple wires, each connecting to the next GP. So since they are all connected, the ohm test will not work? Based on all of the above, you would blame possible bad GP's, not weak starter?
I'll still make the switch to synthetic oil, and will try my best to test gp's.

How do I power each individually if I can take them out?

__________________
Marty Watts - Concord, NH
1979 300D NA - Maple Yellow - Palomino MB Tex

In addition to all of the other good things you are doing, try putting a trickle charger on the engine overnight. That not only makes sure the battery is fully charged but helps keep it warm -- and from the inside out, which is the best way to warm something.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I tried something different this year, fuel wise.
10 gallons diesel, 1 gallon kerosene, 3 oz Power Service & 1/2 bottle diesel 'dry gas'
10 - 15 below last night. Cranked 15 - 20 seconds but it did start

When was your last valve adjustment? When trying to start under extreme conditions it is imperative that your engine be creating as much compression as possible. If the valves aren't adjusted properly it will create hard starting in cold weather even if the GPs and everything else is OK.

I'd also highly recommend using some power service (white bottle) to prevent gelling. Even winter blend fuels will congeal under below zero temps. I would bet your problem could very well have been gelled fuel, especially on a car that isn't garaged and gets full exposure to the elements.

__________________
Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz