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  #1  
Old 05-02-2011, 02:23 PM
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'79 300D Trouble Turning Over (PLEASE ADVISE)

Hello fellow MB diesel lovers,

A few days ago my 300d started having trouble turning over.

1. starter is cranking good
2. glow plugs seem to be heating up

I ran it in the morning and went back to run an errand in the afternoon and would not turn over. I let it sit for a couple days and then began trouble shooting. I charged the battery worried that it might be a voltage issue, but it would not start. I let it sit another day and then tried jump start and it turned over and worked the rest of the day. It worked even the next day. But then the following day went to start it and it would not turn over again. I tried the old jump start method again but no dice.

Please advise me on what I should do?

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  #2  
Old 05-02-2011, 02:30 PM
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Just to clarify the terminology: Turning over=engine is being turned by the starter. Running=engine will continue turning over without the starter.
So it sounds as if your starter is cranking, the engine is turning over, but it is not running. Is that correct? Why do you think the glow plugs are working? 79's have series plugs as OE. Does you car still have the series loop style plugs? If so, can you see the heavy squiggly wires that run between the plugs heating up to almost red hot. (visible as red at night)
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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
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  #3  
Old 05-03-2011, 08:56 AM
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thanks kerry. You are correct. . . turning over but not running. maybe it is my glow plugs after all. yes they are the squiggly kind. i am going to test them to see if they are getting red. i shot some oil based liquid on the squigglies and saw smoke--that is what led me to believe they were heating up--but as i recall was getting no visible verification. i am new to all this and appreciate your help. i am going to test the plugs again. please continue assisting if you can.

thanks again
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  #4  
Old 05-03-2011, 10:32 AM
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Tested glow plugs in the dark. They are not getting red and the orange light with the squiggly on my odometer dash is not coming on when i switch the key like it used to. but the squiggly switch above my radio is lighting when i switch it on??
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  #5  
Old 05-03-2011, 10:35 AM
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Something's wrong with the glow plug circuit somewhere. Could be a bad plug, but if that were true, the wires would not be getting warm at all. Sounds like it's something else. You'll have to check for voltage at various points in the circuit.
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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
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  #6  
Old 05-03-2011, 11:29 AM
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i guess i will follow this technique from diesel giant
http://www.dieselgiant.com/glowplugrepair.htm
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  #7  
Old 05-03-2011, 11:31 AM
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I think that tutorial applies to pencil plugs. Loop plugs are a lot different electrically. Check for 12 volts at the strip fuse box on the firewall where the hot wire to the first plug connects.
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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
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  #8  
Old 05-03-2011, 01:10 PM
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what do you think about this test? http://www.dieselgiant.com/mercedesdieselloopglowplugrepair.htm

the only thing is following the wire from #5 glow plug leads me to something different than what is pictured here although suppose to be same 79 300d non-turbo? it looks like this--the one on the right
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'79 300D Trouble Turning Over (PLEASE ADVISE)-dscn2852.jpg  
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  #9  
Old 05-03-2011, 03:05 PM
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That's the right test. Where does the wire from the plug near the firewall go? I can't see it in the picture. On the loop plugs in my 77 300d, it looked like dieselgiants photos.
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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
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  #10  
Old 05-03-2011, 03:34 PM
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If your plugs are bad consider upgrading to the newer style glow plugs with the fast glow relay.

I'm guessing you might be able to source everything you need for the change from this website. Check with phil!
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  #11  
Old 05-03-2011, 04:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
That's the right test. Where does the wire from the plug near the firewall go? I can't see it in the picture. On the loop plugs in my 77 300d, it looked like dieselgiants photos.
in the picture there are two separate entries into the firewall. for some reason the wire off the back plug goes into the one pictured right. the wire from the plug goes up and it enters into that bigger bundle wrapped in electric tape and seems to wrap to the right as circled in this updated picture. please enlarge to see what i am talking about.
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'79 300D Trouble Turning Over (PLEASE ADVISE)-glow.jpg  
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  #12  
Old 05-03-2011, 04:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okyoureabeast View Post
If your plugs are bad consider upgrading to the newer style glow plugs with the fast glow relay.

I'm guessing you might be able to source everything you need for the change from this website. Check with phil!


thanks i will consider that, but may be too lazy this time if it ends up being something like the glow plug main fuse panel or feed wire.
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  #13  
Old 05-03-2011, 04:42 PM
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I haven't seen a wiring system like that so can't help as to where to find the strip fuse and where to check for current. You could check at the first plug to see if it's getting 12 volts.
__________________
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
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  #14  
Old 05-03-2011, 04:50 PM
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Location: West Quebec
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I feel your pain. Some genius had done some funky homemade wiring on my '78 300cd, when I first got it.

I ended up doing the plug upgrade and pulling my timer/relay out completely, in favour of a manual relay with a momentary switch.

I am not sure I understand. Where is the wire, from what is supposed to be the strip fuse, going?
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2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

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  #15  
Old 05-03-2011, 05:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
I haven't seen a wiring system like that so can't help as to where to find the strip fuse and where to check for current. You could check at the first plug to see if it's getting 12 volts.
kerry i hate to ask, but wil you run me through that? i see the last plug and the ground wire. i have my multimeter. now what? thanks in advance

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