Saturday morning I had plans to go to South Bend to sell my wheels and tires to Dan V. and buy new tires and get them mounted on the nice 15" rims I aquired from my neighbor. Intending to get there by 10 am I was all set to drive out to my Indie's place and switch cars, leaving my Mitsubishi there and heading on north. It ws 17 degrees and dawn had not occurred yet.

The SD had been sitting for a week or more waiting for a u joint and I found the battery low and it just would not start. Even with a jump it would not. By the time I gave up it was full light. ....not my favorite way to greet the dawn! I had tried for about 40 minutes then went home and got some tools and went back and pulled the battery and took it to autozone to get it tested feeling it was for sure a goner.

They charged it and proclaimed it a good battery (it is a 4 year old 7 year guarantee).

I also decided that it has been driven so little it must also have summer fuel in it so I got three gallons of new fuel and a gallon of gasoline to convert the half tank to winter blend and went back and tried again. It started right up naturally. It was also about 33 degrees by that time.

I am still skeptical about the battery. I am also skeptical about the quality of my jumper cables!

So I will probably do the tire trek next saturday.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Could be a single bad glowplug? I've had those symptoms. When jumping my diesels, I usually just count on the jumper cables to recharge the battery and try after recharging about 20 minutes.

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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

I might have had better luck if I had just took a nap for 20 minutes while it charged.....I never let it go for more than about 10 minutes without trying again. Silly mistake.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I agree.

I recently broke down and bought one of the decent cable sets for $75. It has 2 gauge copper and 600A clamps, supposedly.

I'd still make a bet that they will not deliver enough amperage through the clamps to start a diesel in the cold if the battery in the diesel is at a low state of charge.

I think the glows are all new. It ran smoothly too from startup.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I bought one of these Harbor Freight Solar Powered battery chargers. they are a 1.5w trickle charger.

Be good to use one of these if the car is going to be sitting for a while.

1.5 Watt Solar Battery Charger

Reg price $19.99 now on sale for $14.99, clip out one of their 20% off coupons and add to it.

There is also this 5W solar powered charger, but a little pricier.

5 Watt Solar Battery Charger


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

That's pretty cool Charlie!

Thanks for the tip.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I can test that theory for you tomorrow morning if you like Brian. I just bought a set of really nice 2 gauge cables myself. My 300D is sitting with a dead battery, and I have several live vehicles with which to try jumping it on a cold morning.

Unfortunately it also has a leaky nonfunctional evil servo and the 2-3 shift flare. My projects are piling up. The SD has a bad ring, Wilma needs a D-jet fuel pump relay. The finny is cheerful though.

I'd definitely like to know how it does for you.

FWIW, the new set I have is Mize also with 2 gauge cable. I limited the length to 12' to maximize the current capability.



I'm not very impressed with the steel clamps, however. Additionally, the attachment of the cable to the clamp is by a single sheet metal screw. I wouldn't recommend these cables..........they look a bit too cheap.

I used to have a Volvo 164e... been a while since I heard someone mention D-jetronic.

Good luck with that. If you get really stuck PM me the part number as I still have old junk sitting in storage.... But it will probably take me a bit to get back that far in the boxes.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I have a harborfreight volt meter in every licensed vehicle (only 3 for now). Measure battery voltage with no load & cranking load any time the starter doesn't spin normally. You will know if the problem is discharged battery or something else.

IF the battery is low, you'll have to determine the cause. It can only be so many things ie not charging, parasitic drain, bad battery. Obviously there can be several reasons for each but the starting point is battery state..

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.