I just replaced the glow plugs in my '80 300D and everything worked fine for a week... My new problem is that now it won't start at all. When I try to turn it on, my glow plug light lights up like it is supposed to then goes off like it is supposed to. When I turn the key though it doesn't even try to turn over. My battery was good and charged at the beginning of the week but it is now dead. What will cause the battery to go dead and not allow me to crank this baby over?

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Mike

'80 300D
'84 300D
'85 300D
'87 300D

do u have any apparent juice out of the battery? like accessories/radio/lights etc. if those work try 1st cycling the starting sequence a bunch of times key all the way off to all the way on - maybe 9-10 times. if that fails try rapping hard on the starter with a piece of pipe or hammer. sometimes this will 'jolt' the solenoid enuf to get it to work

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

sorry my bad reread your post and u said batt was dead but...sometimes a batt appears to be dead when it's not - check the connections first / ground and positive terminals and then see if anything lights up

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Is it possible for the glow plug relay to stay "on" after the car has been started, thus drawing current from the battery and not allowing the alternator to fully charge the battery? I am still learning about these diesels and every time I think I have them figured out, I am thrown another curve.

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Mike

'80 300D
'84 300D
'85 300D
'87 300D

sublettm,

Diesels do not need a functioning alternator to run, or, for a while, to start. After running the car's accessories and starting a few times without being charged the battery will show signs of distress, like not wanting to turn the engine over.

Sounds like you may have a bad alternator. Typical failures can come from worn brushes in the voltage regulator, a relatively easy item to replace. Two screws and a plug on the back of the alternator and you roll the voltage regulator down and out. If the brushes are a quarter inch long or shorter the brushes are shot. If they are worn unevenly or there are gouges in the contact surfaces, you likely need an alternator rebuild or a rebuilt alternator. Alternator replacement is also within the do-it-yourself range for most of us, although it helps to have some instructions. Try a search or post a request if you get to that point.

Good luck and I hope this helps. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

I am not saying it is not the alternator, because with this car anything is possible, but the alternator was replaced about two years ago when a similar problem to this one arose. I replaced the alternator and it did not fix my problem. I don't remember the exact symptoms I was having back then and I also don't remember what fixed my problem...I have had way too many problems with this one to remember all of the solutions.

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Mike

'80 300D
'84 300D
'85 300D
'87 300D