Car will start at 25 degrees!

But not 18. Battery charging now.

I know it's a '79, but it has been modified. What's the status of the glow system? More or less stock (series)?

The few times I started my '79 parts car, it needed to glow longer than any of my later (parallel system) diesels.

Loose wires when it left here, had to be hotwired. Im sure once he properly fixes the glow system wiring starts will be more reliable

Not always.

Sometimes the ABS has a bleed screw. Sometimes it takes engine running. A few years ago I had a neighbors Chebby pickup that refused to bleed and I suspected the ABS. I drove it up and down the road for probably fifteen minutes hammering the brakes and then came back and got it to bleed with the pressure bleeder. There was no one around at the time to help. It had no bleed screw on the ABS unit.

It's always something.

Like John said, the glows have to be hotwired at the battery to run.

As far as the glows, I'm not sure. They have the larger bodies, but there is some rewiring going on, so I have to pull one and see if it's loop or pencil. My guess is loop, but we'll see.

I'm going to do a valve adjustment and change the oil to 5W-40 synthetic. That should help some.

Wait, quick question. I just read in another thread that loop GPs take 2 volts. I've been running these directly off the battery. Is there a chance that I've fried them that way and that that is why the car won't start? Does anyone know what sort of voltage pencil GPs take?

Loops are wired in series. Pins are in parallel. Thats why the 2.X volts each for loops and 12 for pins.

Cheers!

So you have loops? Are the wired in series or parallel?

Parallel! So I must have the pencils with the larger bodies.

There used to be some bushings available that allowed you to screw pin type plugs into an early, loop type head.

Hope this helps.

They actually make the pencil type plugs that fit into the larger holes. Bosch makes them and I know they were available here at one time.

Ok did some digging and it looks like Bremi is the only brand currently available. I know they make excellent distributor caps and rotors for the M119 and M103 but I have no experience with their glow plugs.

1977 Mercedes-Benz 240D Base Sedan - Ignition - Page 1

If you are so inclined Kent over at the "source" sells a "kit" to upgrade the plugs to the fast glow type. When I upgraded mine I simply replaced the loop plugs with the pencil style and made some new jumper wires to go between the plugs. If you go this route you must not connect the ground strap on the last plug. If you need help send me a message on Facebook and I can send some pictures of my 240D setup.