My 1982 300D was hard to start yesterday, had to cycle 3 or 4 times.
Today it won't start at all. there is fuel at the hand pump the clear filter is full and the glow plug light on the dash is working like it should, I replaced the glow plugs about 4 months ago and the controller as well. I am wondering if it could be timing? It might fire sporadically when I try to start. Thanks for any ideas.

Have you adjusted the valves lately?

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1976 240D
1987 560SL
2007 E320 Bluetec
1998 C280 (now son’s car)
1982 240D Manual - Sold

Maybe a couple glow plugs gave up?

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'82 300CD
"Pearl", the very first turbo diesel 123 coupe
Totaled 11/23/18, rebuild in progress.
'85 300TD, "Artemis".
'78 300D euro, "Ol' Red", mostly retired.
'85 300D, "Gandalf".

What brand of glow plugs did you use? Did you ream the holes out? Also a word of.caution.....just because the glow light works doesn't mean that the system is working correctly. Also have you changed or messed with any of the filters lately?

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

How cold is it? Did you buy fuel recently or change the filters? If you crack the fuel lines at the injectors are you getting fuel squirting out?

If the car was working normally then suddenly got cranky, I'd be focusing on a failed glowplug or two or air in the fuel system.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

x2 on if Autolite GPs were used. The fuel gauge is a known issue also, do you have fuel, not does the fuel gauge say you have fuel.

Do you have a block heater? What is the temperature? Test continuity on all five glow plugs. Pull the cigar line off the return and put in a glass jar, look for bubbles. These cars are stupid simple, if you have compression and you have fuel they will start.

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What color is your hand pump? Is it leaking fuel when you pump it?

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Thanks for the advice, I still haven't really looked at it yet. The hand pump is the newer style, it does not leak. No block heater unfortunately However it is in the 60's in California now. As soon I can I will look at the parts that have been mentioned.

In my 1984 & 85 300D, the GP lamp will still light if 2 or even 3 GP's are bad. Having all 5 working helps a lot. If you don't own a multimeter, run to Harbor F w/ free coupon. I regularly pull the GP plug and verify low resistance (<10 ohm) from gnd to each pin. For any open, I test again right at the GP (in case wire broke). After my son has had the car for a year or two, I often find at least one bad, which makes his starts smoother. If all check out, then verify you measure ~10 V (rel. to engine block) at each GP with GP relay actuated (first 20 sec after key-on). Note, it always actuates the same time. The dash lamp is a prediction of when it has been long enough, given current coolant temperature, to start cranking. But with an aged engine, better to glow once then key again after you hear the relay click off, and then start cranking. People have found GP's which incorrectly glow in the middle rather than at the tip (youtube), which won't work well. But no way to know without removing and testing in the air, or next time your injectors are out so you can look down the pre-chamber.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans