update and a question
 

I replaced fixed both my rear windows today. The plastic! sliding jaw that holds the regulator to the window broke on both windows, so the regulator was moving up and down, but the window wasn't. Anyway, I bought new sliding jaws ($7 a piece), but I couldn't get them on. Someone told me they have to be peened on, i.e., hammered down so they fit over the hole in the regulator. Anyway, that didn't work at all. I called a import repair shop in town and they told me it has to be riveted on and I should bring it. This made sense to me, as the original jaw didn't seem hammered in there, but rather riveted. Anyway, it cost me $20 per regulator (I had to take them out and bring them to the shop) but now both my rear windows work.

I had a question about starting the car though. As far as I know, this is what's supposed to happen: you turn the key, wait for the relay to quit whining, then you start the car. It shakes for like 30 seconds, you get the white smoke and diesel smell, then the engine runs smoothly, and you go. The white smoke I hear is because there's residual fuel, and that gets burned first, which is why is also smells of diesel. Now, is there any way to make that initial shaking/smoke/smell stop, or diminish?

Gabriel

Try a running a can of Diesel Purge.

Gabriel,

When you turn the key to the position just before the spring loaded range of motion that engages the starter, you should see a small window on the bottom, usually on the far right side, (edit) of the instrument panel light up a yellow color with an icon that is supposed to represent a glow plug. When the light goes out, then you twist the key against the spring load and engage the starter. If your light is not lighting up chances are you have a few glow plugs that are burned out. If that is the case the car will be very difficult to start in colder weather, and it is common to see evidence of non-ignition of the Diesel mist injected into the cylinders with the bad plugs.

There seems to be a "code" with my 1982 240D that indicates how bad the plugs are. If the light fails to light and I cycle the key to the zero position and back to the glow plug position, and then the light comes on, I have one plug out. If it fails to come on the second try, I have more than one plug out.

With everything working as intended, the car should start in less than a 5 seconds of cranking, and possibly blow a black cloud out, then settle down to a nice even idle in 10 to 20 seconds. With plugs not working the ignition process is retarded by the cooling effects of the Diesel fuel evaporating, until the engine goes through enough cycles, and idles fast enough to "collect" enough heat until the injected fuel ignites. This can take a 30 to 60 seconds, or, if the engine has marginal compression, the injectors are spewing a stream instead of a mist, or the valves are not properly adjusted, it can last for a few minutes.

In any case you need to have the glow plugs checked and replaced. I always replace all of them in one shot, as they are not that expensive, my car has four, my daughter drives it in Upstate NY (165 miles away) and I don't like being called with problems that require a day of driving to fix, and if they are the same age, chances are they going to all fail within a pretty similar interval. It is a pretty simple do-it-yourself task. Check the board for lots of posts on the details of doing it. If you can work with gloves on, do it as I always end up gouging my hands on little sharp things in the area. Good luck, Jim

One other thing to consider if the glow light isn't coming on is that the glowplug-light relay is bad. I've all new gp's in my 300D and my light goes out almost as quickly as it comes on after it's been sitting for a day or more. This was a quick diagnosis from my indie anyway. Of course I updated to the newer style plugs recently as well, so...

I'd try diesel purge as recommended and several bouts of good, hard freeway driving, and see if intial smoke and shaking lessens, otherwise - Jim is probably right. You may need to invest in a glow plug or two as his description of proper functioning is what I've observed as well.

Regards,
- Ryan