I washed the engine and engine compartment several times with a power washer, (very greasy). It's dry, when I try to start it, it turns over and seems to be trying to start, but it's not starting.
Glow plug lights and then goes out as normal.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Hugh

Hugh:

Other than shorted glow plugs, the only thing I can think of is water in the starter motor slowing it down. Does it crank at normal speed? If it's not 100 rpm or so, it won't start.

I'd pull the wires to the glowplugs and check for water under them (you have parallel plugs, right?). If they are wet and there is detergent in the water, they will draw enough current to run the relay properly, but the plugs may not get hot enough. Cranking and sputtering sure sounds like bad glowplugs to me.

You didn't get any water in the air cleaner did you?

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Your glowplugs should continue to heat about 45 seconds after the light goes out... try waiting longer to hit the starter... it really made a difference on my TD...