Due to my car being a Year 2000 E320 CDi I do not expect much response from the US.
However European contributors might have had this problem.

When I go to start the car the Pre-Heat Light comes on as normal.
When it goes out I crank the car and it starts straight away.

After a few seconds the Pre-Heat Light comes on again and stays on for a length of time.
Sometimes 10 Seconds other times a few minutes.

No malfunction is flagged and the car starts and drives normally.

This has only started in the last few days.

Any guesses as to what is going on ????

Regards

Mike

Mike:

On the older benzes the light coming back on or flashing means that a glowplug isn't drawing current. Will usually start fine with one out when the weather is nice, but will idle rough and make white smoke when it is colder outside.

Check the resistance of all the glowplugs -- if one is different (high, low, or open circuit), replace it. Normally, it is best to replace all of them if one is bad, as the others aren't far behind and will fail soon anyway.

Peter

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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!

I would agree with Peter to a point. I was having a similar problem with the light flashing after starting my 300SD. I researched this topic and found out how to trobleshoot the problem. It seems that there is a difference of opinion, however, as to the need to replace all the glow plugs if you find only one that is bad. It certainly will do no harm, but I would side with the opinion that you only need to replace the bad plug.

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• 2001 E320