Update to diesel a.m. hiccup thread

[GregS]

Since this issue is currently being discussed, I thought I would mention an observation I had this weekend.

Battery was a little weak (lots of short trips and the alternator belts were loose). Unhooked cables, cleaned up posts and cable-ends, and hooked up charger until it was charged 100%. Go out the next morning, hit the glowplugs just one time, and ....... no hiccups!

This is something I have previously thought about on this issue. Hiccupping certainly can be caused by worn glowplugs, but if even new glowplugs aren't getting all the juice they need, then they aren't hot enough to give a smooth cold-start idle.

So, my point is, if the hiccup really bothers you, you might want to charge or replace your battery, clean the battery posts, clean BOTH ends of each cable with sandpaper (i.e., starter end of the positive cable, and frame end of the negative cable), and clean the engine ground strap which is on the drivers side of the car.

Interesting that I have not once on this page seen anyone say they have replaced the battery cables on their car. I think it is pretty common for them to wear out over time, so it also might be a good idea to go to a stereo shop and have some nice 0-guage battery cables made up with those gold-plated cable ends. This would be a little extreme, but I would bet it would solve at least some people's hiccup problems.

Just my 0.02

GregS
'84 300D, 173k
'90 300CE, 162k