I have a 1981 240D that had two burned and bad Glow Plugs about a month ago. I replaced those and the car started fine. While I was at it I had the injectors tested and found two with bad tips although they were not the ones with the bad glow plugs. I replaced all the tips and had the injectors calibrated. The car ran fine for the last month, about 350 miles, and this morning it would not start. I checked the glow plugs tonight and found one that was no good. I pulled it and the tip was burned off. It was one of the same ones that I just replaced a month ago.

My question is what would cause the glow plug to burn in this amount of time ? Anything I can check ? I have obviously not cured the problem yet.

Thanks in advance.

sgoodhart,

What brand were they? I have never had such an experience, but I have heard of members of this board having problems with certain brands. I think the Bosch units have a better record. Good Luck, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Jim, they were Bosh in both cases.

Howdy,

I've never had this problem, but this winter I bought a Bosch fast glowplug kit for my 190D 2.2 ('84). What I was told by the seller is that the new glowplug controller will continue to glow the plugs for some time after the engine is started. This helps the engine run smoothly and clean.

If you use an older style glowplug (not the fast ones) with the fast glowplug controller, it is supposed to burn them up in a very short time. The normal style plugs are not designed for afterglow service.

Turns out whatever glowing problem I was having this Winter ceased to be a problem, so I never got around to putting them in. I can't vouch for old vs. new, but I do have the P/N if you need it (and the controller).

Sholin

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What else, '73 MB 280 SEL (Lt Blue)
Daily driver: '84 190D 2.2 5 spd.

Perhaps you should check the timer... see if they are staying on all the time your car is running... that might account for this symptom...

edit :Well, Sholin beat me to the punch...

Are the plugs physically burn out on the ends? Or is the element just dead (ie checking resistance).

If it's the later, quality is variable with the plugs. Always good to check that the relay is kicking out-but that should leave you with a dead battery.

If it's the former,then most likely injectors pattern.


Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

I replaced all 5 of mine this fall,,,,inspite of PE Haiges advice.

I had three fail during the winter......not sure how they failed but they did.

The fix,,,,so far,,,,for me was to replace the inline fuse that my dad, the PO, bypassed as a quick fix about 20 years ago....

So far, new fuse, no problems.

JCD

Thanks for all the input so far.

Sholin, I would like the P/N for the Fast Glow Plugs and Controller if you have them.

I will also check that relay is shutting off. The # 4 Plug looks like the tip has burned away. The injectors were just rebuilt and calibrated so I am thinking it is not the injector but I guess it is possible. The inline fuse is in place and works so I do not think it is that.

Scott

Howdy,

Scott, the product is Bosch Duraterm glow plugs for Mercedes Benz. The plug numbers are 0 250 201 039 -711. The controller number is Bosch 0 281 003 096.

Granted, I've got an '84 190D 2.2, so your part numbers might be different. I'll bet the controller is the same though.

I bought mine from Randy Steele (mbpartsguy on eBay). I buy alot of "oddball" parts from Randy, he's great to work with (European Parts Specialists). I haven't put them in yet, so I can't vouche for how good they work, but the FB I've got is that they work really well.

Sholin

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What else, '73 MB 280 SEL (Lt Blue)
Daily driver: '84 190D 2.2 5 spd.

Thank you Sholin !