My '97 E300D shakes and jerks a lot when I first start it and it is cold outside. The engine also appears to "cough" a lot too. If I raise the rpms slightly, it goes away. This only happens when it is cold outside - under 50 degrees or so. If it is warm outside, the engine is fine even when I start it first thing in the morning. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Is this a sign of the engine going bad? I don't have any other problems. The engine also doesn't use any oil between oil changes.

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

one thing i do when its cold outside is turn my key over,but not crank,3-5 times to let the glow plugs get warmed up good

i have no basis for this,other than my personal experience...but it works really well for me.....when i do this,my car starts immediately,it doesnt have to turn over more than twice to start up...and it is smooth running from the time it starts up...hope that will help you out

dave

I do the same, but only 2x. Smooth running after that! Does this mean we need something like new glow-plug relays or a temp sensor?

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'01 CLK430 (hers)
'99 528iT (turd)
'87 Porsche 928 (just for fun)

I raise my idle speed during the cold winter months. Starts easier and the engine seems to appreciate it by vibrating less. KISS

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Toblin

'79 300D, "Liesel von Diesel", 235K

I kid proofed the house....but they still get in

I just replaced the glow plugs and had the valves adjusted, my 1978 300cd would not start anymore after a "S-California cold night"; problem was solved, runs great now, but still the first start in the morning is a little rough. It will start right up, but puff a bit, 3 or 4 sec. Then all day it will start right up and runs great.

Now that it's getting colder I hear a lot of people having this problem. Is this normal
with a diesel?

Sounds like a lot of people experience the same thing. I will try cycling the glow plugs two times the next time I start it on a cold day. The thing that had me worried though is that my '85 doesn't have this problem.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

It sounds to me like you have one or more cylinders not starting properly. That would be a glow plug problem - you likely have one or more glow plugs that are weak or bad.

Just found one in my 1984 300SD and had one in the 1981 240D - it makes the car run rough until that cold cylinder can catch up.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Ken300D,

I was already thinking that after having read everyone else's response as to how to fix the problem. I think you just confirmed that for me. I've heard that it is a real expensive job to do on a 210 because you have to remove the intake manifold. Maybe I will just try the "temporary" fix for now and hope that works even when it starts to get colder.

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Check your glow plugs with a ohm-meter first. Do that with the plugs cold and then again right after glowing them (the second time they should have more resistance). This tests for open and short circuit respectively.

Other than that, realize that glow plugs glow even after the glow light turns off. There's rarely any need to cycle them more than once. Just let them glow longer. The relay audibly clicks when they stop glowing.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL