Help>> My ride is down. Cold weather got here and she slowly refused to start. Now she will not start at all. I replaced one gloplug that was out and new battery. Any easy ideas that a non-grease monkey mom can try to get back on the road?

Smiles

something to get you going untill you repir the problem

try spraying some WD-40 on some cloth and put it at the intake while someone cranks if that doesnt work do the same but soak the cloth in some gasoline that worked for me ok

( remove from intake as soon as your cylinders start to fire )

__________________
1979 Mercedes 300D 265 000 miles
1969 Mercedes 230.6 164 000 km

Is that safe to do?

__________________
W126 1983 300SD 286,000 miles and ticking
Baby blue exterior Grey MB tex
Recent work:
Replaced air cleaner mounting brackets and heat shields
Replaced alternator, fan and power steering belts
Replaced positive battery terminal
Replaced negative battery terminal and cord
New Duralast Battery

My car needs work.

I figure it's a diesel, what year and model?

__________________
1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

Definitely debatable...
I used to have to do this to an older GMC pickup (company vehicle) to get it started. Used a burlap bag, sprinkle a little gas on it and laid it over the intake to fire it off on cold mornings. It was really due to a weak battery but couldn't tell our mechanics that! They knew everything...

How did you find you had a bad glow plug? I'd keep testing as they are the defintive tool for hard starting unless she (the car) is just starting to get too old to fire off.
In that case there is lots you can do but none of them very quick.

__________________
'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

I've heard of using starting fluid, available at auto parts stores. Essentially ethyl ether, which has a very low flash point. I believe you spray into the intake while someone is cranking- I've never used it since it never gets that cold in SoCal =)

No to starter fluid...
Too volatile, in an emergency only would I use it...
Like stranded in the mountains and about to freeze to death. Might blow the motor anyway but hey if you're dead who needs a car...

__________________
'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

WD-40 does work but you almost need someone to crank while you're spraying it. I used to do that with the old Ford with the 6.9 IH in it that I had...... it was hard to start below 40 degrees even with good glow plugs.

__________________
1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

Donna
Do you live anywhere near Florence, AL? I know a good honest mechanic in Florence.

Gilly

__________________
Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

Donna
Can't you plug in the block warmer? Then if it starts, at least you will know it's a glow system problem and we can work from there.
Brian

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

I know that a diesel with a heater in the intake should not have ether or anything like that introduced into the intake.... it will explode .....

However, I have also known people who had to use ether EACH TIME THEY WANTED TO START THEIR OLD MB... and we are talking in the summer in Texas...

and about the ' blowing up the engine itself' ..... I don't belive that ether has enough btu's to do that in the fashion we are describing here...

IN ADDITION TO MY SUSPICIONS..... THEY MAKE SOME DIESELS WITH ETHER INJECTORS FOR STARTING THEM.... how does one explain that if it is so bad for diesel engine ?

This page is an interesting list of stuff....

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=ether+starting+diesel&btnG=Google+Search

Donna, DISCONNECT YOUR GLOWPLUG SYSTEM AND FEEL FREE TO USE ETHER TO START YOUR CAR...... if you want/need to attach a starter button inside the engine compartment , as would be used by a mechanic to turn the engine over when standing outside the car... and spray ether into the intake tube of your MB I think you will be just fine until you have a chance to find the cause of its recalcitrance towards starting.....

NO ETHER guys come on!!! she's going to end up with cracked rings

WD-40 I recomend ... less flamable only use gasoline if you must

bigger diesels can take the punishment of ether because of their displacement and most of the big diesels that have to use ether are 2 stroke

__________________
1979 Mercedes 300D 265 000 miles
1969 Mercedes 230.6 164 000 km

No one in their right mind would suggest using GASOLINE FOR THIS... OR FOR CLEANING PARTS , ETC... You need to take that sentence out of your post.... no way , no how should anyone consider using Gasoline except inside a gas tank.....

If i were to try this with WD40 do I squirt it into the intake before the airbox and filter also can I jsut squirt it right out of the can while someone cranks.

__________________
W126 1983 300SD 286,000 miles and ticking
Baby blue exterior Grey MB tex
Recent work:
Replaced air cleaner mounting brackets and heat shields
Replaced alternator, fan and power steering belts
Replaced positive battery terminal
Replaced negative battery terminal and cord
New Duralast Battery

My car needs work.

not given enough infomation on engine, car, fuel status for this lady to be shooting explosives down the engine's throat.

don