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  #1  
Old 12-27-2003, 05:30 PM
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Glo Plugs for Diesel

My 1995 300e Diesel shakes and almost stalls when I start it. After it warms up, it is fine but now while I am driving the coil glo plug light on my dashboard comes on and stays on for about 5 minutes. Mechanic says the glo plugs are underneath the engine and that the engine has to be lifted to replace. 1) Is it definitely the glo plugs and 2) why didn't Mercedes put the glo plugs in a convenient place to change?

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  #2  
Old 12-27-2003, 05:45 PM
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Glow plugs are under the manifold, it must come off.

Glow plug placement is getting to be a trick these days, what with double overhead cams and injectors in the middle, hard to find a place to put the glowplugs!

Peter
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  #3  
Old 12-27-2003, 05:54 PM
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Answer to Glo Plug Information

Thanks so much for your reply. My mechanic said it would be $950 to replace these glo plugs because he has to lift the manifold. Is this a reasonable amount? Also, is the problem definitely because the glo plugs need to be replaced or could it be something else?
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  #4  
Old 12-27-2003, 06:23 PM
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It's almost certainly the glowplugs. Typical symptoms.

Typical cost, too, although a bit high. Must charge $$$$ per hour.

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!
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  #5  
Old 12-27-2003, 08:09 PM
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$950 for glow plugs !!!

Some don't pay that much for a good running Benz !
________________________________________

db,

Why don't you try checking/replacing them yourself ? What do you have to lose ? Have lots of fun and save hundreds !
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  #6  
Old 12-27-2003, 08:43 PM
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Thanks so much for your help. Do it myself???? I have never even pumped gas into a car. I am a woman who can't find the hood release most of the time. Seriously, the mechanic showed me where the glow plugs were, they were underneath part of the engine so that would have to be lifted apart and then he told me sealed together again, approx. 9 hours of work. He said the glow plugs themselves were $50 each times 6 of them but the real money will be the labor.

Can I get away without replacing them? He said 4 out of 6 are working. What do you think?
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  #7  
Old 12-27-2003, 09:11 PM
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Nothing wrong with working on your own car, but I WOULD recommed something besides a silk blouse....

No, you need to replace the glowplugs, since as more fail, it will simply refuse to start, no matter how long your crank it, and you don't want to go there (I have a Volvo diesel giving me fits right now for that reason).

Bite the bullet and get them done. I hope you are getting premium service from this guy, he's charging you premium prices!

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!
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  #8  
Old 12-27-2003, 09:21 PM
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Okay, you convinced me. Also, I just purchased some Diesel Kleen conditioner. Could this help at all? My brother found one that was a winterizer as well. Can't find that one. One more question, in the warm weather, are glo plugs a non-issue?

Thanks so much,
Diane
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  #9  
Old 12-27-2003, 11:12 PM
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The car will probably start without several GP's working in warm to hot weather, but it will place a greater strain on the starter and the battery as things continue to deteriorate. The battery, starter, and compression all have to be good in order for the engine to sucessfully start. Temperatures above 50F also help. The GP replacement probably sounds like a formidable job, but it is really the best route and you will learn a lot about the engine in the process.
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  #10  
Old 12-28-2003, 07:26 AM
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I very much appreciate everyone's words of wisdom and I will take your advice. One more question. My 1995 diesel has 130,000 miles on it. The previous owner said that before he sold me the car, at 80,000 miles, he changed the glo plugs and that glo plugs only last about 40,000 or 50,000 miles. This can't be true. Could it?
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  #11  
Old 12-28-2003, 08:30 AM
CJ CJ is offline
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Diane,

Get a second opinion on price form another independent tech. I have doen many of these and you can do everythng in about two hours. As far as the price of glow-plugs...$50 a piece sounds high.
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  #12  
Old 12-28-2003, 11:38 AM
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glow plugs

Prices for the glow plugs are 21.75-21.98 each @ Fastlane (sponsor for this forum)
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  #13  
Old 12-28-2003, 05:52 PM
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You are all so helpful. CJ, were you able to change them in a 1995 diesel in 2 hours? My car has its glo plugs under the manifold which I am told must come off and then after the new glo plugs are put in, must be resealed. If my glo plugs were accessible, it would be a few hundred dollars but the $950 is because of the labor required to get to them. Just wanted to clarify whether a good mechanic could change them and replace and seal manifold in 2 hours. If that's the case, 950 is way too high. My mechanic told me 9 hours of labor is involved. Tomorrow, I will call a Mercedes dealership to find out what they would bill for.

As always, thank you for your help and great advice.

Sincerely,
Diane
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  #14  
Old 12-28-2003, 10:14 PM
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Are these $21 glowplugs made of platinum? The one's for my '87 are only $10 (Beru).
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  #15  
Old 12-28-2003, 10:15 PM
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glow plugs

I also have a E30D. I have replaced a defective glow plug three times I am now going to attempt the job myself. Last bill was $253.00; should not be $900.00, but still it is the principle of it all. Is there something inheriently wrong with the GPs on this model year?

I will replace them all this time.





Stephen

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