Hey guys, just joined. I Heard about this board from another member. I am having a problem with my inlaw's 86 300 SDL. When you turn the ignition on the light for the glowplugs does not illuminate and obviously the glow plugs do no turn on. I know(from reading prior posts on this forum) there is a relay with a fuse in it. I suspect one of these to be the culprit but as I do not have a shop manual for this car I do not know where to find it. Could anybody give me a hint of where to look? If I find the fuse or relay to be bad are they something I can find at a local part store? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Before you do that, tap on the dash where the light is. Mine just quit working a few weeks ago, but I did not notice a difference in starting. Tapped on the dash and the next time it came on. It has done that twice now.

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

Actually the glowplugs themselves do not come on, therefore the car will not start.

Somebody will come along who knows the answer, but if you're in a rush (you seem to be sitting there waiting ) and the car is there, then start pulling plastic covers off of stuff in the engine bay. It should be something about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and you can follow the glow plug wires to it. There's a metal strip inside held down with two screws. Careful - one end is energized all the time! Loosen the screws to check as they can be cracked and still appear good.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

nevermind

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

OK found the module when I got home. 80 Amp fuse is good, no clicking sound from the module when I turn the key on. I am going to write this off as a bad module. Thanks for the help!!

Check the fuse carefully it may just be cracked and not melted. If cracked nothing in the glow plug system will work. This is a common problem. If it is not cracked then it could be a fuse in the fuse panel. Just to the right of the brake booster. The black square box. Unscrew the two large knobs and remove the cover. check all fuses.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

do u live in missouri? i told some guy to log on here and help who also has a 86 300SDL. so just wondering.

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198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05

rc51jim,

If the GP relay doesn't click, it is either the relay itself or a bad connection someplace between the Relay and the key switch, or possibly even the key switch itself. This clicking has nothing to do with the fuse in the relay.

With the key turned to the glow position, try removing and reconnecting the small connector on the Relay 5 to 10 times and listen for the relay to click. This solved my GP not working problem because there was corrosion on the contacts between the relay and the connector.

If the above doesn't work, before replacing the relay, I would determine if it is getting voltage when the key is turned. If not getting voltage, a new relay will not solve your problem.

P E H