I'm very new to Diesels. Anyway, I've got a 240D that one day just decided to quit starting. I've replaced the battery and starter. I've made sure the glowplugs are working and put in new glow plugs.
None of the cylinders try to go. It will pump some smoke out the intake though

Ideas anyone?

Thanks

If you can, check the engine to chassis ground to see if it's properly connected, and that its attachment points aren't corroded/dirty/etc.

Also make sure the battery cables aren't corroded at all. Either at their attachment points, like to the battery, or in the strands of the cable itself. Bad battery cables can prevent you from starting.

Try adjusting the valves.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Could be leaking primer pump letting air suck into the system, if if hasn't been upgraded to the new style...

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'84 300SD veg-oil bliss
'83 300SD veg-oil beater

Muddin,

Explain the smoke coming out of the intake. Where did it come out? Air should be going into the intake, not smoke coming out. What color is the smoke?

Is any white/grey (unburned Diesel fuel) coming out the exhaust?

Check under the valve cover to see if the cam towers are broken. That would happen if the timing chain jumped a tooth and valves hit the pistons. If everything looks OK under the valve cover, check the cam timing. Also check that the chain tensioner is keeping the chain tight.

P E H

I took the lid off the air filter housing while cranking it over. It 'puff's' a whitish grey smoke up into the air filter housing. That's really the best I can describe it. I'm not getting any smoke out the exaust. I had adjusted the valves (although I'm not sure if I did it correctly) and after I did that is when it started puffing smoke up into the filter housing.
It was a while ago when I was messing with it (I had to store the car at a freinds house for a while so I haven't been able to do anything to it).

As best as I can remember, I had tried cranking it over after doing work to the glow plug system which didn't help. So, I adjusted the valves and tried cranking it again. If I remember correctly one cyclinder tried to fire a couple of times. I don't remember if after that cylinder stopped trying to fire is when it would smoke backwards (lol) or if it was doing it even when the cyclinder was trying. As of right now, none of the cylinders seen to be trying.

It sounds like one of the intake valves is leaking and you are getting unburned Diesel fuel and air coming out the intake.

Possibly you didn't adjust the valves correctly.

BTW, do you have series or parallel GP?

P E H

There's a good possibility. I'll try again.

First one is a pencil type= series.

Second one is a loop type=parallel.

Louis.

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It's the loop type (parellel)

Muddin,

The loop type is series. The current flows thru one GP to the next ETC. and after the current goes thru the last GP (#1) it goes to ground.

The wires between the GP are resistance wires and get almost red hot. This is to drop the voltage because the series GP are 1.2 volt each. Seems thay might have been made for a 6 volt system.

P E H

So, the wires connecting the glowplugs should get red hot? I'll have to check that. There are some wires that get red hot (they go up and down and run close to the block) which I assumed were block heaters

Series glow plugs, solid wire connection between each, on a 79 240D.

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79 240D (no name yet) 203K Miles Maple Yellow
98 2500 4x4 HD Dodge 24 Valve Cummins TD
83 Chevy Van (Dead-Trans. shot)

Yeah...I thought those were like block heaters

All of those get hot...plenty hot

Muddin,

This is mostly a bump.

No those resistance wires are not block heaters. That would be like putting your radiators out side your house to heat it.

P E H