I just purchased a 1982 MB 300 diesel. I'm in Cincinnati where we just got hit by our first winter snow and freezing temps. Just my luck I don't have a garage. My car won't start at all the battery is fine. It's my first diesel now I'm stuck with no car. Help any suggeestions? I have it covered, I tried keeping a work room light on ot over night to heat the engine, but still nothing.

Do you have a block heater on the engine? You should have a cord hanging out by the front bumper. If so, try plugging the car in over night. Follow the cold starting directions in your manual. If everything is in order, the car should start. Make sure the battery has a full charge.

Lioness,The first thing to check is the glow plugs. Make sure that you have power on both sides of the 80amp glowplug fuse. If that is OK, disconnect the glowplug wire from the relay and use an ohm meter to check the glow plugs. If they are ALL OK, check the valve adjustment. Tight valves make cold weather starting almost impossible. In the cold weather I always turn the key to preglow and when the glowplug light goes out I turn the key off then back on to preglow and after the light goes out the second time I start the car. When it is real cold I sometimes preglow three times. You could have water in your fuel filters and when it freezes it will block the fuel supply. You may have low compression in the engine. Low compression will keep a cold engine from starting and will require major repair. I hope that your problem is a small one. Happy holidays. Jay
PS Some where in my files I have a procedture to check the glow plug circuit. I can e-mail it to you, or anyone else, if you let me know.

Remember that the glow plugs stay on for about a minute after the light goes out, so simply waiting 10-15 seconds before cranking will often do the trick. Generally, there is no need to preglow more than once.