Is it Glowplugs? Relay? Starter?
 

Here is the problem I am having:

I have a 1985 300D.......My glowplug light does not come on at all! If I do turn the key to the glowplug position, I will get a loud buzzing noise out of the relay that will last last for 5 seconds or so then go off. I wait for another 10 seconds or so and turn the key to start....and I get nothing, no really even a sound from the starter.
My battery is fully charged and the 80 amp fuse on the relay is good, I checked that. What would cause it not even to turn over? Would bad glow plugs or relay cause this? I also wanted to add that it has been between 0 and 20F for the past week. The last time I was able to start it was a week ago. It did start that time, but no glowplug light either then....

Thank you so much,


Guy in MN

Are you saying the starter won't even turn? Or the starter turns the engine but the engine does not start?

If the starter does not even turn the engine over, and the battery is fully charged, I'd start by cleaning and tightening the battery terminal connections, the ground connection and checking voltage from the positive terminal strip to frame ground, static and while attempting to turn the engine over. If you go to start it, and you get no voltage drop when the key is turned to the crank position, I would suspect the nuetral safety switch. Did you try it in nuetral?

If the engine turns but does not fire, search the diesel forum for glow plug troubleshooting - there are pages and pages of posts on the subject. You'll find info on how to test the gp light circuit, the gp fuse, individual gps, wiring, etc. It is all there.

I was able to get the engine to turn, but not start about 4 days ago, but now the engine won't even turn nor will the starter turn. The battery is charged as mentioned in my opening post. But why would my glow plug relay buzz loudly for a few seconds? Is this normal?

Or, do you think it could have something to do with the sloppy shift linkage??