Uneven cold starting after glow plug replacement?

[bhatt]

Hi guys..

My '86 300SDL (160k mi) is doing something weird since I replaced all 6 glow plugs. I replaced them strictly as a maintenance item (purchased the car 2 years ago and have no idea when they were last changed..)

When I turn the key to start, the glow plug light now takes about 1-2 seconds to light up, where it used to come on immediately. Once the light goes out, I start the car and it starts all bumpy, as if if one cylinder is "missing".

If I wait a little longer after the light goes off then start, it starts MUCH better. I know this is the best way to start a diesel in the cold, however I never had to do this before! Once the car is warm, it runs PERFECT.

My guess is one bad glow plug and/or I screwed something up while hooking everything back up.. Any thoughts on what I can check before I tear everything apart and look for the problem?

I'm thinking of testing glow plug resistance.. this should hopefully tell me if there is a bad new plug and/or if I screwed up in connecting one of the glow plug wires or something. Do I just pull the connector off the relay and test from each plug wire to ground? Is there a ground terminal in that connector or do I just find a good ground area in the engine compartment?

Thanks for all your help!

Neal