Today was the first real cold day we have had this year. Now my car won't start. It turns and turns and turns till the battery is dead. So how can you tell if it's weak glow plugs or a worn tired engine? I have read and heard that not starting in the cold is a sign of one or both.

Failure of the glow system will cause the engine not to start, but if the system is operational then look elsewhere for starting problem. What year?? & model??

Some have a strip fuse inside the glow relay that can fail. If yours does, check it.

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

I just published on another newsgroup an entire treatise on diesel starting problems. Send me your email address and I'll send it to you since it's too lengthy to retype here.
pegasus@mho.net
(that goes for anyone who wants to see it)
Thanks..
Dennis
Arvada, CO
78 300CD 285,000 miles
90 350SDL 121,000 miles

Hi Mark..
I sent you the tutorial on starting.. let me know what you think!
Thanks
Dennis

I have a 1981 300D. The car runs great. It does, in my opinion, blow alot of smoke when started after sitting. I attribute that to worn valve guides. Don't really know though. Car starts right up when temps are above 32f.

Dennis, thanks for the note. It has some great stuff in it. I will check to see if I have the old glow plugs or new ones right away.