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  #1  
Old 07-28-2003, 03:57 PM
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glow plug

Please help,

My husband "jylee" has a 1975 Mercedes 240D -115 body style. He is on is way to California and was stranded in El Paso for a few hours because the car would not start. He talked to a mechanic here at home in Houston and the mechanic figured out that it was possibly the glow plug that had gone out. He used starter fluid at the air cleaner and the car started. My husband is asking for you all to help him. (1) Is the glow plug the actual problem and (2) does this model car have a fuse box?

Thanks in advance for quick response.

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  #2  
Old 07-28-2003, 08:34 PM
300SDog's Avatar
gimme a low-tech 240D
 
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Location: central ky
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It sounds like bad fuel..... nothing varies more in quality than diesel fuel..... It sours in few months and can be filled with algae at boondock fuel stations.

Tell your husband to fuel-up at TA, Pilot, Petro - high turnover truck stops where he can also get fuel filters changed..... and expert advice from diesel mechanics.

On cross-country trip it will be comical for him to buy fuel alongside 18 wheelers, but this is the thing to do.
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Old 07-28-2003, 11:01 PM
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There are 4 glow plugs, wired in series. If one burns out, none of them will work. If the glow light on the dashboard never glows, a burned out glowplug is a likely cause.

The fuse block is located under the hood on the drivers side near the firewall. It's under a cover held by 2 thumbscrews. The starting problem is not likely to be there however.

Go easy on the starting fluid. That can be very destructive. Best to get the bad glowplug replaced. Drivers of these cars should be carrying parts like this and should know how to diagnose and replace them.
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Old 07-28-2003, 11:19 PM
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There may be an 80 A fuse on the firewall, held down by two thumbscrews (if the GP are operated by the key -- if by the start knob, not there). These can crack, leading to no glowplugs.

If one is bad, you will need to replace it, none will work (series plugs).

Don't use ether, you will break the piston ring lands and end up needing to rebuild or replace the engine. These are pre-chamber engines, not direct injection, so they won't tolerate ether.

Peter
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Old 08-03-2003, 02:51 AM
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A simple test he can use is to turn on the glow plugs, turn them off and then feel around each one to see if the plug is warm. If they're not warm, they're not working.
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  #6  
Old 08-21-2003, 03:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by 240DieselDog
It sounds like bad fuel..... nothing varies more in quality than diesel fuel..... It sours in few months and can be filled with algae at boondock fuel stations.

Tell your husband to fuel-up at TA, Pilot, Petro - high turnover truck stops where he can also get fuel filters changed..... and expert advice from diesel mechanics.

On cross-country trip it will be comical for him to buy fuel alongside 18 wheelers, but this is the thing to do.
So far my only tank of bad fuel was at a Pilot truck stop in OKC. Before I stopped there I went to a TA truck stop but the fuel filler was too large to fit into my tank. Is there some kind of adapter that I can purchase so I can use these facilities?
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Old 08-21-2003, 10:16 PM
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gimme a low-tech 240D
 
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I forgot the 115 has smaller opening located near license plate.... notorious for throwing out the fuel nozzle. Most truck stops also have automotive pumps that draw from the same underground supply tank.

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