Hey guys,

1980 240D MN

Ok..so it made it down to the cities and back this weekend...it finally started, really came down to the wire too - lotta cranking and cursin! Total of about 350 miles at 70mph...go benz! BUT, the thing takes a good 3 hours to start each time it has sat over night now!!! Before it did not do this! It started this behavior after I changed the fuel filter (which i poured in Heet and then it turned cloudy with bits, so I dumped that out and put in some Purge crap and screwed it on) Then I took off the leaky hand pump and put on a new one...with the copper washer..is that right? The car has been a beeeotch to start ever since. I cracked the injectors several times and cranked til the battery died and/or it look sufficiently wet, tightened them up...cranked, battery dies, jump - charge- crank..repeat for a good solid 3 hours so I could come home, - finally it started. I hope this process isn't going to be a normal thing...it has been very cold here (15 to -15F) but I remember when I first got it, it would start...Oh, when I finally did get it running I cracked each injector nut and let it bubble/spit for a bit then tightened it back down. Right now I have the battery on a slow trickle charge and a heater underneath the car going.

What is causing these 3 hours starting sessions? I thought I did everything right? The car is supposed to get better when you change the fuel filters and hand pump?! Right...argh!

Could it be a glow plug issue? Here is my normal starting procedure to date.

1. Get in car, turn get all the way over, but not to the cranking point, notch before that.

2. Wait for the solid glow plug light to go off

3. Turn key back, and turn all the way over to crank.

4. When the car does/did start the light flashes for a bit (20 sec?) and goes off...

5. Drive...woo hoo?

Thanks a ton!
-Kurt