A colleague has an 81 240D stick shift with a strange starting problem. When cold in the morning and using the glowplugs it starts right up no problem. After having been driven for a while, normal commute, then switched off, will not start. After waiting about ten minutes it starts right up again. When she was leaving work today the car was idling in the parking bay. I came over and asked her to switch it off and see if it would start again. Switched off right away, no vacume problem apparent. Then started right up again no problem. She seems to think a new alternator is in order. This would be the second in a year. Car already has a brand new battery. I'm no mechanic but the thing that gets me is the cooling down period of ten minutes before starting normally. It sounds like a vapour lock problem that a friend's Porsche had some years ago but surely you dont get vapour lock in a Diesel? I told her I'd ask the forum if anybody could provide a suggestion. Any help would be appreciated. She's at the point of taking it to a Mercedes dealer...

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S