Yeah but that fusible link is a start/no-start deal which shouldnt slow down the starting. When my fusible link corroded away I bypassed it with bailing wire so I could get to the dealership for a $2 replacement part.

PJ, something else that nobody has mentioned here is valve clearances.... If valve clearances are off, this will directly effect hot start performance. Hell, that's probably the first thing I'd check on any car that I just bought.

- ask a vague question and you will get vague replies. Is the glow plug light doing anything funny? If the car is hot, it should only come on for a second or two..... if cold, then it should stay on for awhile and then go off.

And never buy a diesel you havent started when it's stone cold!! I once walked away from looking at a car without even starting it. Putting my hand on the hood told me the seller had warmed it up before I got there. Said to the seller that I'd be happy to come back in a day or two when the car was stone cold.