Looked at a 240D today. Car started on the 12'th revolution while hot. Is that not rather a long time before starting? I did not touch the throttle pedal at all while it was turning. Engine seemed good apart from that. No noticable smoke either on startup or under accelleration and idled well, with no unusual sounds apart from the normal clatter. I noticed the small "choke" thingy on the dash under the instruments in the 12 o'clock position and I didnt adjust it. Does that affect how it starts?

It's a 78 auto that shifts surprisingly well, and has working electric windows and sun roof. Couple of fender dings, left front and right rear but other than that body is in good shape with not a speck of rust. Full service records from new to 1995. Owner wants 1500 for it and didn't seem to mind having a mechanic look at it.

My only concern is the potential state of the compression because this could possibly be a low mileage car that's spent most of it's life doing short local trips.

Curious about the forums reaction to the prospect. Especially other 240D owners.

- 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

I have a 77 240d automatic and it was hard starting until I changed the glow plugs. Had never done it before but it was easy.

Found that one glow plug was bent badly, apparently by the mechanic that had changed them years ago. It was a little hard to get out because it was hard to get a wrench on it.

Anyway, it now starts immediately. Maybe one or two revolutions at most. It has a little over 213,000 miles on it.

This would be a cheap fix to try.

I would also suspect GP's normally, but it was doing it when warm then there may be other problems. Could be anything from bad fuel to low compression. Don't you hate answers like mine. :p

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

pj,

Did you wait anytime for the GP to heat? How long after the engine was shut off (hot) did you try to restart it?

However, if you tried to restart the engine immediately after it was shut off, It should start immediately with out waiting for the GP to heat.

Whats more important though, is how it starts when cold.

P E H

Actually I dont mind ambiguous answers. The car had been sitting for about a year before the current owner bought it with the idea of fixing it up. But he decided it was more than he wanted to take on and bought another car. He had replaced fuel lines, drained and cleaned the tank, worked on the breaks and front suspension and had just bust something in the vacume system before I went to see it so he was trying to figure what it was he'd done to stop it switching off with the key. Quite funny actually.

I was actually being driven home in my KIA dealers courtesty shuttle after having my 02 Kia Rio POS towed in because it's fan fell off!!! when I saw this 240D for sale in a yard. I figured I've really had enough of the Rio which I have decided is a re-incarnation of a Yugo and out of desperation did what I'd swore I'd never do again. Namely, investigate a Mercedes before having the cash immediatly available.

Now I'm enduring the mental anguish of trying to figure out how to come by the money by honest means...

- 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

Get 3 diesel nuts in the same room and you will always hear 5 different opinions ..... and just how fast is the cranking speed? If the starter motor and/or battery are tired then that's another factor.

I've noticed same problem on my recently purchased old 300D. With a cold morning startup, I wait for glowplug light to go out (...and wait, and wait)- turn the key with accelerator halfway down, and it fires on the first hit, giving me confidence that my GP's are all working well. Yet, when fully warmed up, whether I glow it or not, it cranks at least a dozen times, then comes to life with a loud clatter and plenty of smoke. Just this morning however, I seem to have discovered the cure. Drove car to 10 or more yard sales- so lots of warm starts. I found that by flooring the accelerator while cranking, it would start on the third or fourth crank without pre-glow, and without the big noise and smoke signal. I'm not sure if this indicates that there is a problem- it just seems like it needs lots of fuel while cranking when warm.

By the way- at one of the yard sales, I found a case of 24 cans of "Wynn's Diesel Conditioner" for 10 bucks!!!

(in the 80deg. summer weather here...) my '82 240 takes more than a couple revolutions to get going...with no pedal.
If a add a little "accelerator" (dont you dare say "throttle" in diesel discussion =) while cranking it catches on the first or second hit. I dont like doing this b/c I dont want the engine to rev more than necessary before the oil pressure gets up.

Never checked the valves (soon), currently at 260k w/ timing chain changed at 160k. Italian tune-ups daily =)


-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)