w210 E300 glow plug light
 

Hellow all,

I have recently developed a strange problem with the glow plug light on my 1997 E300.
After I start the engine the glow plug light sometimes comes back on and stays on for a minute or so and then goes off. The engine starts fine, but once in a while in extreme weather it will sputter at idle. Any chance this can be caused by a faulty glow plug relay? Where is the glow plug relay on the W210 (1997 E300)?
I really hope this its not a sign of bad glow plugs. Again the key thing to note is that the glow light will go off after a minuite or so.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Alex

Glow plug light
 

Alex,I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings,but it is glow plug time,Been there and done that,Same problem and it was #3 cyl glow plug,A new set of glow plugs and the glow plug light worked like new and is still doing great after 50K miles,and I live with crossed fingers.
Best of luck.
Tom Brown Va Section
E300 D 1995 127K

If the newer cars are the same as the older cars, then this would indicate that you have 2 bad glow plugs.

Just as a bit of advice....these engines have a problem with getting glow plugs out. What ever you do, do not break one off in the head. Use a torque wrench when pulling them out. DO NOT apply more than about 45 ft-lbs of torque on it, if you do, the same thing will happen to you as it did to me...broken glowplug. If at all possible, take out the injectors and fog it with PB blaster....it will hopefully break up the carbon; and keep doing it for 2 days so that it can penetrate.

Best of Luck!

When you replace the GPs, do them all. I don't care if it is one or two. One bad, all bad. Check resistance and see if any of them is higher than the norm. If you do break it off, you might be better off getting the head off to a machine shop. I almost wrecked mine when we tried to drill it out because the plug is not a straight shot. It is angled and if you don't get the angle right, well.....

New plugs need antisieze. I coated the entire body so they wouldn't stick again. Every year, I plan to spend $10 on a gasket and take the GPs out for cleaning.

Thank you all for the reply.

I was hoping it was the relay, based on the way the light was behaving. I really would like to do the job myself, but the weather is still to cold to be messing under the hood. Any chance I can wait a few months till it gets warmer or will this further complicate and possible damage thing?
How long would you say the job would take? I guess if it’s a fast job (2-3 hours?) maybe Ill brave the cold and do it right now.

What are some of your thoughts?

Thank you,

Alex

Glow plug light
 

Alex,Me being the bad news guy,Im sorry to say with the best of luck at DYI it will take the best part of a day,you will need to remove the intake manifold and all the assorted plumbing and wiring associated there with,and you will need a set of star socketd ,also a set of allen sockets,along with a set of metric sockets,then have a manifold gasket on hand,and last but not least lots of patience,and watch what you are doing,and if the glow plugs comes out without breaking off will show that your Carma is right that day,get you some pb blasterand give it a goos shot a day before the attack,then the day tour are going to do it give it another shot and get the eng up to operating temp the go for it,and good luck.
Tom

What is PB blast?
 

What is PB blast and how do you apply to a running engine?

PB Blaster is a spray that breaks loose the siezed up bolts. You can get that at most hardware stores or auto parts stores.

You spray it on the threads from the outside and also when you remove the injectors, you can fog the cylinders.

If mine were any indication after 60K on the clock, there was no carbon holding it in. It was all the galvanic corrosion.

thank you all for your feedback. I now have a clear picture as to what I am against. as soon as the weather get a bit warmer Ill try to do this myself.
I just hope I wont cause further damge starting the car in this way.

Alex

If you break it off, I would suggest you have someone take the head out and send it to a machine shop.