You don't have to use anything but a circuit tester on the glow plugs in this year.

Hook the clip to the positive batter terminal and touch the glow plug, be careful not to touch anything that could ground it like the engine or metal injection lines and if it lights up its good, if not its out. Pretty simple huh?

The other method of checking the glow plubs by ohms it for 1979 and later.

Good Luck

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Ryan
1985 300D Turbo Diesel
1984 200 Euro

If the starter is in good working order, you do not need to push start the car.

If the glow plugs aren't working...fix them then start the car with the starter.

Push starting is just not an option for the average person (with short driveways and public roads).

Safter to work on the driveway...espically if the engine has problems. or CLUTCH! has problems.

Depending on your location, make the correct choice whether or not to pull start. However, non turbo diesel Mercedes, older and warn, tend to never start again if they have considerable wear and have sat for an extended period of time such as this one. If you can't start it normally, pulling it is your only option. I have had over 100 different diesel Mercedes, sometimes they need to be "pulled" back to life.

Do not put a dime into this car until you get it started and it runs out okay.

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Ryan
1985 300D Turbo Diesel
1984 200 Euro

above post. and i have had about 20 mb diesels.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I believe the starter works fine because the engine turns over when i turn the key? is this a correct assumption. My fuel injection lines are shot though, so that may be the problem. I ordered some online but it will be a week before they get here.

Bad injector lines is not a problem that comes up frequently here. Why do you think they are bad?
If you're thinking of the fuel return lines that go from injector to injector, then bad return lines should not hinder starting (I believe)

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My 84 300d would not start until I fixed the injector return lines but it would crank and get slower like the battery was going away. I would replace those lines as well.

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2000 VW Jetta TDI with 213,000 miles and climbing
84 300D non turbo getting ready for wvo conversion

The only issue of whether or not the starter would "work" is if it is in tip-top enough shape to wing the engine over fast enought to start the engine.
Old starter = slow turning = hard start.
New Starter = fast turning = easy start.

Thus why you would opt for the push start option (if the starter isn't prime).

My 240D starts up with its own starter dandy