I own a 1982 300D Turbo Deisel. It has 317,500 miles and I believe it had only one previous owner. I also believe this was a European import.

Here's the recent background info:

two weeks ago I inadvertently left my lights on all day. Of course I drained the battery. I jumped the battery but could not leave it running long enough to re-charge the battery because I had to leave town for a week that same day (in a different car of course.)

When I got back home I bought a portable charger/jump starter. It took 5 days to charge that gizmo up. On the mean time I figured I'd buy a ac/dc converter charger that I could plug into an electrical outlet. So... I tried that and the converter did not work. The portable jumpstarter didn't work either (after charging to full power for 5 days).

I eventually had a tow company come out and jump it with their jump box and it started right away.

I must also add that 3 months ago my glow plug lamp light stopped working but my benz kept starting without a hitch. After I got the jump from the truck the glow light came back on but would it went out much quicker f than it used to.

Anyway, last Sunday I went out to start up the car and the starter sounded good but it sounded like it wasn't getting any fuel or something. It just wouldn't turn over. I'm wondering if it could be bad glow plugs, or does it sound like something else since I had been starting the car without the glow light for several months.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

BTW I'm right outside of philadelphia PA if anyone knows a reliable MB repair guy in the area.

Thanks.

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'82 300D TurboDeisel 317,500 Serenity Blue
'88 190E(Eng. Rebuilt @ 40K by Mercedes)80,000 Tan

If U got a good one keep it that way!

Sounds like one or more bad glow plugs and/or a bad glow plug relay. Check those first, then move on to other things. It really sounds like the glow system is at fault though. By the way, completely draining a car battery like that permenantly damages it, it will never be "what it once was" ever again, its just the nature of the innards of the battery and the chemicals inside it, once completely discharged a car battery is often wounded or destroyed. It may still work a while yet, but likely won't last nearly as long due to that incident.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

My vote is the battery first. I dunno about winters in PA but I bet the battery wont make it.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

thanx for the input.
Anyone else with any thoughts.

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'82 300D TurboDeisel 317,500 Serenity Blue
'88 190E(Eng. Rebuilt @ 40K by Mercedes)80,000 Tan

If U got a good one keep it that way!

You might check your glow plug relay and strip fuse. Its all under a rectangular black box on the drivers fender well.

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I'm an auto idiot. What would I look for to tell me if they were in good or bad shape?

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'82 300D TurboDeisel 317,500 Serenity Blue
'88 190E(Eng. Rebuilt @ 40K by Mercedes)80,000 Tan

If U got a good one keep it that way!

changed your fuel filter lately?

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'82 Euro MB 300 D Turbo Silver/Blue - Fixed
Adding W115 Intake and Intercooler

1986 Chevy Camaro Cp 400HP For Sale
Engineer
Tuscaloosa, AL

Haven't changed the filter. I do see it though. How easy is it to change that?

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'82 300D TurboDeisel 317,500 Serenity Blue
'88 190E(Eng. Rebuilt @ 40K by Mercedes)80,000 Tan

If U got a good one keep it that way!

See pictures. The bright metal strip is the "fuse". It is rated at 80 Amps. Fastlane has them. Good to carry a spare. Small and inexpensive. Remember that if the fuse blows, it's for a reason. Fix the cause, then replace the fuse.

The other things in the closeup picture are connectors, carry power to the glow plugs, dash light, etc. The rest of the box is the timer and relay circuitry. Test by replacing with a known good one. You can also run tests with a meter but you have to know how the thing works, have diagrams, etc. Fastlane has the thing for $170. You might want to try the less expensive fixes first.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

We've all been there.

Visit Diesel Giant's Webpage, he has a Do-It-Yourself on checking the glow plugs and system. Along with a lot of other helpfull stuff.

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I bet after sitting a while air pockets have formed in the fuel lines or something. My car sat for a week and today it would not start. I got out, and pumped the fuel primer pump a minute. Got back in and it started right up. I think those injector lines are high point in the system so air gravitates there. Just my theory on why diesels are hard to start after sitting. Check the owners manual for procedure on "Running out of gas" to find out how to do this.

Your engine must be really tired if you need glow plugs to start in this heat wave.

Good luck.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

Once again I'm an auto idiot. I read my manual about the fuel primer pump and I found the location of what I thought the manual referred to but had no idea how to 'pump' the thing. I tried to manually moving the white circular item but it wouldn't budge. I couldn't find anything else to 'pump'. please help as I would like to try to see if it is a failure to feed fuel problem.

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'82 300D TurboDeisel 317,500 Serenity Blue
'88 190E(Eng. Rebuilt @ 40K by Mercedes)80,000 Tan

If U got a good one keep it that way!

You need to unscrew the white handle, then you can pump it up and down. Push it back down and screw it in when you finish.

Great resource!! Thanks for the info.

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'82 300D TurboDeisel 317,500 Serenity Blue
'88 190E(Eng. Rebuilt @ 40K by Mercedes)80,000 Tan

If U got a good one keep it that way!

Thanks so much Craig. I'll try this in the morning. BTW I my 300D will catch ur 300D in miles this year! I'm rackin' them up as fast as I can cause this baby runs so well (um, I mean when she's running of course )

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'82 300D TurboDeisel 317,500 Serenity Blue
'88 190E(Eng. Rebuilt @ 40K by Mercedes)80,000 Tan

If U got a good one keep it that way!