1986 300SDL hard start problems... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aroohk · #1 09-02-2006, 04:07 PM

OK... so let me tell you what I have done already...

In the last couple months, I have...

Replaced ALL 6 glow plugs
The GP Relay
I have done the OVP Relay as it was acting up and was showing all of the symptoms of having some issues with causing the ABS light to come on and the car to idle at 500 rpms...

Some mornings it will start right up, and others it takes 2-4 cranks...

I am running the car on a home brew mixture of WVO and such and am almost 100% sure that is NOT the issue, although I do let the glow plugs go until I hear the relay click off under the hood before I start it up. Yesterday the car started right up, and this morning it took 2 tries to start.

I am wondering if the legacy EGR crap on my car is partly to blame, as EVERYTHING else that has to do with the car starting up has been replaced.

Oh ya... my car has 413K miles on it, and about 6 months ago, I had the head, gasket, etc. replaced/rebuilt...

Please let me know as I was having this problem AFTER the repair, but BEFORE i started running the car on the tripple filtered WVO homebrew...

Thanks
Aaron

barry123400 · #2 09-03-2006, 10:25 AM

I guess I would make sure the glow plug circuit was not intermittent first. Just wire a test lamp on the plugs to check it. I might even route it back to the cabin myself. If that is not it from your description after that I would suspect the fuel system. Have someone observe the shut off valve arm for movement as well. You may have thought of these things already. Basically it does not sound too serious. Wish everything was fairly easy.

aroohk · #3 09-03-2006, 02:47 PM

The car goes to the mechanic (A good friend) for a once over and check up this week... A no charge inspection of the whole package... He knows these cars quite well, and i think you are right... does not seem like its a big deal at all...

Cause once it starts up, it is all good to go and runs like a champ and then restarts NO problem. I also want to check the fuel system to make sure that it is not sucking in any air and losing prime over night. I honestly do not think it has ANYTHING to do with the bio brew I am running in the car, as there are times when one longer glow cycle and she starts right up like it should...

I think when I had the head/gasket done, they jacked something up... Prior to this, the car would start right up no problem with one glow cycle...

Thanks for your input and any other suggestions I am completely open to!

Aaron