Was that 2k miles south to north?
You may have summer blend diesel.
MB should still start but sometimes when all the should bees are added up ...

Oh, that was my dream car! I thought I had that auction and then it was snatched away. That guy has had some amazing older mercedes for sale. I don't think he got a lemon. I think he's being taken for a ride by the dealer. More experience and review of this site should save him.

This owner has one beautiful 116. Congratulations

Kevin
1979 240D manual
1984 190D manual

Nice looking Car, but maby it is a BAD CAR and you ought to sell it to another Canadian real cheap... like me
Where are you? Perhaps someone here can point you to a good Indy?
Alberta Luthier
'83 300CD

This board this is great, all these people know the ins and outs of these cars. Makes me feel better after the dealership is ready to sell this thing for scrap.

I'm in Calgary. Yes, this is the e-bay car, I think I got good value and hoping to preserve this thing.

More pics on request.

Thanks again, I have to go pick up the car tomorrow from dealership.

Listen to this workorder:

Battery and install
Glow plugs and install
compression test
oil change

===== get this.... $1,200 !!! yes, it's Canadian $, but pretty close to USD nowadays....

Going to install the block heater myself, have the cord here, looks simple enough....

thx.

Good God man, that is outrageous. They'd charge you $500 to install that cord. Buy yourself some tools. No more than $200 in parts on that job. 15 minutes to change the battery. An hour to do the glowplugs and 20 minutes for the oil change. Compression test wouldn't take that much longer if they were changing the glow plugs anyway.
It shouldn't be cold enough up there yet to make any huge difference in starting on a well functioning engine. Did they say there was a problem with the glow system? Was the glow light working correctly when you took it in? Was the starter spinning fast?

__________________
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

I have new battery and glow plugs installed and pick the car up later today. I will keep you posted on my experience with the colder weather approaching.

I'm picking up the block heater / cord later today. I want to try to install this myself, and from what I've seen on the boards, this looks like a relatively easy installation. The MB Dealership told me this "was a big job" to install. I can't trust these guys.

This board has a wealth of information, I'm just learning the ins and outs of this car and look forward to learning more about her.

Many thanks!

Peter

1980 300SD
Calgary, Alberta

You must have gone to Lone Star!! Don't feel bad they got me for over $350 for a water pump.... No that was for the pump not installed!

There is a shop I have not used but have only heard good things about...
I'm trying to remember the name of an 'indy' in the 'greenview industrial park' off of 32 ave ne. between Edmonton Trail and the Deerfoot.

Alberta Luthier
'83 300CD
High River, Alberta

If you now have a good battery and glow plugs then I would say the next steps are
1) Adjust the valves BEFORE another compression test. If they are not adjusted correctly it can affect the compression.

2) Block heater

3) Change all fuel filters

It sounds like the problem so far is not the car but the dealer and if you don't want to work on it yourself find a good indy to do the work. Make sure the indy knows diesels, a lot of them say sure but don't have a clue.

__________________
1983 300SD
200000miles

Yeah, if you could get me the name of that indy in Calgary that would be great. I'm a little (ok, a lot!) frustrated with the stealership.

Installing block heater later today.

P

Are you installing the block heater or just the cord? Cord should be simple. Heater could be much more of a pain.

__________________
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

To throw in my two cents, I would strongly suggest putting in a synthetic oil. I live up in Missoula, MT and when it gets cold here the oil makes a HUGE difference. My 300SD went from barely able to start, to turning over really easy. I would make the switch before it gets really cold.

I vote for the valves out of adjustment or a valve job as well. If the milage is really 125k. Regardless you have to deal with the compression issue on the one cylinder. Doing it yourself if it comes to it should not be really too bad. Unfortunatly you live in a financially hot part of the country right now. So most are charging very high for services. Ebay rebuilt starter for 123 diesel from a california outlet is 74.95 plus 40.00 or less shipping to canada for example. From an outfit with perfect feedback and lots of ebay sales. You cannot like myself support this site as phil does not ship canada for example. If engine has really only 125 k the valve job might be reasonable for example. If you do it yourself. One concern I have and will not cost you any additional money is an opinion if the milage is correct on that car in their shops opinion. These cars with reasonable care can look pretty new at 250.000 miles with a reasonable owner. Check your proofs of low milage very carefully. Needless to say stay out of certain garages.

These engines are all in different shape.

I have two '85 SD's.

One will start at freezing WITHOUT glow plugs or block heater.

The other has trouble starting at freezing with glow plugs and won't start at all below freezing without the block heater.

Once started though, they both run very strong.

Cranking speed has a dramatic effect on starting. Even a new battery won't help if the starter is going bad. They are easy to replace on these cars. Don't let the stealership do it for you.

Get the valves adjusted.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

I have emailed three different guys who I know swear by this indy, -hope to hear back from them. I also looked for quite a while in the phone book but I think the guys used .. like the guy's first name; I don't know if I ever knew the name of the shop.... But we can find this place as I am sure it is in Greenview industrial park and that isn't that big an area.

Alberta Luthier

I don't know about the newer models but I do know that all of the older models have starting problems in cold weather. Make sure your glow plug relay is working well. You may need to test circutry with a multi meter. Also, get some standayne year-round additive. It lowers the gel point of diesel fuel. You might want to get an optima battery (red-top) also. It cranks out a lot of starting power.

Peace out.

If you need further info, contact me at: alfredburn2hotmail.com

Alfredo