as much as i have scoured the threads here, i still can't seem to locate someone with the same GP situation. ok, to start out...

background:
1980 300CD 281k
replaced glow plugs and battery Jan '06
anti-gel formula in diesel tank
have not run veggie oil in 2 weeks

problem:
about a week ago, i began to start the car. temp was cold but not bad (40). the glow plug light came on like normal. i heated the GP 2 or 3 times as i usually do in colder weather. cranked. turned over, fuel being delivered, etc, yet car wouldn't run. when i released the ignition, the GP light flashed on and off indicating some kind of problem with the GP (i don't think it indicates anything in particular, just that there is a GP problem?).
heated, cranked, hooked up to battery multiple times. checked visible wires. no luck!
my car was about to get towed so i used starter fluid on it and it finally started.
back at my house, i tested the GP resistance, all except one were running 30,000 ohms (registered 'infinity' on the 200 range). rechecked connections w/ multimeter, no problems. i wasn't present, but my friend checked the relay to the best of his (and my) ability and couldn't find any problems indicated by voltage/resistyance, fuse is intact.

replaced all 5 GP, even replaced some wiring and filed down leads on battery to make sure connections were good.

car still won't start, GP light still turns on for 'heating' and flashes on and off after cranking to indicate problem.

questions:
1. why did the GP go bad after only 11 months (14k mi)?
2. what is wrong with it and are the GP themselves even responsible for the starting.

any answers that would spare me from slicing up my knuckles again taking out or installing GPs would be excellent. if not, so be it.

thanks!

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1980 300CD 281,000 miles. 9,000 mi on custom WVO system.