thanks to dieselgiant's excellent writeup on glow plug malfunction testing we saved some $$ today. son reported glow plug light not going on after turning key. did the diagnostics outlined in dieselgiant's site and found no1 (thank god!!)
GP was showing infinite resistance. pulled it and still checked out bad.
changed it out with a good tested used bosch GP and all ok now. GP light back to normal operation.
had noticed on cold startup previously some grey/black smoke so the GP was probably on it's way out before it manifested itself in the no GP light on the dash.

we used a crappy multimeter from radio shack but it still managed to give us the readings needed.

so if any other members are experiencing some smoke etc on startup it may be a good idea to check your GP system.

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

You know, some folks on here like to take shots at DieselGiant. Not sure of the motivation, but that is really irrelevant.
His "how to's" have benefited a large number of folks, and if he sells parts and make some $, that is OK last time I checked. If he is competitive price-wise, and operates him business correctly, it is another resource we have to choose from.
And I always dig instructions with pics........

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I am saving this spot to answer Jimmy... will edit with references..

He's helped me tons. The odometer repair and the valve adjustment comes to mind off hand. I've never bought anything from him though so I can't speak there.

__________________

Uh oh. Now I'm in the cross hairs.
Gonna hit the sack for the evening but I'll catch it tomorrow. Playing nice refers to (towards) me also......
And I really have no rooting interest in this anyway.......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Dieselgiant's pictorials have helped me tons so far getting my car up to spec. In the coming weeks/month im going to be replacing my tierods and i'm sure his site will be helpful again.

__________________
1980 300D

Could have fooled me on that part.....

Did you install Freeze12 into any or all of your MB air conditioner systems ?

Well yes I did Greg, as I'm sure you have duly noted in the archives, but it was the best decision for me and my circumstances at the time. I have also duly noted on here that the Freeze12 works fine under 95 degrees, but anything above that is no better than R134A.
You espouse the superior operating performance of R-12 with our systems, and I don't think too many folks dispute that. Doesn't mean we want to be bullied or chastised over our choice. We made the best decision for ourselves based on our own circumstances, either financial, technical, logistical, etc......
I have Freeze12 in the wagon, but also have 18 cans of R-12 out in the garage. It just hasn't been worth the whole process to change it out. These stepped port compressors are a bear to seal correctly at the manifold lines.....
I have no affiliation with Diesel Giant, nor have I ever purchased from him. But I very much appreciate many of his tutorials, and the pics of same. That simple, and my initial point.
BTW, over these last almost 3 years did you ever get the AC working on my favorite little 240D, or is it still running on Air-12?

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

No, your initial point was a value judgement statement " taking shots" and questioning the motivation of those 'taking those " shots ".... you did not remember what I had said in the past about my objections to Diesel Giant's posts concerning Freeze 12...
Unsupported negative value judgements of others actions and motives are pretty much fighting words ....
You have already shown that you are not neutral in this discussion ...which betrays your statement to the contrary..." And I really have no rooting interest in this anyway.."
I just want to lay the ground work for my reply....

" Doesn't mean we want to be bullied or chastised over our choice. " JimmyL

Is it ok to intentionally mislead by leaving out significant facts in posts to try to influence your choice? While at the same time trying to sell you something ?

Look, I really wasn't being that "deep" in my initial comment. It was just my simple way to say thanks to Diesel Giant for the pretty pictures.
I don't know why you have taken this so personally in this thread, as I didn't have you singled out when I made the initial comment. You have been the most vocal about it, and the most overt, but not the only one. I wasn't thinking about you singularly in my inflammatory post, so unless you just feel the need, a case history isn't really necessary.
I don't want to negatively banter any longer, as I appreciate your knowledge and your contribution. I may bust on you guys from time to time, but I am just trying to hold up my end being a friendly forum smart-alack.
I don't mean to be personal, or try to strike a nerve. Nothing more, nothing less.....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

whoa ...gentlemen gentlemen this is getting waaay off topic. the thread (i know believe me..!) is about GLOW PLUGS!!! and smoke at startup ...and a very good diagnostic tool that a lot of members can benefit from.
there's plenty of other threads about AC .. just do a search on R-12 alternatives , lol.

now, please, play nicely or i'm sending this thread to cyber oblivion...

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Any regular to this site knows that I have been the most vocal about objecting to Diesel Giant's motives and methods in promoting Freeze12 .
" I wasn't thinking about you singularly " JimmyL
No, but you admit that I was included and I have no problem presenting the evidence that I was not ' taking shots' or that my motivation in objecting to Diesel Giant's methods had any ulterior motives which were not proper and/or stated openly.
The statements which were inflammatory had nothing to do with " simply saying thanks" to Diesel Giant...

Please allow me to apologize to Greg for my post implications. It was never my intent, but I can't see anybody getting this riled-up if they didn't feel severley offended.
Apologies to Greg and the forum.....
Jimmy Layton

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Accepted.