His engine started to drag when they introduced the either. It probably was trying to fire up but earlier as you suggest on the stroke than it should have. Not quite enough for full combustion. At 10 above zero with an unknown 123 and no block heater his no start senario probably was normal. It might have come to life with a good pull as well at that time. Easier said than done even if an owner knows you can pull start these automatics. A strange location really compounds it as well. As for jumping the timing I do not think he had enough of a reaction to pull that off. You do not think really well when outside at 10 degrres above zero in a wind especially. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I am always willing to be wrong too. Since his car was running well when he shut it down hopefully only something minor is wrong. If he gets the glow plugs checked out properly and it does not start in a fifty degree garage It will become interesting. The only wild card that I can think of is if the uhaul trailor was quite heavy and might have had an effect. That is a little far fetched really at this point and generally unlikley. To aid the first start if the car has no block heater I might leave a hair dryer shooting hot air against the head or block to warm it up for an hour or two. before trying. That requires electricity to the garge of course. Or get some type of heating device to really warm up that garage for a few hours. A little warmth does wonders with these engines sometimes.

Lee, I am so bummed that you didn't make it home via the wagon. I am sure the tuck and the dolly cost a bunch, but at least you got home. Your non starting issue sounds like glow plugs or a glow plug relay. Glow plugs are cheap, and in the FSM it goes through a great step by step to diagnose all the components of the glow system.

Checking the compression will also tell you alot about your engine. Even though I have 362K on my car, it still starts great and has lots of power. Give me a call if you run into any problems.

__________________
Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

my cummins doesn't have gloplugs, or any cold start assist, and it starts at 15* f, so far... just FYI, most diesels dont have GP's. mostly only cars and trucks.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

checked my glow plugs last night, and 3 of the 5 were bad (i assume burned up during their starter fluid encounter.)
replaced them this morning in my basement garage, and after a bunch of cranking, she FIRED and WENT (shooting SO much smoke out for the first few minutes, that we had to evacuate the house and garage in a blind haze).

i assume that the first 30 seconds were spent with her coughing and choking on the days worth of unburned fuel, diesel additive, starter fluid, and WD-40 residue.
i've never been so thrilled to hear smoke alarms going off in my life.
thanks y'all!

__________________
-lee
'83 300CDT (286k)

former proud owner of:
'85 mercedes euro 300TD
'80 mercedes 300TD
'77 mercedes 280e
'80 mercedes euro 250
'82 mercedes euro 250

sweet.

yup, you gotta burn off that crap in there. i bet she'll start right up now.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Congratulations. I'll bet one went bad, causing the hard start condition leaving you to resort to starting fluid, then the additional ones went bad.

__________________
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