I have finally managed to get my later Dad's '77 300D down to my place in Colorado, but am having problems getting it to start with regularity. The car has 325,000 on the clock, but the engine is a factory rebuild with only 50,000 on it.

Changed the fuel filters, replaced the glow plugs with Bosch Loop type plugs. Everything appears to be heating properly, resistance wires get hot, etc, but Glow plug light is not lighting up. I may have a bad bulb.

It seems to start the cycle, trying to catch, but won't hold and start.

Question is this, where should I go next?? I'm thinking checking the valve clearance, engine purge, fuel tank screen replacement, block heater.

I've worked on diesel equipment before, but mostly mining equipment.


Any suggestions from the crew???

Thanx,

Minerjim

Take a really close look at the glow plug wiring. It is very easy to miswire around an insulator and leave a plug out of the circuit.

With an ohm meter, you should read an ohm or so across each individual plug (when cold).

With a voltmeter, and the plugs active you should have voltage at every point in the circuit, except for the ground wire at the #1 plug. (About 9 or 10 volts at the #5 plug, dropping to a couple volts at the #1 plug).

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

valve clearance. get it set correctly and it ought to start up better.

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD