Just curious, but can someone hotwire a diesel and drive away. I would think it would be very hard to do since there is a vacuum switch in the ignition switch which crossing 2 wires isn't going to do anything. Also there is the glowplug relay delay. Again, just wondering.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Theoretically, almost anything is possible. (At least within the limitations of physics).

The engine uses vacuum to shut the pump *off*, so if a thief were able to get the engine started without using the glow plugs, once the vacuum pump pulled enough vacuum, the engine would shut itself off again after a few seconds. This sounds like the makings of a funny Saturday Night Live skit, but only us gear-heads (oil-heads?) would understand it.

Of course if the thief were knowledgable, he could just disconnect the vacuum hose, and off he goes….

On the other hand, if the thief were to force the ignition switch, all bets are off – he might as well have the key.

Why do you ask? I don’t wish to aid & abet if you are contemplating stealing someone’s car! Of course, the way I’m feeling about mine tonight, you can HAVE the damn thing! Not really, but once it blows up, come & get it.

Of course, the way I’m feeling about mine tonight, you can HAVE the damn thing! Not really, but once it blows up, come & get it.
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"Patience Grasshopper" You must first become "ONE" with the diesel, only then will the true meaning be revealed to you.

Oh, how right you are Master. I should know better.

Perhaps it is due to my feeling like *****, coming down with a head cold. Perhaps it is because it is late at night and I am fatigued.

But then again, those are excuses. And there *are no excuses*, only reasons. Correct?

RTH

Understand, I have reached a new level of enlightenment after the wine tasting party at the local Holiday Inn. Fine wines and cheeses and young ladies with pearls and plunging necklines. Althought I am short of funds and seeking employment and my diesel needs new paint, everything is GROOVEY!

The reason I thought about this was that sometimes I don't lock the car, figuring who would want to steal an old diesel. They're not exactly the "joy riding" type of car. So I started thinking how easy or difficult it would be to steal it. I never thought about the vacuum system constantly shutting the car off on it's own. I agree that would be a great skit, of course like you said only us diesel heads would understand.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

My 1980 Diesel had a pushbutton starter switch that had been installed for ease in accomplishing valve jobs. To take car without key you simply had to turn engine by pushing button till it started without preglow and you were off! The point of this is that someone with a little knowledge could "hotwire" the starter the same way once they "popped" your hood and opened. I never "borrowed" my own car this way and do not know why steering lock didn't engage, but this apparently never stopped my younger brother when he would often "borrow" it from my parents before I got it.

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2008 GL320CDI 6K
1970 280SL 112K
1982 240D 210K (Sold)
1973 220D 220K (Sold)
1967 200D 160K (Sold)
1992 400E 139K (Sold)
1988 300E 148K (Sold)
1987 300D 257K (Sold)
1991 300E 108K (Sold)
1987 300E 131K (Sold)
1978 300D TMU (Sold)
1980 300D TMU (Sold)
MBCA Member

Greetings Rick,

Once you leave the car unlocked it's pretty easy to pop the hood, pull the shutoff vac line and bust the steering lock and with only a paperclip hotwire the ignition switch. Actually, us owners of older Benzes without alarms should either lockup or alarm the car. These cars are too easy to steal if you know anything about how a Benz diesel operates. Yours can be gone is less than five minutes, and that's if I steal it, I'm not a pro or a beginner at the sport, but knows what it takes to get them running. i'd lock up when not around the vehicle, specially in Jersey.


Charles

Couldn't an auto thief simply close the glow circuit with jumper cables or something while taking care of the vacuum fuel shutoff and steering wheel lock. No problems starting then.
By the way, I once lost the keys to an old beater Volvo 242GT. It being on its last legs, I did NOT want to spend cash on a locksmith, so I broke the steering wheel lock simply by turning it as hard as I could (hung on it while outside the driver's door). After that, it was just a matter of yanking the wires from the ignition switch ...
I agree, any older car is probably very very easy to rip off.
AT LEAST KEEP IT LOCKED.

I really haven't played with my 300TD-T enough to know for certain that it can be hotwired. However, I can start a Jetta or a Rabbit/Golf just about as fast with as without a key. And they have glow plugss, just no vacuum swich. I guess I might add that I'm NOT a professional thief or anything, I just buy quite a few "parts cars" that aren't supposed to run, and the owner just can't seem to find the keys to that "piece of junk sitting behind the barn" for the last 4 or 5 years. I usually drive them home :~) Tom