New to me....1999 300D turbodiesel....I've had about 6 mos., 175Kmiles on the odo.

Today, after starting, the glow plug light came back on after the engine was started, ....then the check engine light also came on.

I'm a decent DIY mechanic, worked a fair amount of VW Vanagons and Subaru engines, but this car and diesels, in general, are all new to me. Not sure where to start.

Need help w/ making diagnosis and deciding if this is a fix I can manage or will I have to take it to a shop.

Suggestions and tips please.

Warren C.

Probably a bad GP; maybe the relay. You should get the code read. PO380, or P1366,1367 or 1368 are possibilities.

To test yourself, go to dieselgiant.com and then to his tutorial for Checking the W123 GP system and follow the instructions therein.

The write up is not for your engine but everything is still in the same locations and the prinicipals remain applicable.

Search "606 broken (and/or siezed) GP's" here before attempting to change one.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

ditto to what Terry said, and, when you find you have a bad glow plug be sure you do a thorough search regarding the pitfalls of removing plugs in these engines before you attempt the removal. Long story short, they have a tendancy to get stuck, and when forced, break off in the head. That is bad so you should do everything you can to prevent that from happening.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I have the same thing right now. Once I start the engine, the GP light & CEL come back on. Car still starts fine, but runs a bit rough for the first minute, with blue smoke.

I just unclipped the harness for the glow plugs, and ran a test light between + and each GP connector. #6 was the only one that didn't light up: dead.

I'm pulling the IM tomorrow after work. Shoudl be fun! I order a GP reamer for Diesel911 the first week he started selling them.

Mine were all changed by the PO 2 years ago, so I'm hoping they're less likely to be seized.

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

Sorry to be so new...and dumb...but what's "IM' stand for...see lots of reference to it in threads.

Also can you send me a link to the reamer source. diesel911

Also need a link to the Lightman article on R&Ring glow plugs.

This car was purchased from a dealer, ...no maintenance records, so no idea how long it's been since GPs were replaced.

WC.

IM=Intake Manifold.

Check the DIY tab above and look under the 606 section for the GP article.

This is the reamer Found under buy parts and then special tools tab above. Reamer must be for the correct engine.
http://www.peachparts.com/diy/mb_tools/mb_tools.php?page=4

An appropriately sized drill bit has been used by some in a pinch.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I'm running some biodiesiel....up to concentrations of 50/50.

Would that help eleminate some of the carbon deposits I'm reading about that help cause glowplug failure....only been running it for about 10K miles though.

I've been considering changing out the seals on the injection pump and fuel lines to Viton...seams like this would be the time to do that also.

Is there a writeup on how to do that also for the 606 engine.

I read somewhere on this forum right after I bought the car that one of the members here sells a seals kit for this car.

Warren c.

DIY link for the 606 DV writeup. If not, PM me and i''ll send you one I wrote a long time ago.

fryerpower.com for the viton stuff.

You'll need a MB special socket to do the DV seals too.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

o-rings, I used the Frypower and was very pleased.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=177588

Lightmans biblical reference

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=88574&highlight=lightman

Hmmm.... fuel line replacement link, not a big deal especially with the Intake Manifold (IM) off.

Nice Post on parts needed by Rick Miley

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php3?p=724516&postcount=8

This one has some pictures etc.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=198093

Hope this helps and hope I caught most of your questions.

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raMBow

1999 E300DT Obsydian Black Metallic, Heated Full Leather Parchment options, E2, K2, 136,000+, best 36.5 mpg - GP's 12-04 & 11-12 Zero Stuck
2010 Honda Odyssey - The BrideMobile - best 26.5
(2) 2005 Honday Accord- (1 -Corporate 1 - Personal) - 110,000 4-cyl 30mpg
2000 VW Golf GLS TDI, Upsolute Chip (sold to Brother, now 300+k on it) 48.5 mpg like clock work
1987 Honda CRX HF - Sold 87,000 always over 50 mpg Max 67 mpg

Hey.....a couple of days later my glow plug light began acting normally and the CEL also went out.......withou my doing anything to clear the CEL code ........????????

Phew! Hope I dodged a bullet....I was dreading that job....but guess I should check the resistance on my glow plugs anyway....????

Warren

Its so easy to do, why not?

Is possible you had code PO380 GP Circut Malfunction because of inadvertently attempting to start, or starting up, on cold GP's. That code will clear itself after 3 cold to hot run cycles if it doesnt reoccur in mean time.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)