Winterizing my '84 300D Turbodiesel
 

So I purchased this vehicle about a year ago in South Florida where it never gets cold...and now I am moving to upstate NY where temperatures from the teens to well below zero are common in the winter. I am concerned because one day in Florida it got to about 34 degrees and when I went out to start the car in the morning it wouldn't even turn over at all. It did absolutely nothing when I turned the key. Later in the day after it had warmed up everything worked like normal. If this vehicle already has a block heater installed, how would I know? If not, how much do block heaters cost to have installed? Thanks!

One other kind of strange issue I've been having latley is that the car won't start in Drive, only in Neutral...any ideas as to why this might be? (the car definitely has gremlins in the electrical system, for example the headlights intermittently cut out unless the high beams are on)

You do know it will be spring next week right?

Look on the passenger side of the engine below the turbo. If you have one it will have a cord hanging off of it.

It should never start in drive, only neutral and park.

It does sound like you have alot of electrical issues. Start checking everything for loose and corroded connections.

as for winterizing, first get the battery tested. you'll probably need a new one. next, get a shop to locate your block heater for you. if you don't have one, have them install it. probably cost you 100-150 depending on the shop. you could go the cheap route and put in a lower rad hose one yourself, but it is not as good. i have one. it works. it's ok at best and will get you by so long as you have a strong battery and good glow plugs.

finally, valve adjust. if you haven't had it done in the last year or two, get it done. oh, and drop down to a lower weight oil too.

gremlins? check fuses first. neutral start issue? possible neutral safety switch. check the starter solenoid and starter itself to make sure it's crankin.

[quote=ForcedInduction;1787447]"It should never start in drive, only neutral and park."

I meant park! It won't start in park, only in Neutral

Does your shifter make a gentle jingling noise as you drive along? I think I know what your problem is - you need to replace the two little white bushings for the shifter linkage rod. There is a rod under the car that connects the shifter lever to the transmission. If the bushings are disintegrated or missing, then putting the lever in Park won't actually pull the mechanism far enough to trigger the switch on the transmission telling the circuit it's in Park.

My prior 300D would not stop in Park - the pin wouldn't lock fully. I replaced the bushings and it was all good! I think it also had problems starting in park once in a while.

Anyway the bushings are cheap and easy to replace, and if it doesn't solve your problem, it will at least make your shifter lever feel a lot better! :D

Good luck.