Stranded for the first time
 

This morning I started my 300SD up first crank as usual, let it warm up and drove it to work not thinking twice. Seems the usual weather patterns are about 20 degrees in the morning warming up to 30s in the afternoon. I didn't think today was any different but by the time I got out of work the temps had dropped to 12*F (and continuing down) with a wind chill of -6 :eek: good thing I brought my scarf!

I get out to my car, let it glow for a while knowing it would take a lot to start it...turn the key and chugchugchugchug chug chug ....chug....chug, catches on one cylinder and then cranking slows to a crawl. Didn't have enough juice to start :(:(:(, no block heater plugged in. Spray some PB in the intake, nothing. Get a jump from another running car, more slow chugs. This is a brand new battery too. ^%$&!! Looks like my car is spending a lonely night out in front of the office.

Also noted is how much everything contracts in the cold. My upper radiator hose was loose on the neck! I tightened it the best I could about a month ago when I replaced the water pump.

My car has been having hard starts as well. I tested my glow plugs, but I am 50,000 miles out of a valve adjustment.

I also have the old style primer pump. I wouldn't be surprised if that thing is leaking in air.

My battery is new as of June.

A new starter solved a similar problem for me.

If the battery output is proper, it should provide at least 30 seconds of crank time before you notice it slowing the starter. The fact that the starter slowed after only five seconds says that this battery, although new, it not holding a sufficient charge.

The only other possibility is a current leak............and this would kill the battery completely after several days.

While the starter might also be a candidate for replacement, I'd be looking seriously at that battery.

I've heard of the battery getting cold and not wanting to put out the rated amps.
Maybe, too high viscosity oil. Easy to check.
Weak glow plugs. Not so easy.
Gelled fuel. Easy to check.

I'm thinking probably cold battery and weak glow plugs.

Your glow system and battery needs to be in tip top shape. 12.7V is fully charged battery. Put a volt meter across the battery terminals when you crank. It should drop a volt or so but not more. Print the dieselgiant glow plug diagnostic page. You can easily troubleshoot most glow system problems - even in the cold. When was the last time you changed filters?

What weight oil are you using? I have had that problem before I switched to a 5W 30 synthetic in the winter . Starts fine on bite-a#@ cold days. Jim

I'll be bringing my multimeter out tomorrow to test the battery voltage. I think it is probably a combination of a bad battery, 15w-40 oil and possibly a bad starter. The battery was new this summer, have a 75 month warrantee on it so I'll definitely be checking and trading in if necessary. My starter has whizzed a couple times without spitting the gear out in cold weather so it is getting tired, but I would always just try again and it would catch. It is strange though - I never had a problem before and I've started it down to about 20* with no block heater or anything, usually first crank. I just need to get this thing home where I'll be yanking the engine out anyways...driving my backup car for a while in the winter until I do a partial rebuild and throw the engine/trans in a fresh body. This was sort of a vent post...I apologize for that, but good advice checking oil weight, filters, etc. I'll also add valve adjustment to the list as being of utmost importance starting in cold weather, though I just did mine 5k ago so I don't think that is the case. Been a bad week for cars for me...frustrated is all.

I had to help start my loaned-out 1982 300D today. 3*F in the sun, I had to heat the oil pan with a propane torch (He doesn't have electricity for the block heater) before could get it to turn over fast enough to fire.

Tomorrow we're switching him to 0-40 synthetic and doing the valves.

Whoa! Was it really that cold up in Rochestor today?

It's been that cold at night down in Ithaca but wow that's just terrible especially during the day.

Oddly enough my rough start has disappeared as of today. I even left her outside the garage for 5 hours to see if I would have any trouble. Fire up right away. :-/ I know one of these days she's going to cold start strand me.

Got it going today with the help of a jump. It made 12.5 volts with no load, which is on the low side...should be around 14. I also noticed that two of the cells had signs of leakage so I'm suspecting a bad battery. It took a little bit of cranking to get going, when it caught it let out a nice cloud of black smoke so thick you couldn't see through it, followed by the blue from spraying PB into the intake. It was very satisfying. But it got home fine which was the important part.

Once started, there was a decent load from the weak battery.

The question is the engine speed when you made the test? Testing at idle is useless..........the alternators don't put out sufficient current.