I know this topic has been discussed at length...but I do have a question on it still.
Blanche has been getting REALLY hard to start in the morning. I know my neighbors are wondering if it will EVER crank over. The glow plug light stays on about half the time it has in my other diesels. If I turn the key off and back on, the light just flashes and goes out. Based upon what I've read, this would signal that the relay is on the way out. On warm starts, the plug light comes on for the same amount of time, and it still doesn't start "instantly" like the wagon and past 3 123's did.
I know of several 123 Turbo's in the Salvage yards. Where is the location of the relay on the 126, and also on the 123. I assume since it's the same engine that they use the same relay.
The guages on this car do some strange things, ie. fuel guage reads higher when the RPM's are faster. This car has an aftermarket stereo installed. I had the same thing happen when I installed a stereo in the 123 and didn't get it grounded correctly. I'll check that this weekend. I believe that's on a different circuit, so I would guess it wouldn't affect the glow plug light.
I appreciate any suggestion before she completely stops starting!

__________________
R Talley
88 BMW E32 735i (make it go away)
95 Volvo 960 "Inga" (valve problems)
95 Nissan Maxima (the indestructible)
89 Ford Ranger XLT (ugliest truck in the South)

Robert,

If I were you, I would replace ALL FIVE glow plugs before even bothering to mess with anything else. It usually will do wonders for a pin type plugged engine. From your other descriptions, I would crawl underneath and see that the engine ground strap is tight and in good shape.

Good luck with it and Merry Christmas,

Tccbass, good morning. On the jy over there, do they have 300TD's? I am looking for the pressure sphers for the rear levelling suspension. Someone posted before that there is a company that represuurizes the spheres for a lot less money than getting new ones. He also said it worked pretty good.
Thanks in advance.

__________________
96 Legacy LSi wagon
92 Mitsu Expo
95 525iT
1983 300TD clackclackclack sold
1972 Toyota Corolla wagon TE28 sold
1991 Galant VR4 pshhhhh non-op
1989 Montero RS pop's ride

Larry,

I am going to check that ground like you said. Where would I look for it? I know I've seen something like that. No lights give trouble, and the cruise works flawlessly. I would think that if the master ground were loose, it would affect those too, especially the cruise. The 83 300D did this when I put in the radio, and I solved it by running a ground directly from the instrument cluster.
I'm going to do the motor mounts tonight. HOPEFULLY the 126 has more room than the 123 for this project.

__________________
R Talley
88 BMW E32 735i (make it go away)
95 Volvo 960 "Inga" (valve problems)
95 Nissan Maxima (the indestructible)
89 Ford Ranger XLT (ugliest truck in the South)

When you say the car does not start readily when warm, do you mean warm weather with engine at ambient temp., or do you mean after engine has warmed up to operating temp.

If you mean ambient temps, then without glow plugs the car will not start instantly. If car does not start quickly after it has warmed up, then there is something else going on.

Based on flashing glow plug indicator light, I would replace all 5 glow plugs and see what happens.

If car doesnt start readily when engine is hot, then I would consider compression problem. Adjust valve clearances first, then see how it starts...if still a problem, check compression to see if low.

When running, does it run and accellerate smoothly? If not, check out injectors...may also be related to poor starting.

I agree with Larry, new injectors does wonders for these cars...I replace all 5 every three years.

good luck

Mark

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1984 300TD Wagon, 407,800 mi (current daily driver)
1985 300DT Sedan, 330,000 mi (gone to that great autobahn in the sky)

Mark,

Larry Bible has driven Blanche. I think he will agree...there is no problem with compression or wear. When I saw this car AND the service records, I couldn't turn it down. I think it will probably need a transmission in the next few months... but it's totally worth it. Never a panel replaced, the carpets have NEVER had feet on them (records show 3 replacements of protective floor mats) and the leather is near factory. Not to brag...I have been a fan of these diesels since following the first one I saw identified at the age of 8. This car will run circles around the last 4 diesels I've had. Compression and injectors are NOT a problem. I can outrun most of the neighbors when it FINALLY starts.

I'm going to the salvage yard tomorrow. We'll see if a new relay helps. Otherwise...it's new Bosch glow plugs for Blanche!

__________________
R Talley
88 BMW E32 735i (make it go away)
95 Volvo 960 "Inga" (valve problems)
95 Nissan Maxima (the indestructible)
89 Ford Ranger XLT (ugliest truck in the South)

Spent about 2 hours out rummaging in the salvage yards today. What a mess! But, I got a glow plug relay. Installed it, and POOF, the car starts perfectly after about a 5 second wait. This relay was real clean and looked like it not been in the salvage car too long. The only problem. NOW the light doesn't come on at all. That isn't a problem for me, but will be with others driving the car. When it's warm, the light just flashes on once and the car starts. The relay was out of a 1981 300D non turbo. I didn't match the numbers on them, but the "new" one did say for a 5 cylinder and it looks exactly the same. Could it just be dirty contacts on the new relay? I'm going to clean them tomorrow to see if that helps. Otherwise, I guess I have to buy a new relay. Even though it's easy to install, the relay costs more than the plugs. Oh well...happens...

__________________
R Talley
88 BMW E32 735i (make it go away)
95 Volvo 960 "Inga" (valve problems)
95 Nissan Maxima (the indestructible)
89 Ford Ranger XLT (ugliest truck in the South)

Hello TCCBass,

I have an '82 300 SD with the exact same problem you described: (and more)

>car starts perfectly after about a 5 seconds
>wait. [However] NOW the light doesn't come on
>at all...When it's warm, the light just flashes
>on once and the car starts

Since the glow plug (GP) light isn't useful in this situation, I listen for the GP relay click.

The relay on my car is behaving 'backwards'. In other words, the relay runs the glow plugs (GP) for a much shorter period of time when the engine is cold (1 to 5 sec), and longer and longer when the engine is warmer (15 to 25 sec).

This creates a real problem when the ambient temperature is very low (i.e. the car is outside in the snow). I live in Phoenix, Arizona, so this is a problem only when I go north for skiing, but it bothers me and I want to fix it, but don't know how?

So I hope you found what is wrong -- all the mechanics I've asked don't know what is going on.

I've recently replaced all 5 glow plugs and I checked them a few weeks after replacement to make sure they're all good which they are.

Hope you'd still check this thread.

Many thanks.

Branimir

'82 300SD (295K mi)
'92 300SD (119K mi)
'81 240D (126K mi)

I was getting intermittent "no glow" when starting. It spent two days at my independent mechanic's garage, who couldn't replicate the problem. Of course, it was raining when I took it in, another variable. As it ended up, he sold me a used GP relay for $30 and I've been glowing happily thereafter. He did mention something about an "ambient temperature sensor" as part of the GP relay. Have you replaced yours?

__________________
Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

Hello Bob Roe,

No, I haven't replaced the relay yet. I thought that since the relay is behaving 'backwards' it might just be wired wrong. Before reading the posts here, I didn't know about the thermistor (ambient temp sensor) in the relay. I will look for some wiring diagrams, and would probably replace the relay in the end. It seems unlikely to me that the thermistor can be replaced from within the relay...
I will write what the outcome is here on this thread.

Thanks

Branimir

My problem ended up being a glow plug that bit the dust. It just sort of self destructed. I now have an extra relay that needs a fuse. I'm probably going to keep it just in case, but if anyone needs one in a hurry...

I have a leaking injector line going into the pump. Now for my next post...

__________________
R Talley
88 BMW E32 735i (make it go away)
95 Volvo 960 "Inga" (valve problems)
95 Nissan Maxima (the indestructible)
89 Ford Ranger XLT (ugliest truck in the South)