'81 240D Hard to start in the cold!!

[Wizo]

I am having a hard time starting my care when it gets bellow 40. I can't find a dipstick style heater or a block heater. Do any of you know a good website or shop where I can get one? Also how hard is it to install a block heater?

Thanks

Go to the top of the page and click Fastlane. They have a Block Heater Kit for less than $50. Good luck.

[psfred]

Block heater is a dealer/aftermarket supplier item (try FastLane on this site!). Big pain in the butt to put in -- the core plugs are almost immobile by now.

Your real problem is either low compression or a tired starter -- if you aren't using significant oil (less than a quart in 1000 miles or so) and have good power with no black smoke and little blowby, either you need the valves adjusted, a valve job, or (cheap, cheap, cheap) a new starter!

The engine MUST turn at least 100 rpm to start. If the starting rpm is low, it will kick and thump and smoke, but refuse to start. By now, it is a safe bet that the starter windings have excessive resistance, the starter draws way too much current, and doesn't go fast enough.

A good starter/alternator shop can usually check the current draw in the car, saving you the hassle of taking the starter out just to check it.

Buy a Bosch rebuild if you need a new starter -- don't have someone just clean it up, turn the commutator, and put new brushes in it, it still won't work. Bosch replaced the armature and field coils.

Otherwise, you can install a tank heater or a lower radiator hose heater as a stop-gap measure. Autozone usually has tank heaters this time of year -- they go between the two heater hoses with the heater on the head to heater core side. Much better to fix the real problem, but at least a tank heater or something will let you use the car!

Peter

[Wizo]

Funny you mentioned it Peter, I do think I need the valves adjusted. I asked the previous owner if he had the valves adjusted and he became somewhat confused. How often do you need to adjust the valves on a 240D? Is there a good site to find a maintenance schedule for my car?

Thanks

[JimSmith]

Wizo,

You can get a good starter on Fastlane, just make sure you specifiy the "heavy duty" one for the 300D and SD. I just went through this and they (the starters) all fit in all cars. The one for the 300D and SD is stronger and will spin the 240D with ease. If you go to Fastlane and look under 240D you will be shown to a light duty version. The light duty may be ok, but the stronger one will last longer, and believe me, it has no problem starting the car (my 240D is a 1982 and has 280,000 miles).

Valve adjustments are critical about every 15,000 miles for these engines as when the valves wear, they get tight and then do not close or spend enough time closed, leading to low compression. Bad for starting and fuel efficiency.

I would also change the glow plugs if you have old ones, or the glow plug light on the dash does not light up every time. With good valve operation, good glow plugs and 100 or so rpm from the starter these cars will light right up, even in very cold weather. That is if the guts of the engine are up to operation, but the internals generally last a long time with regular oil changes. The best oil for one of these is Mobil Delvac 1, 5W-40, or any other Diesel rated synthetic with a 0W 0r 5W Cold viscosity index rating. If the oil is a 15W or 20W cold rating it will provide too much resistance to the starter (the starter runs the oil pump too) and the 100 rpm goal will not be as readily achieved.

Regular maintenance for these cars is pretty limited. Oil changes at least every 5k miles even with synthetic oil, valve adjustments every 15k miles, air and fuel filter changes with the valve adjustments and you should be a happy owner of a happy car. Hope this helps, Jim

[Wizo]

", or the glow plug light on the dash does not light up every time"

Jim I have noticed this occurring in the last couple of weeks, Does this mean the plugs are bad?

Also how hard is it to adjust the valves? Do you recommend paying $75 to have the shop do it or do it yourself?

Thanks, Chris

[JimSmith]

Wizo,

When the glow plug light does not light up when you turn the key in the "ignition" but does if you cycle it to off and back, you have one plug gone. If it does not come on the second time around you have more than one plug gone. I recommend replacing all four at a time. They are cheap, and your hands will heal before you have to do it again. They usually last a few years.

The valve adjustment is a kind of satisfying task for someone who likes working on his car. It is made much easier with the special tools from the dealer, or from Fastlane or some other source. I think they cost about $45-65. I bought mine twenty years ago, and they were about $24 then.

Buying the wrenches met my criteria for special tool investments. They cost less than having the job done, and the job is something you do at least every year. So they quickly pay for themselves.

The first time you do it you will need 2 to 4 hours, depending on how you work on cars. I am fastidious about cleanliness and always take at least 2 hours. I wash the valve cover in gas and let it dry, change the valve cover gasket, clean the top of the head, clean and regrease the linkage bars, examine the chain and tensioning rails, etc. and just take my time. If you do not enjoy spending 2 hours to save the $75 a repair shop would charge, then do not do it yourself. I also like knowing what the valve clearance settings are, and will adjust them a little loose in September, then right on the mark in May.

Hope that helps, Jim

[Breckman99]

Back to the Idea of Block heaters...
The stock block heater in my '80 300SD recently reached the end of it's service life and I've been researching the whole block heater thing for a couple of weeks now. I tried to remove the old heater but that was impossible (broke 2 wrenches, luckly craftsman). I installed a cheap hose heater and that did not work due to the design of the thermostat in this car. FINALLY I went to the local NAPA auto parts and requested a heater for my model Benz and they handed me a catz heater which you remove the block coolant drain and T into an existing engine heater hose. This style of heater has worked the best out of any, even better than stock - set on a timer it will keep the engine at 160F and my car starts with a remote starter! ~ William

Hey, Breckman. What is the cost of that NAPA heater? What do they call it? How difficult was the installation?

[Breckman99]

I think the napa heater was about 43 dollars and took about 15 minutes to install - I was really pleased with it!

[Breckman99]

oops, The only thing that I asked for was a block heater for a 80 300SD turbo diesel and they gave me 2 choices - the stock style and this catz (SP) [sounds like KATZ] system which comes with the fitting and all clamps needed - you will need to buy a few feet of std heater hose tho.