Damn car... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 01-17-2003, 07:27 AM

Doesn't start in 26 degree weather.You guys never seem to have a problem starting. My car is a *****. Never wants to start. Time to replace the 3 other autolite glowplugs apparently. Stupid car.

It never starts below thirty....27 today and it just cranked and cranked and cranked. I plugged in...will try again in thirty minites and it will start for sure. But it's damn irritating to plug it in when it gets a bit "nippy" outside. I am thinking either three other old, bad plugs...or bad compression...something keeps telling me the latter

engatwork · #2 01-17-2003, 07:48 AM

Kyle - Is the car still under warranty?

Considering how much you paid for the car I would no complain too much. It seems to me plugging it in is a small price to pay for a FREE car.

#3 01-17-2003, 07:53 AM

Nope not under warrantee...that ended on the year of my birth back in 86'

I plug it in for....8 minutes...and car immediately fires over...like clockwork...in ten minutes the block heater hasnt even done its full work...I think one of the plugs is good...while the other three are old. Is it possible for a glow plug to still work, but be fouled (like a spark plug) or are glow plugs either a work or don't work device? 8 minutes wouldn;t be long enough for block heater to do it's stuff..

airfoill · #4 01-17-2003, 08:19 AM

Kyle,

My rule of thumb....If one glow plug goes out, then it is time to replace them all. Why? Because it won't be long before another glow plug goes out, and then another, and then another one.

The same rule applies with gasoline powered cars...you would never buy just one spark plug.

I never buy just one glow plug at a time because it is false economy. Buying all the glow plugs is a small price to pay not to be inconvenienced when the car won't start.

Kyle, buy all the glow plugs at once and be done with it.

Herb
'82 240D
'87 300SDL
'92 300D 2.5 Turbo

Chris Blanchard · #5 01-17-2003, 08:21 AM

Get rid of the "autolite" glow plugs and install some Bosch ones - accept no substitutes.

Last year, I obtained a set of Monark (or Beru, don't remember which) and 4 of the 5 died within 9 months. Pathetic.
Glow plugs either glow, or they don't there's not much of an in between.

Went back to Bosch and have been extremely satisfied.

My 84 300SD starts right up the in 9F (-12C) weather we've been having lately in Cincinnati - and the car sits outside (garage is full of building materials for my on-going home improvement projects).

Of course, I've got Mobil 1 0W-40 oil in there which I think really helps on those cold mornings.

Chris Blanchard
Cincinnati, OH
1984 300SD 165k

#6 01-17-2003, 08:42 AM

Absolutely!

With the pin type glow plugs, just replace all of them when it starts giving cold weather starting problems. I have been down this road so many times that I don't even so much as check for voltage at the plugs, I just replace all of them and be done with it. It has worked every time for me.

Good luck,

McRoth · #7 01-17-2003, 08:54 AM

Kyle, I have an 82 240D & have similar problems. I replaced all the glow plugs this fall, but that didn't help. I'd suggest checking the valve adjustment. I did that last weekend & so far it's MUCH happier!! Many of the clearances were tight causing low compression & hard starting when cold. Right now my alternator is going south so I won't get to try leaving it outside overnight to see if the adjustment was enough to make it start in the cold or not for a couple more days, but the other day it was below 20F all day while I was at work & I didn't start it at lunch. When I started it after work, it took three tries, but it fired up!

leathermang · #8 01-17-2003, 09:07 AM

"But it's damn irritating to plug it in when it
gets a bit "nippy" outside."

1. Free car
2. it HAS a block heater (many don't)
3. you have a way to plug it in ( many don't)
4. you live in Rhode Island.. do you understand you are "like way north" ?

So how is not plugging it in working for you ?

Not so well it sounds like.....

#9 01-17-2003, 09:13 AM

Sounds like either (a) lack of cold cranking power, or (b) one of the rare Mercedes-Benz produced under subcontract by British Leyland.

#10 01-17-2003, 09:50 AM

The Battery is old and takes a long time to charge..one cell always bubbled...I hope it's not made by Leyland...I always did like the series IIA Landies..

rwthomas1 · #11 01-17-2003, 11:48 AM

Kyle,
When I got my 300D two plugs were dead and it was difficult/impossible to start below 30* without plugging it in. Going against convention I replaced just the two bad plugs and it starts fine now in the cold weather RI has been experiencing. Narragansett Imported Auto Parts on High St. in Wakefield will have the Bosch plugs you need or be able to get them in a day. He only carries Bosch so no worries there. Let me know if you have trouble. RT

lrg · #12 01-17-2003, 12:57 PM

Get a new battery too. Cranking speed means alot in getting these started in cold weather, that's why many of us use syn oils to help it turn over faster in the cold. It may seem like it's cranking fast enough but that little improvement you get with a new battery will make a big difference. Gassers only need a couple of cylinders to fire in order to get the rest rolling. Diesels need a bit more help since the cold cylinder walls drastically cut the burn at startup. A good battery also makes it easier to cycle the glow plugs twice when it is really cold.

JHZR2 · #13 01-17-2003, 12:59 PM

yeah, a good battery, all new bosch glow plugs, and some thinner oil (you might consider 50/50 of rotella dino and rotella synth if you know itll leak) and you ought to be good to go...

dieseldork · #14 01-17-2003, 01:02 PM

"Get rid of the "autolite" glow plugs and install some Bosch ones - accept no substitutes"

Wise words indeed!!!

Why would anyone put Ford autolite glow plugs in a german car?

In my experience these plugs have half the life of the bosch.

My brother-in-law is always putting new autolites in his powerstrokes. He has four trucks. They just don't last as long.

Chris in Indiana

dieseldork · #15 01-17-2003, 01:08 PM

BTW, I started my 300SD in 7' F that's about -11' C, weather this morning. It was not plugged in but I do run 5-40 syn oil and have a good set of working bosch glow plugs.

Chris in Indiana