I just got a 1976 240D and know the trick to starting the
car. I dont know how far or what to do with the pull..

I know the car starts, but I dont know if I I need to hold that pull start car or what??

Please help explain how to start 1976 240D

First of all, I must welcome you to the wonderful Mercedes diesel club / cult. I do not know how much you know about diesels, so please don't be offended if anything I say seems obvious. Your car has glowplugs, which aid the starting process. The first thing you must do is turn the key to the "on" position, which should be two clicks to the right. Numerous dash lights will illuminate, including an orange light in your speedometer which has a little spiral graphic. This is your glowplug light. Wait until the light shuts off, then engage the starter by turning the key farther to the right as you would with a gas powered car.

Diesels are notorious for being difficult to start in cold weather. There are several ways to deal with this. First of all, after you turn your glowplugs on you can press the accelerator two or three times. You should be able to start your car then. If this is not enough, then try the forementioned process, then hold the accelerator to the floor while cranking the starter. Be careful, though, that you do not flood your engine.

If it absolutely will not start, let off the accelerator, turn the key to the off position, and wait for a moment. Return the key to the on position, wait for the glowplug light to go out, give the accelerator one push to the floor, let off the accelerator, and then try again. If it still will not start, post another message on this board and Larry Bible will likely have some good input.

Just as a side note, there is a black knob on your dashboard behind the steering column. This knob adjusts your idle. I think it may be connected to your choke, but I'm not sure. It is likely that somebody with more knowledge than I will be able to tell you. Once your car is started, you will find that this knob allows you to adjust how the engine runs.

Cheers and good luck with your car. I used to drive a 1976 300D and I loved it.

__________________
Ben

The MBs:
1976 300D (W115) - 330K and still going (sort of)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo - Sold at 221K
1983 280SEL - Sold at 206K
1981 300SD - Sold at 232K

Hehe, my first diesel, a 1963 190Dc had the same setup as your car does. Here's the procedure:

1. Turn key all the way to "run" position.

2. Pull glow knob out to the first detent (you will feel resistance).

3. Wait for the element to glow red.

4. Pull knob out all the way to engage starter--make sure that the idle knob is turned to the fully enriched position.

5. Light it off!

__________________
Regards,
Aaron

Anyone who thinks a Diesel has a choke knows nothing about Diesels(except the old IH gas start engines)! You can pump the accelerator pedal all day and you won't flood the engine. All the accelerator does is change the rack in the injection pump. "Depress the accelerator 3 times": does this mean a Diesel has a carburetor with an accelerator pump?

Ben300SD: If you don't know what you are writing about, don't give bad advice or better yet give no advice. Did you ever have a manual glow plug MB? I had 6 of them for over 300,000 miles. I still have a 220D and 240D. I know what I'm writing about.

Sheila: Ignore everything Ben300SD says except the welcome and follow Aaron's advice. If it still won't start, keep glowing the plugs longer until the indicator is really red hot and try the starter again. As soon as the engine fires, press the throttle and rev up the engine reasonably and if the engine is in good shape it will run OK. When the engine warms up you can turn the idle knob back so the engine idles correctly.

One note to Aaron: the idle knob only holds the throttle linkage open slightly, it doesn't "enrich anything".

P E H

P.E.H: Like I said, I drove a 76 300D for a while, and I thought that the 240D had the same setup. Obviously I was wrong. I knew that the black knob adjusted the idle, but I was unclear how. I stated that in my post. As far as depressing the accelerator goes, I was following instructions given in the manuals of the 76 300D and my 81 300SD. I did not intend to give bad advice, I was trying to be of assistance. It is clear that I was not. I apologize, and will refrain from doing so in the future.

__________________
Ben

The MBs:
1976 300D (W115) - 330K and still going (sort of)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo - Sold at 221K
1983 280SEL - Sold at 206K
1981 300SD - Sold at 232K

Sorry Ben, I may have been too hard on you.

As far as pushing on the accelerator pedal, the only time my '80 300SD didn't want to start with the accelerator depressed was at Lake Tahoe NV (32 degrees F and 8000 FT. altitude). For some unknown reason I took my foot off the accelerator while cranking the engine and it immediately started. After that, while in Tahoe, I didn't push on the accelerator while cranking the engine and it started the first time. It must have had something to do with the altitude.

P E H