First thing to check is the ground cable on the battery. Remove the battery end and clean it up with a wire brush. Also clean up the terminal on the battery. Then disconnect the other end of the ground cable where it connects to the chassis. Clean both the chassis and the terminal on the end of the cable with sand paper or whatever you have until its shiny. Also inspect the cable itself. Any breaks in the insulation, bulging, or visible corrosion might indicate a bad cable. This alone might make a big difference.
You can also check both ends of the ground strap to the engine... I forget where it is on a 300SD, but this will be a dirtier and more difficult job. How slow are we talking about here regarding the cranking? I'm still thinking you have glow issues. A good cheap way to see if the glow plugs are doing anything is by watching the interior light. Turn on the light, then switch the key to the accessory position. Watch the light carefully and switch the key to on to star the glow plugs. The light should dim somewhat. If it doesn't, your glow plugs aren't working. Did you get a volt meter yet? This one looks super cheap and reasonably effective: http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3300-Hands-free-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B001O1X65A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1386293969&sr=8-4&keywords=voltmeter Jaime On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 12:31 PM, <roger...@comcast.net> wrote: > Jaime, etc., > Because of the "slow" cranking, I'm starting to lean away from the glow > system. The relay fuse did look good when I checked it as well as the > wiring contacts inside the box. Are there any connections I'm not seeing > that could cause slow cranking? I just had the alternator replaced about > 2-3 months ago because it killed the old battery and put in a new battery > as well. It was starting ok, then now it won't. I guess the starter or > solenoid could have just gotten tired also, or there could be a wire > somewhere not providing a good solid connection. I'll try to get under it > again and look at the starter connections later this afternoon if the rain > holds off. > Thanks guys, > Roger > Roger Hale > Dinnerware Classics, Inc. > Monroe, Ga. > 770-267-0850 > www.dinnerwareclassics.com (new) > www.southernnightsantiques.com (antique) > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > -- Jaime Kopchinski http://www.jaimekop.com/ _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
