Sure sounds like glow plugs. If you can direct some hot air into the intake with a heat gun or blow dryer and it starts better, probably is glow plugs.
Harry Watkins Newton, MS 86 SDL Silver 85 300D Euro 86 SDL Gold 81 240D manual trans ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 11:09 AM Subject: [MBZ] Hard Starting 240D > Over the past year it is becoming more and more > difficult to start my 240D first thing in the morning. > Different ambient temperature and plugging in the > block heater have not made a difference. > > I have just recently looked into it and have replaced > the spin on fuel filter, cleaned the in line fuel > filter, replaced the injector fuel return hoses and > adjusted the valves all to no avail. > > I will usually glow the car twice then turn it over > between 2-3 minutes for 45 seconds at a time. While > this is going on a grayish cloud of semi burnt diesel > exits the tail pipe. I have the new type manual fuel > pump and have pumped between 100-150 times before and > between attempts with no effect. > > Now I am seeking the collected wisdom of the list. > > Additional info - > I have the old style loop glow plugs. The ones on the > vehicle are at least 7 years and 100K miles old. Do > these degrade over time? > > The starter seems to be turning the engine over fast > enough as it catches eventually, but it may be > original. The Interstate battery is two years old. > If it was compression I would think I'd see increased > oil consumption but am still using "only" 1 quart per > 1k miles. Most of these miles between 75-80 mph. > > Any ideas or help would be appreciated, outside of > selling the vehicle. > > Thanks, > Fred Johnson > 1977 240D > 1983 300SD
