E300td starting problems

[pgbang]

Have been the owner of a 98 e300 td for 7 months now and have a problem at when starting it.

When i start the car after it has been sitting for a while, the engine misfires and belches smoke until i blip the throttle when the smoke stops but the engine runs unevenly.

Once ive driven 50 meters the engine runs perfectly.

One of the glow plugs has failed and unfortunately got itself stuck, and i thought this was what was causing the problem but with the warmer weather the same thing happens.

Ive checked the fuel lines for air leaks and they appear to be fine.

Has anybody had any ideas?

 

[spock500]

Lot's of small things may contribute, in-tank strainer, pre-filter, 'O' rings on fuel pipes/shut off valve.

Check these items first as cheap to do.

 

[JAYGURNEY]

this is still your heater plugs causing this, mines the same, one heater plug not replaced at the very back, glow light stays on for a while, around 15secs. idles badly for a minute or so then ok yhe rest of the day...

 

[pgbang]

Replaced the o ring on the shut off valve before christmas and checked out the others for leaks.

Its interesting you say the glow plug as for 2 days last week I had no problems (the 2 warmest days).

Will see how things go over the summer, then there is the problem of finding someone locally to replace the plug.

 

[Sorry Pete]

If it's anything like the w124, the glow plug warm-up time continues after the glow plug light goes out. On the w124 the plugs remain on for 25 secs before the relay cuts out. You could try 2 cycles of the key before engaging the starter motor to heat-up the cylinders as that will help the starting. That should help in the interim before you get the faulty plug replaced.

 

[bumper]

You could try a squirt of wd40 to glow plug threads let it soak in and try to start engine this worked for me when local garage couldn't get it out it must have been a bad earth connection between plug and head, hope this helps.

 

[bumper]

over 12 months now and no problem with what they said was a faulty glow plug.