[MBZ] No Glow, No Start, Car Far from Home

[Bob Rentfro]

Thanks for all the answers, pals.

Time to take SWMBO to work, the kids to school, get a new battery, gather up 
tools/clips/stuff and be on my way with all the knowledge all y'all 
imparted. It would seem right that the wretched ACC servo has something to 
do with this...I believe they are from the devil Isince some people believe 
there are several levels of hell, I'm sure one level is cooled usinf these 
ACC components thus makinf hell hell)

Those who gave me phone #s, I may call if wicked stumped.

Bob Rentfro
'77 300D 152K
Litchfield Park, AZ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kaleb C. Striplin" <kaleb at striplin.net>
To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <Mercedes at striplin.net>
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] No Glow, No Start, Car Far from Home


> His glow plug relay is a silver box under the dash.  The acc servo can
> get stuck and cause it to drain the battery real quick.
>
> JFreezn at aol.com wrote:
>>
>> In a message dated 4/30/2006 10:24:41 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
>> rrentfro at cox.net writes:
>>
>> I came  out to my car tonight after having worked my 6th 12 hour shift in 
>> a
>> row at the  old nuke plant...wanting nothing more than to get home, clean 
>> up
>> and have a  cocktail...and the old girl wouldn't start. I turned the key, 
>> got
>> about a 0.5  second glow light then a faint buzz from beneath the dash 
>> somewhere
>> (my  seatbely alarm has never worked btw). Turn the key...nada. I checked 
>> the
>>  silver relays under the black cover on the wheelwell by the cruise 
>> control
>> and  they were seated well in their place, but the red wire going to the 
>> most
>> forward one had come out of its connector. Those relays look identical. 
>> Is one
>>  the glow plug relay?
>>
>> Remember...my car is 45 miles from my home.
>> So...
>> If you were going to go and rescue it tomorrow, what would you  take to 
>> be
>> successful?  I'm thinking a new battery (I'm due...it had  shown a little
>> weakening lately) at least. What about those relays? I had no  precursors 
>> of trouble
>> at all.
>>
>> Any ideas? I get one whole day off to  get 'er going again before I get 
>> to do
>> a 5 days on, 1 day off, 4 nights on,  one night off, 4 nights on stretch.
>>
>>
>>
>> Bob,
>>
>> this is your 77 300D, right?
>>
>> tough luck.  Most batteries last less than 3 years in the Phoenix area 
>> so if
>> yours is bouncing off that time frame, I would definitely replace  it.  I
>> would take a voltmeter and a couple of those Radio shack aligator  clips. 
>> Did
>> you try moving the shift lever from park to neutral somewhat  briskly. 
>> You may
>> have been the victim of the classic heat soak that jams  up the starter
>> solenoid.  After a hard run, a  marginal starter will  not pull in the 
>> solenoid
>> reliably.  Jiggling the shifter cycles the start  relay and may get the 
>> starter to
>> kick in.
>>
>> OK, now about those alligator jumpers.  It takes two to reach from the 
>> small
>> screw terminal on the solenoid up to the battery positive terminal. 
>> This
>> will bypass the AC/start relay, the neutral safety switch, and the key 
>> switch.
>> Make SURE the car is in Park.  Usually this direct feed to  the solenoid 
>> will
>> get the starter to click in.  Then you can move back  inside the car and 
>> try
>> to start it normally with the key and the glowing,  etc.
>>
>> On the trip out did you notice the accessories, like the radio and the 
>> turn
>> signals, crapping out.  This would indicate a dead alternator and you 
>> were
>> driving with negative current flow.  The radio will usually quit at 
>> about 8
>> volts.
>>
>> I am not sure where the glow relay is on your car.  Usually, it is 
>> mounted
>> on the drivers side fender, a black box about 3X3, with a cover that 
>> lifts
>> off, exposing the 80 amp flat fuse.  Probably not your problem this 
>> time.
>> Tomorrow, you can call me on my cell @ 602-526-6299, if you want to 
>> bounce some
>> ideas off someone.
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> Jim  Friesen
>> Phoenix AZ
>> 79 300SD, 262 K miles
>> 98 ML 320, 142 K  miles
>>
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>>
>
> -- 
> Kaleb C. Striplin/Claremore, OK
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>
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