Is it the Glow plug?

[eek]

I have a 1998 300e diesel. It has been very cold here lately, and the service engine light and glow plug light came on the last time I was driving. Tried to start the car a day later and the glow plug light would not go off, started car briefly and it rattled and knocked severely. I am far away from a mechanic and would like to avoid having it towed. Is this likely a bad glow plug(s) and can I change it myself?

 

[mjtray]

Highly likely that you have a glow plug failure.....the glow plug light staying on after starting the car is a sure sign.

Not too sure about your 98 300D, but I think I'm right in saying that you have to remove the inlet manifolds to get to your glowplugs!

 

[eek]

glow plug

Thanks. That was as I suspected. Looks like a trip to the mechanic. I can do basic work on my ford pick up truck, but I probably better not start taking my mercedes apart! Any chance this situation will heal itself enough for me to drive the car to mechanic once the weather warms up a bit?

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Glow plugs are only used for starting up. It will run lumpy for a bit and then should run ok. Better to replace them though, my advice is get them all done as they are not so easy to get at. Cant see any problem in driving to the garage, once engine starts ok.

A word of warning though. Glow plugs on Mercs seem occasionally to shear off when you try to remove them, therer are some posts about this. If this happens you probably will not have the means of sorting that out. I would strongly recommend getting it done professionally at a specialist or Merc workshop. I have changed them on most cars I have owned but the Mercs are just too hard to get at and too risky.

It does not heal itself at all, but may be slightly less noticeable in warm weather.