Ford-n-Benz needs help
 

Hey everybody,

I finally got the Benz engine in the Ranger, all hooked up as to starter, coolant lines, oil and cooler lines connected, etc. Hooked up a temporary fuel tank, primed the injection pump and bled out the air. I did not get the glow plug relay working yet.

When I turn it over I get occasional firing, and exhaust, but cannot get it to start. Now the battery is charging because I have been cranking it over too long.

The engine was completely torn down while out of the car because the front and rear main seals were shot. It was covered in about a quarter inch of grease and sand so I tore it all the way down and cleaned the block and everything. I thought my timing marks were all exactly lined up when I reassembled everything, but I wonder if the injection pump is off by a tooth one way or the other? How do I verify the timing of the injection pump?

This engine ran great before it came out of the MB 300 D.

For all of you guys that have done this Benz conversion before, how do I connect the wiring to the glow plug relay? I saved the glow plug harness, and the relay, but I don't have the other 4 pin plug, and hot wire for the #30 post. I have read where some guys have wired a momentary switch on the dash with an LED from the glow plug circuit to know when it turns off, but I am unclear how to do that from the 4 pins on the relay.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys!

Rick

sucks that no one will reply...i have never messed with a benz but i would imagine there are some kind of marks on the gear teeth??

You won't get it to fire without the glow plugs, you could just temporarly hot wire with a jumper wire then sort out the relay later. I think there is some info on relay wireing on some of the other Benz swap posts, do a search.

Thanks Guys
 

FTE,
I will try to search for that relay wiring discussion later tonight. I do remember reading about it back in the winter when I was just getting started.

I also found a site with a good description, and instructions on removing, installing and timing the IP. Will try to hotwire the glowplugs first. If it still won't start, then I will pull off the IP and verify the timing, and reset it if needed.

Thanks!

What you need.

As long as the glow plugs are disabled you can safely start it with a little whiff of ether too. But without glow plugs or ether you're robably not going to get it to fire off...

Ether can't be used at any time. The prechamber design will cause excessive pressure that can blow out the prechamber tip.

Thanks for the help.
 

Going to get the glow plugs going tonight.

Whargoul, thanks for the diagram. That will be very helpful indeed.

Rick

What works for me rather than either is my trusty heat gun or my wifes hair dryer! A little hor air in the intake of a idi non turbo engine works wonders!!! :yeah:

Thnx
 

I might try that. This is a turbo, so I'm not sure if it will work.

I did figure out how to manually operate the glow plugs and that still did not work even after cycling them a few times.

Last night I pulled it all apart to double check the IP timing. I think I was off by one tooth on the gearing, which explains why I would occasionally get it to fire, and get smoke from the exhaust but would not run.

Tonight I will put it all back together and try again.

Rick