Curt - are you using synthetics in the engine and tranny? That alone will
let the engine "spin" a lot faster on cold mornings. I'm sure the engineers
at M-B designed you car with adequately sized cables - it gets mighty cold
in Northern Europe, too!;-))
Bottom line: Good battery+clean cable connections+working glow
plugs+synthetic oils=easy starting, even below 0F!
Werner
----- Original Message -----
From: "Curt Raymond" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 9:42 AM
Subject: [MBZ] Shoulda done that months ago
So Dory the 190D is at my Indy's shop for new shift bushings so I can use
reverse again. That being the case I'm driving Hammie the 240D. Yesterday
at 17F the battery in Hammie was just not having any of it. I rousted my
wife and we dragged him around (second gear this time Jim) and he started
right up. Started up off the battery on the way home, but I stopped at
AutoZone anyway and for around $70 with tax I got a new battery. The
change out only took a couple minutes and while I should have changed the
negative battery cable while I was there, the effect was still obvious.
When warm the car always starts real easy but I hadn't realized how slow
the starter was going, now I just barely hit the key and it fires right
up.
This morning at 19F I glowed once and cranked for maybe 5 seconds before
it fired up, if I'd glowed twice it'd have fired off immediately but I
wanted to test things.
I spent a little time looking at the battery cables on the 190D when I
last changed the oil and concluded they seem a little small for all they
accomplish. Has anybody ever upgraded the cables? The existing ones appear
to be about 2ga or so. I'm thinking 0ga if I could get it in the right
length (or have it made) would help ensure cold starts. At the very least
replacing the old weathered cables with new ones should lower resistance
and help things along somewhat. Anybody know what length the cables are on
a 190D 2.2l?
-Curt
'85 190D "Dory" 234kmi
'83 240D "Hammie" 253kmi
