I purchased a 1990 Mercedes 208D Autotrail Apache.
Test drove without a problem, started first time.
MOT was issued the day we picked it up.
Started first time when we collected it to bring it home.
(At no time do I remember seeing the glow plug light come on but then I was not looking for it)
Next morning it would not start. I called the seller (A dealer in Devon) and talked through the problem. He explained to me about the glow plug light and I told him it was not coming on - I had never had such an old diesel before so didn't know about glow plug lights) Had a road side breakdown mechanic come to the house and look at it. After a lot of testing he decided it was the glow plug control box which was not working. Power was going in but not coming out. The garage I purchased the van from had a new one delivered to me so I could fit it. It arrived today.
I put the new part in, it was a 10 minute job. Went to test it. Turned on the ignition and the glow plug light came on for about 2 seconds and then went off again. I thought that was a bit of a short time but tried to start her up any way, and she didn't. But I thought just glow it up a second time, it old, cold out, might just need a second warm up. Turned of the ignition, turned it back on - no glow plug light. Back to where we started at the beginning of the week. Turn the key, no glow plug light comes on. No start the engine!!!
So I am back to my work around. I have a wire connected to the connector which feeds the glow plugs, connected to two of the glow plugs, and the other end I touch to the power feed to the controller, count to 5, then go start the engine. It fires up instantly.
What should I do? Do you think I might have been conned?
The garage I purchased from is saying all the right things, they want to fix it. Problem is it is a 2 hour drive from here, they only have one mechanic on tomorrow and he is snowed under before the long bank holiday weekend. They have said if I can find a local auto electrician to fix it they will pay the bill for that. But what is going on with the van. Why is it blowing its glow plug controllers? Should I be worried there is a bigger problem? Should I demand my money back? (Which would be heart breaking, it took two months to find this van, it is the exact spec we want, plus some!) I just don't know what to think.
:Sad:
Test drove without a problem, started first time.
MOT was issued the day we picked it up.
Started first time when we collected it to bring it home.
(At no time do I remember seeing the glow plug light come on but then I was not looking for it)
Next morning it would not start. I called the seller (A dealer in Devon) and talked through the problem. He explained to me about the glow plug light and I told him it was not coming on - I had never had such an old diesel before so didn't know about glow plug lights) Had a road side breakdown mechanic come to the house and look at it. After a lot of testing he decided it was the glow plug control box which was not working. Power was going in but not coming out. The garage I purchased the van from had a new one delivered to me so I could fit it. It arrived today.
I put the new part in, it was a 10 minute job. Went to test it. Turned on the ignition and the glow plug light came on for about 2 seconds and then went off again. I thought that was a bit of a short time but tried to start her up any way, and she didn't. But I thought just glow it up a second time, it old, cold out, might just need a second warm up. Turned of the ignition, turned it back on - no glow plug light. Back to where we started at the beginning of the week. Turn the key, no glow plug light comes on. No start the engine!!!
So I am back to my work around. I have a wire connected to the connector which feeds the glow plugs, connected to two of the glow plugs, and the other end I touch to the power feed to the controller, count to 5, then go start the engine. It fires up instantly.
What should I do? Do you think I might have been conned?
The garage I purchased from is saying all the right things, they want to fix it. Problem is it is a 2 hour drive from here, they only have one mechanic on tomorrow and he is snowed under before the long bank holiday weekend. They have said if I can find a local auto electrician to fix it they will pay the bill for that. But what is going on with the van. Why is it blowing its glow plug controllers? Should I be worried there is a bigger problem? Should I demand my money back? (Which would be heart breaking, it took two months to find this van, it is the exact spec we want, plus some!) I just don't know what to think.
:Sad: