What started out as a minor annoyance, i.e. slow starting, has now become a problem of very difficult starting. Part of the problem with this 300D is that the manual throttle has been disconnected and I have not had the opportunity to restore it. However, suddenly, I need a fully-charged battery and have to go to half-throttle to start, and even then, sometimes the start fails before the starter engagement limit occurs.
Upon these cold starts, there is a profusion of smoke, which clears as the engine smooths out after start. In the worst of the cases when the start fails, there is white smoke in profusion during the latter time of the start attempt.
This phenomenon never occurs on a warm engine, as the engine starts rapidly, on the first turn at any temp but dead cold.
Am suspecting injectors (glow plug light is normal) but don't want to troubleshoot by replacing parts.
Thanks in advance for the ensuing advice.