January was cold in Vermont this year and it took me some time to get through enough of the cold starting checklist to get my 1980 300SD to start. There are still a few more things for me to get to, but I now have a working 'cold start' routine.
Unfortunately, I also have a new problem. In the beginning, I would sometimes need to crank for 60 to 90 seconds to build enough engine heat to either start or drain the battery. I would only get through two or three of these prolonged cranking sessions and I tried to allow several minutes for the starter to cool.
Now, the starter engages and cranks and usually the engines starts within 2 seconds. However, if I haven't preglowed enough, I need to crank for longer. Sometimes the starter will stay engaged for 10 or 20 seconds until the engine starts. Sometimes the starter will disengage after 3 or 4 seconds. It sounds as though the starter pinion is slipping out the ring gear and the starter keeps turning but the engine does not. There isn't any metal grinding noises, just normal cranking or starter free spinning.
So far I have been able to get started each morning within 2 or 3 tries, but I am worried that if the weather turns cold (below -15C or
5F) that I may have to walk. Can anyone comment on what might be going on and what I ought to check?Thanks, Ed