I found a 87 300TD for 500 bucks. Now its very clean inside and out. No rust and everything works. But it does not start. The car is in the US and I am in Canada. A buddy of mine had a look and talk to the guy selling. He said that it ran fine then one day he went out and it would not start. My buddy does not know much about cars and cant really do any normal testing I would do, if I was there. It does turn over. Now I have a list for him to look for, but would love any extra things to add. Remember that a guy that's not very handy is doing this for me....

The List
Check to see if glow plug light is on.
Check the fuse in the golw plug relay.
Check to see if cam is moving when turning engine over.
Lossen a injector line and see if fuel leakes out when turning over.


I would buy it and replace engine if I had too. But where the car is
so far away and I dont have a place to work on it, I would want to
know if its something I can fix on the spot. If it was a OM617
engine in it I would get it. But I dont know anything about the OM603
I hear they have a weak head.
Any info or opinion's would be helpfull.

 

Just found out that it runs sometimes? Is the engine shut done by Vac or Elec?
Everything is like new. Was not overheated. Was parked for a few months, and now will only start sometimes. Glow plug light comes on and she is getting fuel.
What do you think?

 

If you decide to buy it and sell parts I could use an oil pan for the 603 engine. I love my 300TD is costly to keep running but I never worry about wife driving and an accident.