I've been working on an 81' 300TD for several months now. When I have a problem, like it suddenly won't start, I pull out my MB CD and try to figure out what needs to be fixed. When that fails, rather than pull out the little hair I have left, I read the forum. So far the forum has provided my with other things to look at but not the solution to my problem, other than relieving my frustration, which is a good thing.

Loose Screws. When my Benz refused to start the day before I was leaving on a business trip to Texas and Karolyn, my wife was going to use it around town, I was stumped. It would start if I sprayed WD40 into it and start again when I restarted it hot. (This is not about WD40 as starting fluid. Talk about that in another forum.) I knew it had something to do with the GPs since I didn't have time to investigate, I handed Karolyn the can of WD40 showed her where to spray it and left on my business trip.

When I got back I started to check the GP system. The GPs were fine, all worked. I then opened the GP timer relay. It looked fine. The 50A fuse was intact but when I started to stick the volt meter probes into it I noticed that one of the screws on the fuse was loose. I tightened it and! Viola! Problem solved.

Loose Bolts. The rear windshield wiper was similar. A bolt holding the wiper motor came loose and jammed the wiper mechanism. Good thing I didn't leave the wiper button on or I could have burned the motor and spent money on the problem.

Fuses Faking Contact. The climate control never worked properly since I bought it. The blower only worked on Hi and the A/C was mediocre at best. One day while I was investigating how remove the passenger side kick panel, the blower motor stopped all together. MB manual no was help other than to explain how to remove the motor.

The forum suggested a lot of possibilities, most costing money. I checked the voltage to the blower motor and at the blower regulator, none at the motor, 6-7 at the regulator. Where was the power? Fiddled with the fuses again with the blower on, spun it, took it out but when I put it back in it I pushed it in too far and the blower started working. The end of the fuse holder had melted and was forcing one end of the fuse not to make contact.

Cleaned the holder, chipped away the offending plastic and now the climate controls work fine.
Moral, Look for the simple stuff first and do some head scratching, the massage helps the hair grow.
Peter

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81' 300TD
Peter