PO of the red car fashioned a jumper and kept it across the aux fan leads during summer to help cooling at idle in Houston traffic. I have the system working better now, so I don't use it. Never had a problem cranking, and the fan is still going strong 4 years later. My biggest problem with it was that it was so loud all the time.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT