long drive, then no start, then no problem again for months?!?
 

Q: A couple of months ago, I drove to/from D.C. in the '85. On the way home, after 10 hours of straight driving, i stopped for fuel. When I got back into the car, I went to start it, and the glow plug cycled properly, but as soon as I turned the key, all power died. Nothing- no dome light, no nothing.

I thought maybe neutral safety switch, so I tinkered with the shifter (auto). No difference. I rolled the car away from the pump into a parking spot, and popped the hood. Everything looked normal, and I checked the fuses and found them all normal. I went to the battery and jostled the cables a bit, then went and tried to start the car again. The power had returned, but did the same thing once I turned past the glow cycle. I again messed with the battery cables, cleaning them off and making sure the ground strap was clean and in good shape. This time, she turned over and I drove home. The problem has not repeated since, but I'm gearing up for a december trip to/from Pittsburgh, and I'd rather not get stranded in nowhere-land en-route.

So, one theory I had was that the windshield wash job I'd undertaken while pumping fuel had somehow deposited some wash-water into the engine bay that shorted a battery cable, but once I dried it off the short was gone... but other than that I got nothing...

Ideas? Thanks!

nothing?

Based on the effect you had by jiggling the battery cables, and my experience with my 240D, I would say replace the negative battery cable and the terminal of the positive battery cable. Be prepared to replace the positive cable if you find it corroded inside the jacket.

No power...
 

Replace both battery cables. :)
Clean the body cable ground point when you replace them. :)

With the load our Diesel starters demand, it is not worth patching cables or replacing cable ends, that adds weak points = resistance points to the cables. :(
I have seen patched cables melt down and short... :eek:

1000+ AMPS on a cheap replacement cable end is begging for starting problems in winter... :eek: :(

I'd say cables too, or the ground strap or something like that.

Which route did you take to DC? I came from Ft. Valley once and got lost several times. Don't ever do frigg'n Mapquest.

ughh, this has been going on intermittantly with mine for years. i cycle the key a bunch of times and then it starts. it has never failed to start if i do that...yet. .. :rolleyes:
did you get a 'click' sound from the solenoid when you turned the key to the start position?

my theory is that the starter gets hot during the highway run.
the ideas about replacing cables seems to be good as well.