Before anyone jumps on me.....i have searched many threads and I haven't found one that I can relate my problem too.

About three weeks ago I drove my '84 300D Turbo for about 1.5 hours down the highway. I stopped and turned the engine off. Tried to start it a couple of minutes later and all I heard was a faint click. It wouldn't turn over at all. I left it for 10 minutes and tried it again...it clicked once and then started on the second try.

I figured it was the solinoid and decided to replace the starter and solinoid since the solinoid is attached.

I couldn't get the upper mounting bolt off because of the trans dipstick tube. (Found out I know more cuss words than i thought!!!) I got frustrated and just left the starter in. It hasn't missed a start since.

So....my questions are:

1. Is the starter/solinoid my problem?
2. How do you get that @#$^#@ mounting bolt out from behind the trans dipstick tube?

Thanks

You can start by cleaning up the wires. sometimes that is the problem. Other times you have a bad section of the starter wires internally. That way, if it ever comes to rest on that section, you might have the same problem. Till then, the rest of the starter is good.

Thanks Aklim.....I'll try cleaning them this weekend and see if I have anymore trouble.

ughh, mine does that too. cycling the key a bunch of times has never failed
to start it... yet...
i call it ''hot starter syndrome''

otoh, i think replacing the starter solves the problem as nothing else seems to work as a permanent fix.

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Sound to me like the brushes could be gone in the starter. When the starter is hot the short brushes are not making good contact with the armeture. When the starter cools down the resistance is lower so it works. It will only get worse as time goes on and the brushes continue to get shorter.

If all your conections are good then you should be looking for a starter.

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82 Rabbit diesel (first d), 84 Jetta turbo d (300k when sold), 83 240d (305k when sold), 84 F250 6.9d w/Banks turbo(parts truck), 86 F250 6 cyl.gasser(waiting for 6.9d), 84 300d ( 347k Sold 8/04), Y2k New Bettle TDI (185k miles), 95 740IL (wifes), 87 300TD (206k Sold 7/05), 05 Passat TDI Wagon

I had problems with the lower bolt interfering with the tranny dipstick tube on my 82 240d. I removed the upper mounting bolt on the tube and losened the lower bolt to swivel it out of the way. Had no problem after that.