Aren't new starters awfully expensive? I usually take off the starter, replace the brushes, overhaul the solenoid, grease the bearings and reinstall. I doubt you ever have to replace a Mercedes starter, just overhaul as above.

After starting up and driving five minutes from work to home yesterday, my car now refuses to start at all. I've jumped it from my bimmer and my brother's 300D and it made no difference. Usually when jumped from another car it would fire right up. Now my question is, can the solanoid be removed from the car without the starter being removed? I looked at removing the starter a couple of days ago and the two bolts that have it bolted to the transmission bell housing wouldn't budge. I couldn't get the bottom one to move even with a cheater bar and the top one looks like it is impossible to remove. I don't think the starter is the culprit because when it will crank it sounds fine. I know what a starter sounds like when its going out because the bimmer's is starting to and it will drag every so often on a cold morning. I think the solaniod might be the problem and it would be infinately easier if I could remove it while leaving the starter in the car. Thanks so much.

__________________
Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

it might be possible to get the solinoid off but difficult.

as noted previously by myself it seems as if your ground may not be any good.

if the solinoid is bad you will have clicking. if the starter switch is bad you can jump the solinoid at the starter and it will work. this isn't a fix but a test. it seems as if you can often do this with a large screwdriver if the rubber shields are off the solinoid electrical connections.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

ALWAYS suspect the neutral select switch (mounted on the transmission) before assuming its the alternator! (that assumes you have an automatic transmission!)
Try jumping the starter terminal to the battery terminal on the three terminal connector block near the battery, if it starts right up, its not the starter.
Trying to jumper the contacts at the alternator is too difficult (its way down there, and is easier sometimes from underneath) besides its USUALLY VERY GREASY anywhere on the starter!
If you have clicking but it doesn't turn over, its the solenoid or the contacts at one end of the solenoid. That can be fixed with a little work.

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

alternator = starter

Had the exact same problem and troubleshooting steps on my 300SD last year. I also suspected the NSS and wound up wasting a few bucks replacing it. Replaced the starter with a Bosch rebuild and have been fine since.

__________________
Greg Schwall

1983 300SD - 465,000 miles

Ok. I thought i'd cleaned all the contacts but then I remembered about the short little cable from the solaniod to the starter. When I took it off the nut was barely tight and on the whole circumference of the contact there was only about an eight of an inch of shiny. The rest was coaked in good old Oklahoma red dirt. After cleaning very thoroughly and tighting it up like it should have been, I haven't had a problem since. Its been about five days and the starter sounds like its turning faster than it ever has. Thanks a lot guys/girls for all of your help.

__________________
Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

cool... always check the simple stuff first... it isnt as fun as changing something difficult or complicated but often a lot cheaper.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.