I've posted on this before, but the 'sticky ignition lock when cold' thread brought it back top-of-mind.
Yesterday morning when I left to go somewhere, it was about 45 degrees outside. I turned the key to 'glow', put on my seatbelt, as is the ritual, and turned the key to start it. I counted 8 seconds before the starter did anything. That isn't 8 seconds of cranking, that is 8 seconds of total silence. Once the starter engages, the car starts immediately. Weird huh?
I checked for loose or corroded wiring at the starter/solenoid. Is the solenoid assy removable and swappable? I have one on the parts car that I guess I could try.
Again, this isn't a battery issue, it is fine. It is simply a time lag prior to 'action'.
Somebody on my last thread mentioned the possibility of grease in the solenoid getting thick in the cold weather. Would that be the bendix, or the solenoid that would be affected? (I might be thinking of that wrong)
There is a delay even when the temp is in the 50's, but it is only a second or so.
I would appreciate a suggested plan of action that would seem like the logical approach.
Thanks yall.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

does it do it every time when cold? if thats the case i would have to agree about the grease

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

Every time.
Can I remove the solenoid assy with the starter still mounted?

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Not sure how easy that'd be as space is limited there. Is the starter on there the original one still?

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

you could. but doubt if it is very easy. its worth a try.

i have never heard of the grease thing but it sounds plausible.

tom w

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[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.

I do not believe the starter is original, as it is fairly clean compared to it's surroundings, and it has a sticker on it from the supplier (can't remember name off hand).
I have seen posts stating that starter removal isn't that bad, but it doesn't look like the easiest area to work in........
While under there I was able to see my passenger side motor mount oozing out the bottom..... Tranny mount was scary also.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Had the same exact problem on my 300TD for a couple of years. Found the best solution. Procrastination. I bought a new starter but never got around to installing it. The problem has gone away completely, even at 15 below zero this year. No one, to my knowledge, has come up with a completely convincing hypothesis as to why this happens. Quite a few forum members have reported it.
My new hypothesis: Mid-life crisis.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Just a thought. I recently had the same thing on my 83 300D. The cause was the alarm system I forgot was even in the car. There was a starter interupt relay right by the junction on the fender near coolant reservoir. The relay would freeze up in cold weather. Removed the relay and problem gone. Make sure you don't have an old alarm system still in place. HTH Mike

Mine does the opposite, in very cold mornings, turn they key off and the starter keeps turning by itself, until it decides to stop. When I first got the car, It did this until the battery wore itself down.

I charged it and when the temperature was warmer in the day, it didnt do it again. Thats one of those things that I'm not looking forward to doing.

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91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

Hrm, could be a poor reman unit potentially then.

Starter removal isn't fun, it's one of the things I'd probably pay for...

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]