Yesterday I stopped and could not start my car again. It is 1985 Mercedes 300SD. Batteries are good. It makes all the buzz sounds and lights all the bulbs on the panel as usual. But when I turn key to crank it is not turning the engine, not even trying. What could be the problem? And how I can test the possible reason?
1. Starter problems.
2. May be I turned ignition keys off too quick and transmission staying somewhere in drive position. (can it be the reason or just my fantasy?)
3. Something else. (like fuse or switch)
Thank you.

I could be the neutral safety switch. Time to time mine acts a little touchy.

Try it several times with gearshift lever in either park or neutral. The neutral starting switch will not allow starter to turn if it thinks the transmission is not in either P or N.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Smack the starter with a broom stick and see if it works. When you try to crank it do you hear a "click"?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Get some isulated copper wire, and jump the starter at the electrical terminal box on the passenger's side under the hood.

Here's the procedure
1. Turn the key to preglow
2. Go under the hood and open the box up, you'll see four screws.
3. Get the wire, and touch the two outside screws with the wire ends. Hopefully it will start, and that means your starter is fine, but your switch most likely needs replacement.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

I'll try everything tomorrow, and post. Hopefully it will help.

Something that bit me in the past. Make sure you have good batt.-chassis and chassis-engine grounds. On mine the bracket the engine ground strap was attached had worked loose. Symptom: starts fine one time, next time not even a click of the solenoid.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Car started after knocking on solenoid/starter. It just wanted a little bit more attention from me. Thank you for replies.

Yelp you need a new soleniod. They tend to stick after a while due to oxidation and corrosion on the terminals.

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Time for a rebuilt starter. Their look like a pita to get at so I'd buy a good Bosch rebuild.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200