Today I changed my motor mount and the transmission mount. Successful job once I found a way to get at the bolts on the engine side of the mount. I then git in the car, turned the key and got very short cycle on the stater. Tried again and nothing happened. I only got the clicks from the glow relay. The car acted as if the starter was not energized at all. The rest of the systems seemed to be fine.

My question is could I have damaged the neutral safety switch in some manner when I lifted the engine to change the mounts. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Before this episode, The car has not had any problem starting.

It is a 1985 300TD with 280,00 on the clock. Thanks.

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Paul

1991 300TE (280,000)
1985 300TD (432,000 miles - retired)
1976 300D (225,000 - retired)
1975 300D (165,000 - retired)

well the neutral switch would not have allowed any clicking if it was malfunctioning.

so i would suggest looking at your battery cables. check for looseness, clean them and look for loose grounds. perhaps jacking up the motor loostened something there. also look at the engine to chassis ground strap.

good luck

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.

well i guess i can help you from my experience. i did the same thing, and was listening to music while i was performing the work. after i had finished the job, lowered the car, and wanted to see how it sounds... it was dead just like yours. just clicked. somehow i had run the battery dry, after only about 45 mins of radio use(just the last strech). it clicked and turned over like yours. so i just had to pull up with my other car and jump it.

this is probably just the fix for your situation, but not the answer as to why it happened.

__________________

Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

Also check out the shift rod bushings. Now that the engine and tranny are sitting in a somewhat different position, it is possible the shifter isn't fully in Park. Try starting in neutral and after pushing the shift lever all the way forward into park.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

I'm on my way back outside to try it! I had the charger on the battery and also tried the jump. There was no draw down at all when I turned the key so I imagine it is not the battery. Somehow the starter circuit is not engaging.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

__________________
Paul

1991 300TE (280,000)
1985 300TD (432,000 miles - retired)
1976 300D (225,000 - retired)
1975 300D (165,000 - retired)

Tried the shifter in all positions and some inbetween. No Luck!

__________________
Paul

1991 300TE (280,000)
1985 300TD (432,000 miles - retired)
1976 300D (225,000 - retired)
1975 300D (165,000 - retired)

Is there a relay that controls the starter? Perhaps its stuck.

well ya got the starter to run once- so maybe you should look real close at the grounding of it and the cable connections to the battery.

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Ground Cable (between chasis & passanger side tranny to engine bolt) clean connections & make sure you didnt rip the strap jacking the engine up in the air. Take it off & clean it on the wire wheel then put it back.

Parrot,

Yes there is a relay that controls the starter. Its called the starter solonoid.

P E H

First, MAKE SURE PARKING BRAKE IS SET!
then, follow the wires from the starter to the terminal block and jump the large wires with a pair of pliers. should bypass the key and eliminate neutral saftey. if it starts one of those is the culprit.
have fun.
John

Went under the car and cleaned and replaced the ground strap. No luck!! Symptoms the same! I have also tried jumping directly to the engine frame.

I will not be able to bypass the start cicuit until the weekend!

Where is the neutral safety switch? And what is the wire and plug located at the rear of the trans near the mount?

__________________
Paul

1991 300TE (280,000)
1985 300TD (432,000 miles - retired)
1976 300D (225,000 - retired)
1975 300D (165,000 - retired)

Any other ideas! If not, I will need to have it towed and repaired!

Thank you all for your ideas and suggestions.

__________________
Paul

1991 300TE (280,000)
1985 300TD (432,000 miles - retired)
1976 300D (225,000 - retired)
1975 300D (165,000 - retired)

300TD,

Try to jump the small terminal to the hot lead (the cable from the battery) on the solonoid. This will eliminate any wire, key switch of nuetral switch not working. Or jump the 2 high current leads on the solonoid. This should make the starter spin but not engage.

There is also a wire that comes from the solonoid to a terminal block on the inside of the right fender. That is the main current lead from the battery to the car. Check if is broken due to jacking up the engine.

P E H