No Sound from the Starter...sometimes..
 

I have an 84-300d that has 255K and the car only starts when I bang on the starter with a bar. Is it the starter or the connections? Can I get to the wiring from below (to clean them), if the car is on stands? Or, could it be something else? I have cleaned the posts and the main ground. I get NO sound from the starter or solenoid until it engages and then it starts right up. The starter was replaced by the previous owner about 3 years ago.

Any help is always appreciated,

Don

Get a multi meter and check the power.

Sounds like a sticking solenoid.

Sounds like rebuilt starter time. Pita of a job on the 617, have fun!:D

I can give you a fix that we used on the old 6 volt VWs. I have used the same on my 77 240D and a 79 300sd. You use a 12 volt Ford starter relay to switch the heavy current load instead of your key switch. The key switch engages the Ford starter relay and it in turn connects the starter solenoid on the cars starter. It is easy and inexpensive. PM me and I will talk to you further on ways to ck out the starter before you go the expensive route replacing the starter.
Chris

Heck Chris, I bet there are several of us out here who would like this procedure. I fight a sticky solenoid when the weather drops below 50. Below freezing it won't hardly work. ( not that that will be a problem for 6 months at least)

JimmyL, I just don't want some guys that don't know what they are doing shooting down the fix. I am 53 yrs old with 35 yrs on cars (old Porsches VWs MBZs). The're some guys on this site that like to FLAME people.:flamethro

What happens to alot of cars is that as the car ages, switches wear, wiring gets old, they will have voltage loss to the starter on the solenoid side. This problem was MUCH more prevalent on old 6 volt cars but I have repaired alot of German 12 volt cars with this relay fix. You can change a starter out and the problem might go away for awhile but it will rear its ugly little head at the worst time.

I will come up with the list and post it.