The starter in the 240 (probably just the solenoid-more on that later) started sporadically failing to operate about a month after I bought the car. Then it got to where you had to short the terminals with a screwdriver to get it to work. Then it started failing to engage even with the screwdriver. I'm trying to sell the thing, and it's tough to sell a car that won't start, so I went ahead and fixed it.

I suspected it was just the solenoid that was bad, but I'm leaving next week, so I was in a hurry and skipped the extra troubleshooting time and grabbed a starter which was available today, I just had to go to Sparks for it.

I started the replacement in a "borrowed" parking lot near my apartment complex. Time: 1854. I didn't bother reading the procedure in the manual, since "Hey, it's just a starter swap-easy 30 minute job." Well, on a Ford or a Chevy, it IS an easy 30 minute job.

It started out well enough. I disconnected the positive terminal at the battery and then undid the electrical connections at the starter. I quickly found the two Allen-head bolts holding the starter to the bellhousing and removed them. They were a little tough to break loose, but nothing I didn't expect on a 29 year old car. Next the real fun began. I started trying to pull the starter out, but it wouldn't budge. I started looking for another means of retention, and found the L-shaped bracket on the front of the starter. After much swearing in several languages and offhand comparisons of Daimler Benz engineers to National Socialists, I removed the two nuts holding the L-bracket to the engine support, and the small bolts holding the bracket to the front of the starter. The bracket wouldn't budge. Then I realized that I also had to remove the brace running from the engine support to the intake manifold/air cleaner mount. More swearing in several languages and comparisons to National Socialists. Finally, I removed the brace, slid out the bracket, and removed the starter from the bellhousing. It took a little planning and pre-positioning to actually extract the starter out from the top of the engine compartment, but by this time I was just happy to have it out. Time 2006, and just starting to get dark. Did I mention I didn't bring my flashlight because I thought it was a 30 minute job?

Installation, of course, was the reverse of removal and went considerably more smoothly. By the time I had it buttoned up, it was 2100 and all but totally dark. The car started right up and I drove the short distance back to my apartment, receiving two revelations in the process. 1. My dash lights are out. 2. I really need to clean my windshield.

I feel much better now

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I think it is a 30 minute job from underneath - at least mine was. Two or three bolts and it was in my hand.

Len
'83 240D 345,000 miles original owner