Would replacing the starter on a '83 300D be an easy DIY job?

Looks straightforward - but I didn't see any posts where individuals have replaced their starters before.

Hopefully this is good sign.

__________________
JWJ
1983 MB 300D - > 430,000 miles - Deep Blue - Bilstein Comforts - 0-60 in 24 seconds - 27MPG
1985 MB 300TD (wagon) - > 275,000 miles - Manila Beige - Thule rack - 0-60 in 18 seconds - 22 - 25MPG
Biodiesel, Mobil Delvac 1, and Viton fuel lines!

I am assuming the '83 is the same as '84- and '85 which I have had.

1. Disconnect battery
2. Lift right front end (use jack stand or ramp)
3. Disconnect wires from starter..one philips screw and one 17mm nut.
4. Un bolt one end (passenger side) of the steering shock and flip it out of the way so you will have room to remove the starter.
5. Starter is attached with three allen-head bolts, two lower and one upper (I forgot the size). The lower ones are easy to get at. The top one is a little difficult....manual says something about removing the heat shield and other stuff nearby so you can get to it from above through the engine compartment. This is still a pain and I never do it...I use a long extension on my 3/8 rachet..I think it is 24 inches long, and I add another 8" (or something like that). On the end where the hex tool is attached, I use one of those U-joint type attachments with the spring around it that allows the hex wrench to move around but still be held straight. You go in with this tool back near the transmission mount and up over the transmission and forward to the starter bolt...this is much easier than it sounds...you will see that the tool comes through the transmission hump space about a half inch away from the bolt, and there you are! You might have to first clean out the hex hole on the bolt with a piece bent wire...this often gets gunked up and you will have a hard time if you cant get the hex tool to fit all the way in snugly. Remove that bolt and the starter is out.
6. Installation same in reverse...attach top bolt first, etc. You will find that the design of the three bolts, and the bolt holes in the starter are such that when you install the starter, the bolts almost thread themselves in...Ive done this several times and have been amazed that I never have trouble trying to line up the starter and get the bolts started...very nice. Very easy job..takes about 2 hours or less.

Good Luck,

Mark

__________________
1984 300TD Wagon, 407,800 mi (current daily driver)
1985 300DT Sedan, 330,000 mi (gone to that great autobahn in the sky)

it is not technically difficult, but access is limited and it makes the job tedious especially without a lift.

good luck

tom w

__________________
[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 agree, its not very difficult, and I used the extension and u joint adapter method on mine, just that one bolt is really the worst of it. I had mine up on a set of ramps for the job. If it wont start you can use a floor jack under the lower arm to raise it then slide the ramp in under the wheel, as I had done, given that my engine was blown at the time.

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

Starter health is important to your diesel!!!
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/107318-starter-health-important-your-diesel.html#post739798

Gear reduction starter for W126 diesel?
Gear reduction starter for W126 diesel?

Tackling a starter, need suggestions (and sympathy)
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/135985-tackling-starter-need-suggestions-sympathy.html#post1001659





Battery Safety
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/141479-battery-safety.html#post1057827

Battery selection / Charging System / jump starting / cold weather battery issues
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/141516-battery-selection-charging-system-jump-starting-cold-weather-battery-issues.html#post1058189


Have a great day.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

I recently had to replace the bell housing bolts on my '84 due to the wrong bolts being used in the wrong holes and causing one heck of a vibration. To gain access to the top bolts, up by the rear of the valve cover, I disconnected the transmission crossmember and lowered it three or four inches. This gave me access to those top bolts and I also noticed that it would make getting to that top bolt on the starter a lot easier, and it only takes a few minutes. I took a stab at that bolt myself when my starter was going out. Wound up taken it to a friend of a friend that had a shop with a lift and half and hour and forty dollars later I had my new starter in. I rarely pay a mechanic but in this case I felt it was worth it.

__________________
Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

.
Hello All

When I changed the starter on my 81 300D I cut off part of the short end of the alen wrench.

Cutting it, allowed it to fit between the top starter bolt and the firewall.

Have Fun Everyone.
RichC

__________________

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

The top allen bolt can be a little snug. Advisable to use 1/2 inch extensions if so. They transmitt the torque better with less flex. Hope yours is not too tight.

There are 2 bolts holding the starter into the bellhousing they are 10 mm allen head. They can be really tough, I broke a 1/2 extension and a 1/2 ujoint before I finally got the bolt out.

So it is a DIY, however for the 20 minutes it takes to do the job at the shop, I much prefer them to take car of it.

I would suggest only using 1/2 drives and only good quality sockets. (i broke 3 3/8 drive sockets)

__________________
1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

Spray plenty of your favorite lube/2d40 whatever on those bolts. I found the hardest part was just getting the starter in and out.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

You have to work from the back of the transmission on the two bolts, yet you'll probably need to have both front wheels up in the air to turn them side to side to find a space in between the tie rods to get it out. Put the back up on ramps and the front on jackstands?
I had to use a very long breaker bar to loosen the bolts and it was hard to get the right position given the limited space between the car and the ground.

__________________
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

When I replaced the transmission in my '80 300 TD I found the top starter bolt easier to get onto from the rear with a long extension after lowering the transmission as mentioned above. Steve