Odd noise when starting
 

Just a thought.


I had a bad starter drive cause this once on a MB diesel, it wouln't disengage right away, hence that funny moan/whir noise.

Good thought John. I was having trouble remembering exactly what an oogah horn sounded like mind a broken one.:D But I think you got it. Or at least the most plausable thing.

Our '83 does that sometimes, its just the bendix on the starter being slow to release when the engine catches, it probably won't hurt anything, we just ignore it when it does it from time to time. Most often it occurs in the cold.

Funny noise on starting
 

My 240 Euro just started doing that -- it's a moan that sounds like a rotating shaft binding --- similar to an old electric drill as it's coasting to a stop and gets pulled down faster from worn bushings. I'm glad to hear these opinions -- yes, mine only does it when it's cold & the engine is cold.

Has anybody found this to be a sign that the starter is close to needing R&R?

Might be...our '83's starter has been needing a hit to the solenoid to make it go here and there....:o :rolleyes: The starter itself is still very strong...it cranks the engine over instantly and shakes the whole car with its power. :eek: :D

starter.---
 

The starter on the 617 is on the right or left side of the motor?

Haynes manual says drivers side.

Passenger side on an 82.

Strange as it seems the manual is right. :D The haynes manual was written with a pronounced british bias. The preliminary descriptions of the whitworth threads etc just confirm that. If you live there it is on the drivers side.