Starter problems... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

seattle240D · #1 06-13-2007, 10:48 PM

Hey there fellow dieselers! I'm stranded in Beverley Hills next to I-405 with a starter problem. When I went to start the car earlier today the car didn't start. There was no noise from the starter (none of the usual clicks). Then, after sitting for 30 mins, I tried to start it agian and it fired right up. About two hours later we stopped again and upon restarting the car all went well. I just pulled off to get some diesel and when I went to start the car, nothing. No noise EXCEPT for the a tiny click that occurs when the key is turned two clicks (not to the ignition position). Whats going on? Does anyone know a decent mechanic in the area? I'm six days in to a road trip from Seattle to San Diego and, until now, the car has run perfectly...

Thanks!

Sean

deerefanatic · #2 06-13-2007, 10:52 PM

Oh man, starter issues......

Try taking a big screwdriver, and using the handle, rap on the starter & solenoid to see if it will jar the starter enought to get it out of it's "dead zone"

Also, see where the purple wire attaches to the terminal block on the passenger side of the engine compartment? See if the connection there is good and clean and electrically solid......

Otherwise, new-starter time.

seattle240D · #3 06-13-2007, 10:54 PM

where exactly is the starter and solenoid? Under the engine right?

deerefanatic · #4 06-13-2007, 10:55 PM

Also, might be your ign switch. Turn the switch to run, make sure tranny's in park, then use a short wire piece to jump from the heavy alternator wires to the terminal with the purple wire. this will crank the engine guarranteed unless the starter is toast. If it's wiring, ign switch, or neutral safety switch, this will tell you, as well as allow you to start the car. (As long as key switch is in on position, the engine will start if you can manage to roll it over fast enough and long enough, even with a dead battery.)

deerefanatic · #5 06-13-2007, 10:56 PM

Starter & solenoid is on passenger side under the turbo... Easiest to access from the bottom..

I suggest you try jumping the starter terminal like I outlined above and see what happens before grubbing around and getting all dirty and frustrated.

deerefanatic · #6 06-13-2007, 10:57 PM

Oops, sorry, your car has no turbo!

Still though, on the passenger side, and still probably easiest to get to from the bottom........

kerry · #7 06-13-2007, 11:02 PM

Car can be push started. Turn it off as little as possible during the trip. I believe the starter can be jumped in the junction box on the right fender.

seattle240D · #8 06-13-2007, 11:03 PM

what about jump starting? will that work if we jump the battery?

JimSmith · #9 06-13-2007, 11:22 PM

To answer your question directly, it is unlikely that jumping the battery will have any effect. This is because it is unlikely your battery is the problem.

The issue is either in the starter assembly itself (the basic starter motor and the starter solenoid or "Bendix" which is a device that jams the starter drive gear into the flywheel gear teeth, and, once engaged, it acts like a relay, connecting the starter motor to the battery), or if you have an automatic, it could be the "neutral safety switch" which is a device that prevents you from starting while in drive or some other gear. When the starter assembly begins to perform intermittently the complexity of the "Bendix" is usually the problem as it can fail to generate the force needed to jam the pinion gear far enough to mesh with the flywheel ring gear, or, it can fail to close the contacts to start the starter motor spinning. These failures can be the result of dirt, grease, corrosion products and other foreign materials collecting in the "Bendix." Smacking it with a hammer or screw driver is a way to jar it loose. On a 240D this stuff is visible from above and I would use a wooden stick, or plastic pipe or something non-conducting that is about two feet long. I would hit the end of it with a hammer while holding the bottom end against the starter assembly solenoid (Bendix). It is a bit crowded down there and hitting the electrical contacts with a metal, conductive, item may lead to welding it to the adjacent structure or the terminals on the starter as you run the risk of shorting the battery through the tool.

Good luck and I hope this helps. Jim

seattle240D · #10 06-14-2007, 02:20 AM

so my computer died before I had a chance to try everything you mentioned, and without a viable charge source I resorted to the good ol AAA card...

the reason I mentioned jumping was because some random mechanic guy said that would work. I explained to him that all the acessory electronics work but he still wanted to give it a go. I ended up telling him to back off once he started to try and tell me about my car and how it works. I'm fine thank you very much.

so AAA dude comes. What a guy. Usually the guys that come out give me a load of bs about how they can't diagnose the problem (but they can tow me to a buddy who can!) I told him that I just needed a tow to a big hill so I could get the car started (by rolling). He was totally down and actually did the rolling start for me since I'd never done one before. Seeing as I have 10+ days on the road, I'll have plenty of time to practice!

Long story short, I'm not stranded (like you care, haha), the car needs a new starter, and I still need to find a decent mechanic in San Diego (any suggestions?)

I was telling my australian travel partner about how reliable you all are, and he kind of laughed. I said, "I give them 2 minutes to respond to my post." He said sarcastically, "I'll give them four-they're probably eating dinner"...four minutes later the magic happened. Thanks for all the help, you guys rock.

JimSmith · #11 06-14-2007, 10:20 AM

seattle240D

Of course we care if you are stranded! We are here to help each other never get stranded. And you couldn't have a better car for preventing becoming stranded.

Now, I assume you have a manual transmission based on your response that you got it rolling and used the wheels turning to turn the engine over. It should be noted that you can nearly never be stranded with that car. In fact, if you don't have to drive at night, you can drive a 240D by "pop" starting it (get it rolling down a hill and, with the key in the "run" position, drop the clutch with the transmission in second or third gear) without a functioning alternator. You need no electricity to run one of these things. Now, it helps to be able to cycle the glow plugs and the local traffic sharing the road would appreciate functioning brake lights and blinkers, so you can bring along a battery charger and charge the battery when you park. Makes "pop" starting, as my daughter calls it, easier if you have glowing glow plugs and it is always good to have blinkers and brake lights.

So, use this site to learn why the W123 240D is one of the most reliable and rugged cars ever made. They owned the taxi services in Europe and still appear in large numbers in really tough parts of the world. Jim

deerefanatic · #12 06-13-2007, 11:09 PM

Your battery might not be dead.. Are the dome lights, etc lighting brightly?

If so, your battery's probably fine. Probaly a starter or switch issue somewhere.

Try turning key to the run position, then use a short wire to jump from the big screw in the terminal box (has a couple of heavy red wires under it) to the screw with the purple wires. If starter is good, it will crank and you'll be able to start your car this way until you're home and can diagnose the issue.