I've tried so far....

- recharging the battery and rehooking it up
- trying a different battery
- jumping connection number 1 directly to the battery
- jumping #3 to the battery
- bridging the connection between #1 and 3
- beating the snot out of the starter. Several times.

????

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79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

I am having the exact same problem with my 85 300D, ive tried the jump terminal, lets see if im doin it right, I put two screwdrivers on the outside screws, and crossed em, sparks and clicks but no starter activity, I tried touching a heavy gague wire to em both and same same, sparks and clicks, so whats this about a wire from the battery to the left screw? Just touch a wire from the pos terminal to the left screw?

I havent tried whackin the starter, cant see it, I can get my arm and face under there but thats it, someone stole my floor jack and im not using the Benz jack, I wanna keep my head round, not flat. Drivers side right? I can see the bottom of the bell housing but cant find that darn cranker, must be tucked away tight.

there is something about jiggling the shift lever around and possibly starting it in nuetral (i am not positive on trying to start in nuetral)

i am in no way an expert but if getting power directly to the starter, wacking it, crossing the solenoid bolts i would assume it is something other then the starter. nuetral safety switch, ignition switch?

when i took mine to the indy he jumped the starter and it started, come to find out it was a coincidence. so after it started he ruled out the starter. so he put in a nuetral safety and i really wanted it fixed so i had him put in and ignition switch. after all that it didnt start about every 8 times or so for a few minutes- come to find out it was the starter. last week after a few months starting everytime it didnt start, jumped the 2 solenoid bolts and it started had a replacement put in so far so good.

i ve put on 2000 miles in the last week and a half averaging 28 mpg- yes i did leave it idling in the rest stops- just in case

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Brian

82 300d turbo 164k - passed on
83 sd - passed on
04 civic hybrid - DD
06 GTO for sale - passed on
84 VW Rabbit Diesel 4dr.- passed on
94 S350D - DD
94 S320 - soon to be DD

Well, it just so happens that I did jump the starter today and find it is working fine...

The problem is that this particualr starter was from my parts car, not the one I am actually trying to start.

So if anyone has any suggestions, I'd really like to try them before I do an R&R tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
Darcy

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79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

Well.....


I tried starting it with TWO diesel batteries today, in case one of them was run down. Then I tried all the other solutions.

Finally, in a last ditch effort before replacing the starter, I went back to the two batteries, and she started.

Guess I must have ceaned up whatever connection was corroded after the first try with the 2 batteries, which resulted in a solid connection with the two batteries that gave enough charge to get her moving.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help.
Darcy

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI