I have a 85 300d and it will not crank. The glow plugs were replaced about 5k ago and the battery is about 2 months old. The glow plug light comes on, but when I turn the key nothing happens.
When I first tried to start her, I heard a strange sound and nothing happened. I tried to put it neutral then in park and still nothing.
I did a search and read a jumper wire or 2 screwdrivers to try to start it that way. If that is successful, what could be the problem? Any help would be appreciated, she is stranded in a grocery store parking lot.
Thanks

Charlie

nutral saftey switch, ignition key, wires, fuse, etc. try the junction block and report back.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

No cranking can be: (No particular order)

1 Bad Starter
2 Bad solenoid
3 Bad neutral safety switch
4 Bad shift selector bushings
5 Faulty ignition switch.

Have you tried whacking the starter with a hammer?

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

A quick follow up question, if it were the starter wouldn't there be some symptoms of a failing starter, like not engaging etc.?

So just try to whack the starter? Fuses are ok.

Could be. Sometimes they just quit with out notice. Other times it is some thing along the line that makes us think it's the starter. That is why you trouble shoot to narrow it down. Using the starter jump method by passes the ignition and the nuetral safety switches.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

Yes sir.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

Engine grounding caused this problem on mine. The chassis-engine strap was loose. You could try connecting a jumper cable from the engine to the battery and see if that will get things cranking.

A good rap to the starter with a rubber mallet, while someone turns the key, may free the bendix if that is hanging up.

Also, a broken terminal connection at the starter could be possible.

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

That would be from the engine to the NEGATIVE terminal of the battery (you knew that, right?......)

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Like RR said "wack the starter" I would have someone give it a smack while you see if it'l turn over. Also take the lugs off the battery and clean them and the terminals, use sand paper or a pocket knife, make sure the contact is good.

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

all this whacking advice is for AFTER the terminal jump method fails to start the car.
if the jumper block works, it's not the starter.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Dont forget the easiest, most common problem- loose/corroded battery cables

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Try putting it in neutral to see if the linkage is loose. Sometime you can turn a car over going into neutral. As always.... dont ask me how I know.......

__________________
NC Benz
Fuquay-Varina, NC
1979 300D
1983 300D Turbo 260,000 Miles
1984 300D Turbo 345,000 Miles (sons car)
OBK #31
1998 Ford Expedition 5.4l (fer Haulin'!) 145,000
1973 19' SeaRay with 115 Mercury TOWER OF POWER!
Club Car Golf Cart 36V
Ex toys:
1967 Mustang 289 (First Car)
Fiat 124TC
1975 Honda CVCC
1980 Audi 5000 Turbo

The power cables to stater and solenoid are on the right inside wheel well in front of the battery-thats where they are on my 85 cd anyway. if you short the power to the solenoid you should here it engage, if you can't hear it probably a bad solenoid. If you can hear it but the starter won't turn starter is bad. A rebuilt starter/ solenoid unit is availible at any auto part store. This happened to my 85 a few months ago. The brushes in the starter where worn out and the front bushing was worn too. Old age takes it's toll. Got my rebiult starter from Advance Auto in a day. Good luck