87 300SDL

This car sat for a few weeks. I pulled the battery yesterday to use it as a 12 v source... never did... replaced the battery, charged it anyway, found out that my baby won't crank.

Now I'm used to just saying "Oh hell, must be the starter" but I know there's other things at play with my MB.

I have 11V across all Glow plugs. There's what I assume is a fusible link inside of... what I assume is the Glow plug controller that looks fine. I have 12-13V at several terminals in the GPC.

My battery terminals have all been cleaned and are tight. I'm not sure what else to look at before playing with the starter... which I REALLY doubt is it.

Thanks, I'm sure this has been covered a million times, but my searches all came back with "Cranks but won't start"

Bill

__________________
'87 300SDL, intensely modified Greasecar setup, with nickle plated heat exchanger, 3 valve setup, 312,000 miles
'95 Suburban diesel, Greasecar basics, 16 plate heat exchanger, mercedes fuel lines, Racor filter
'85 Renault Alliance converted full electric vehicle

Neutral saftey switch?
is the car in park?

__________________
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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Yeah... I thought about the nuetral safety switch as well. I have no idea why it would go out coincidentally by sitting. I've pulled it out of park and placed it back in a couple of times to no avail. I think that's a viable issue though.

Since there's been no tranny work or anything under the car lately I'm still thinking it's tied to a surge when I replaced the battery though.

Any additional ideas to chase?
Bill

__________________
'87 300SDL, intensely modified Greasecar setup, with nickle plated heat exchanger, 3 valve setup, 312,000 miles
'95 Suburban diesel, Greasecar basics, 16 plate heat exchanger, mercedes fuel lines, Racor filter
'85 Renault Alliance converted full electric vehicle

Before you pull the starter ,just make sure the connections were all tight on it .I pulled one and brought it up to my local autoparts to check it ,it was good ,reinstalled and got the car to start .

Well I have 12V going to the starter on the "big" wire, but there's a red wire with a white strip that has no voltage. I'm guessing this is connected to a relay but from what I can tell it ends up going underneath the dash somewhere...

Anyone know what this red/white stripe wire controls?

Thanks,
Bill

__________________
'87 300SDL, intensely modified Greasecar setup, with nickle plated heat exchanger, 3 valve setup, 312,000 miles
'95 Suburban diesel, Greasecar basics, 16 plate heat exchanger, mercedes fuel lines, Racor filter
'85 Renault Alliance converted full electric vehicle

With the key to start, the small wire energizes the solenoid which closes and delivers full battery power thru the big wire to the starter. You should have full battery voltage at the small wire with the key to start. You'll need a wiring diagram or someone can chime in with your particulars. On an 85, there is a box with connectors on the passenger frame rail (easy access) that has the lead to the starter. That box can be used for a remote starter when you need to just bump the motor. To test the starter, connect a wire to the small terminal on the starter. Touch the other end to the + Batt post. Engine should crank. I have a wire with alligator clips on both ends for this kind of thing. You may also want to test for clean connectors by looking for voltage drop at the joints. Clean + cable at both ends, junction box & small end at starter. Clean until there is no voltage drop. If the small wire doesn't get any voltage, check the fuse (with a meter, not by looking at it) and also test things like lockout switch & ignition switch. This process works on nearly all cars. You only need to find the wiring details for your specific vehicle.

or you could simply jump the positive lead to the small flat head on the back of the starter.

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

Yes, I can jump the starter OK... Still trying to trace the red/white solenoid wire to it's end.

Thanks so far,
Bill

__________________
'87 300SDL, intensely modified Greasecar setup, with nickle plated heat exchanger, 3 valve setup, 312,000 miles
'95 Suburban diesel, Greasecar basics, 16 plate heat exchanger, mercedes fuel lines, Racor filter
'85 Renault Alliance converted full electric vehicle