81 SD won`t turn over

[Rick H]

I just charged the battery and when i go to start the car the glow plug light comes on and then when i go to start it nothing. Any idea`s ? Is there a relay for the starter some where? Thank`s Rick

[bustedbenz]

Could be the starter itself, or the starter solenoid.

Strategies:

1. Check the neutral safety switch. Slide the gears through from Park down to drive and back a few times, try to crank in both Park and Neutral. Wiggle it around a little.

2. If you think the solenoid's not working, hit the starter with a hammer (not hard enough to dent anything) - that'll un-stick it sometimes. More frequently they stick starting than not starting, though.

3. Somebody else will shortly follow this with "jump the starter" - there's contacts under there somewhere, that you can use to energize the starter while bypassing the switches completely.

[Rick H]

Thank`s for the reply. I did get it to start one time a while back by moving the shifter through the gears but not this time. It`s probably the safety switch? Rick

[toomany MBZ]

Originally Posted by Rick H

Thank`s for the reply. I did get it to start one time a while back by moving the shifter through the gears but not this time. It`s probably the safety switch? Rick

That's my guess.