Starter or Solenoid?
 

Periodically I will try and start my car and the engine will not crank. The starter or solenoid makes a whining noise and does not engage the engine. The noise is a spinning noise that starts at a lower pitch and then climbs higher as long as you hold the key in the start position. Then spins down to a stop when you release the key. Usually only does it once and then the next try everything works just fine.

So basically do I need a new starter or is there anything else that could be causing this?

This was a bit of an after thought but I have been quoted $100 for a used starter and $75 to install it, is this too much?

I would do this job myself but from reading other posts I need about a forty foot extension, wobbles, elbows, and good luck to get to the bolts out and I have never been that lucky.

starter
 

I replaced my started because same issue most likely the solenoid i'd just put a good quality starter back in it i got a el cheapo autozone done need a new one not a year later i did find the solenoid at a starter place for 47$ but while your at it the whole assembly is likely around 100$ well worth it if it's old

starter replacement is not difficult, just time consuming. you need to flip the wrench and work the bolts out slow due to space constraints. you will also need a 9mm or 10mm allen socket as it has one socket head cap screw in it for some reason.

$100 is exactly what I gave for my rebuilt... had the same ' sometimes' attitude about engaging... if I had known how much difference it would make I would have done it much earlier...
It is less fun if you have the turbo in the way... but it is doable by normal power rangers...

Sounds like the solenoid isn't pulling the bendix into the flywheel.

Replacement solenoid might help, but starter likely has enough wear and tear on it to justify a rebuild if you are going to the effort to remove and reinstall it.

Jim

Remember that used starters may have as many or more miles on them as yours... when dealing with this vintage autos.... I would go for rebuilt if you can possibly swing it..

Random half-hijack question: Is the starter on a 75 240D (616.916) interchangeable with a 78 240 (616.912)? Was just digging around in my sad '75 this afternoon and wondering that.

fastlane lists it as the same part

The fun part was figuring out how u got the thing out and trying to put it back in the way the old one come out. Between turning the wheel and lugging that around the steering arms wasnt fun but wasnt a big deal honestly i planned a entire day and only took a hour or so.

Neither !
 

The Bendix (gear part) has a bad spring in it's sprag clutch .

Older Bosch starters are *very* responsive to DIY repair work IF you take the time to do a good job ~ replace the solenoid every 25 years or so , clean all the dust and old grease out of it and solder on new brushes as needed , it'll work As-New again , usually better than the ' rebuilts'
as those often re-use the old solenoids .

If you're near a P-A-P junkyard , look in at ALL the old junkers as people often slap a fresh Bosch factory rebuilt starter rather than adjusting the valves etc. etc. the car really needs then they give up and junk it , I see nice fresh rebuilts with the Robert Bosch tag on them al;l the time and they're only $35.00 @ P-A-P :P

BOTH bolts should need the 10MM allen bit and you only need a 4' extension , maybe $25.00 of new tools @ Harbor Freight , cheaper than the local mechanic fooling with it and leaving the support bracket off in his haste .

the starter on mine acts funny at times too. i notice if i glow past the light going out more then a few seconds its doesn't crank like it should almost like a wierd noise or like the starter or battery is bad. so i turn the key back to off and start over it pops right off but runs ruff and usually stubles and dies. then on the second start its fine, doesnt do this all the time but sparatically. All the glow plugs checkout fine via the dieselgiant diy glowplug checks

Argus, I have a 240d so I brought the starter straight up... after corralling the wires...
Much different from a 5 cylinder with a turbo in the way...
I long ago placed pictures in the archivess of the INSIDE of my starter ... it shows where the starter can get this " sometimes" I want to work attitude... on mine three screws had gotten loose in the end... the postmortem showed arcing tracks... this was the one left over after I accidentally ran into an already rebuilt one sitting at the old fashioned Ag electrical repair shop which actually let me stand there and see them take it apart and then take it home...

I would avoid mcparts remans. get yours rebuilt by a good auto-electric shop, get one from here, or find a used one to have overhauled, then swap in, saving your old one.