Well, the 300td has been running well except for the other day, I parked it, and when I came out, the engine would not crank at all. I know it isn't the battery - I tested it and it checks out, plus I threw it on the charger just to be sure. It acts like a relay or something. Is there a fuse? We are in the process of moving, so all my manuals are packed god knows where and I am desperate to get it running again.

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1983 300td - Velvet 265,000 mi
1975 Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 160,000 mi
2004 Toyota 4runner 103,000 mi

If I have seen farther, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.
- sir isaac newton

Is there a click when you turn the key to start? Do all the lights come on, glow plugs heat up? Starter or solenoid would be my first guess. Before you start troubleshooting the starter make sure that your contacts with the battery are clean, ground strap is secure, and connection from battery to solenoid checks out.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I hear a click. Everything else checks out. glow plugs, etc. Cables are tight, clean, the ground strap is tight. I thought starter solenoid right off, but is there a test for that?

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1983 300td - Velvet 265,000 mi
1975 Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 160,000 mi
2004 Toyota 4runner 103,000 mi

If I have seen farther, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.
- sir isaac newton

If its not a ground issue, i bet your solenoid is bad, or lacking good lubrication. Try tapping the solenoid with something if you are in a tight spot.

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1979 240D with a 617 turbo diesel.

I had an mg that I kept a broomhandle in for just such a purpose. I'll give that a shot in the am

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1983 300td - Velvet 265,000 mi
1975 Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 160,000 mi
2004 Toyota 4runner 103,000 mi

If I have seen farther, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.
- sir isaac newton

Jump terminals 1 and 3 in the junction box on top of the right front inner fender in front of the battery. 70% of the time, that makes the starter operate. (percentage approximate).

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

what does jumping the terminals do? I assume this is a test?

__________________
1983 300td - Velvet 265,000 mi
1975 Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 160,000 mi
2004 Toyota 4runner 103,000 mi

If I have seen farther, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.
- sir isaac newton

It bypasses most of the wiring in the ignition circuit and sends voltage to the starter by a more direct route.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Increasing the amount of current available as well since the voltage by that route can be higher. . The result of the path of a lesser resistance.

This overcomes a marginal condition sometimes. If on the other hand the more total failure of a component has occured it cannot fix that.

Whacking the starter is our next scientific approach after this. It sometimes works as well. Both points have been well stressed in earlier posts.

Always clean battery terminals and cable clamps as well though as that is possibly the most common cause of your complaint.

If wacking the starter works sometimes, new starter time. The local autoZoo may be able to test, around here they do and it's free.
There is a strip fuse in the relay, pull it out and check for cracks.
As kerry mentions jumping the at the box will help eliminate a problem elsewhere.

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83 SD

84 CD

yeah,
so I am embarrased to even tell you all this, but after checking and rechecking everything and still no success, I dug through all my moving boxes to find my haynes manual. First thing suggested is to make sure the car is firmly in park. Well, lo and behold, the it sat, firmly in reverse. God I am a moron. Happy easter, all!

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1983 300td - Velvet 265,000 mi
1975 Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 160,000 mi
2004 Toyota 4runner 103,000 mi

If I have seen farther, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.
- sir isaac newton

It happens to the best of us.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

There is no relay in the starter circuit.

Not the first person to do that. I am personally well acquainted with someone who has done the same thing.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13