Okay I'm at work and just got the dreaded call, the car won't start and she's not so close to home with the kid in the car.

Luckily her pops is gonna pick her up and get her back to the house, but now I have to figure out what the heck is up and get the car home!

Its a '76 240D

She says she turns the key on, pulls the knob to start, it just makes a weird clicking noise. The engine doesn't turn over at all.
There were no symptoms of starting failure like this previously.

HOWEVER, I've just gone through a battery that was very old and worn down due to old glow plugs, which I've changed out.

So last week the new $90 battery died and it turns out my voltage regulator is super worn out, so I replaced that and things have been peachy every since. The battery charges right up, easiest starts I've had in months.

And now this, it won't turn over?

Ah, when it rains it pours!

Any pointers as to where to look would be great, its dark when I get off work and I have to drive a few miles to get the car so...........

mark in Portland

Sounds like it could be the starter. I would try tapping the solenoid to see if it kicks in, one of those old tricks. If you have a multimeter make sure that the battery is giving off enough voltage -- if not you could probably just jump it.

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

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

The starter is not getting the power it needs. "Clicking" means either the battery is close to dead or the connection between the battery and the starter is bad. Have her call the 1800 mercedes help line and they will come give her a jump start for free.

My wife verified that the engine cranked over quickly when she started the car 15 minutes before pulling over to take a call.

She sat for 15 minutes with everything off, no lights on, then the no start clicking.

So I can't imagine the battery drained to the point of not being able to turn the starter over.

Do the 115's have fuses to check for starting, I've heard of some on the firewall and as well on the driver side fender but maybe these are on 123s....

As well, how to check the neutral safety switch? Would that do anything?

mark

Since the starter is clicking then i would imagine that the NSS is fine.

I doubt the battery would drain that fash either, but maybe if she was sitting in a lot of traffic with the radio playing it might drain. You get a chance check the battery voltage under load(pull knob in the starter position).

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

What voltage should I get when I pull the knob?

mark

Under the load of glow plugs a 1000CCA battery should be able to hold about 10.5-11Volts steadily

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

no less than 10V

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

I know last week when I did a couple different voltage checks to see if the alternator/voltage reg were bad. So I'll see whats up with that.

I still get a feeling the battery is okay, she wasn't in heavy traffic and our radio doesn't work so, I can only imagine it didn't drain!

So of course I'm gonna hook up the volt meter to the battery first thing, check the connections etc. I want to real out the obvious here.....

But any other tips...keep 'em comin'! Still don't know about fuses......

mark

I think i saw post about a W115 where the alt power goes through fuse 1, but i doubt that is true.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

It all sounds to me like a loose connection to the battery.

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

X2. Or a loose connection somewhere else.

__________________
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

If its a gorilla knob it could be in the rubber parts in the starter linkage. When they get worn out it will not engage properly. The critical place for this is down near the top of the steering box iirc.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Is the car in park?

__________________
1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

Check the battery with one terminal disconnected. Should be 12VDC. If not, then bad or dead battery.
Check the battery with both terminals connected. Should still be 12VDC. If not, then possible large current drain or dead battery.
Jump the car. If it starts, it's not your starter. As previously stated, tapping the starter could free the solenoid.
Measure the voltage with the engine running. Should be 13VDC - 15VDC. If not, then problems with the alternator/charging circuit.
Measure V AC across the battery. If you get any readings in the 1V or more range, you may have bad rectifiers in your alternator. Folks have said that could be one reason for a dead battery as the rectifiers leak current back thru the alternator.

Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (found an engine - hope it's good)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof