When ever I take my car on trips longer than about an hour and park it for a few minutes it acts weird on the following startup. Here is a example.

I drive from ATL to Greenville.

Stop to eat for about one hour.

Get back in car and try to turn over and nothing happens.

I keep on trying and after about 20 key turns it finally starts.

This only happens on long trips and the car always starts eventually. Any input appreciated. Also Sometime on trips the Cruise controll works perfect , other time it will shudder when going downhill. It feels like a constant brake tap going down hill. Once again any advice would be great.

-Dan

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1985 300D
Clemson Class of 2012
Ceramics and Materials Eng
Go Tigers!

Try jumping terminals 1 and 3 in the junction box on top of the right fender in front of the battery next time it happens. Could be starter solenoid is not getting enough amperage under those conditions.

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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

Check your throttle linkages. I betcha one of them is sticking. Lubricate them with some ATF.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I experience the same starting issue with my SD as well. After driving for 4 hours for example, it wont start. Nada, nothing. I think it has something to do with the starter or solenoid getting to hot. After a few raps on the starter though, it starts right up. Never has left me stranded. It almost did the first time it happened but then i thought to myself, Hit that starter. It never does it on shorter trips (2 hours). I have a spare starter but have never installed it.

On a trip back from Colorado to Oakland, I just didnt turn the car off. That solved that problem.

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VegStew
1983 300SD 70,000 WVO Powered miles
1990 300D In driveway with Head Off - Cracked

Carbon from the Brushes builds up inside the Starter and Exacerbates the
"Hot Soak" Resistance problem.(Heat raises Electrical Resistance)

'Older Starter ,never been Serviced.

They can be disassembled and cleaned (AND Re-Bearinged AND Re-Brushed)

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Not enough info. Does the starter crank but the engine not fire, or does the starter not crank?

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1971 Porsche 911 Targa RSR rep.
1968 BMW R60/2
1981 BMW R80GS-PD, dual plugs, 1000cc jugs, 10 gal "Gaston" tank.
1982 BMW R80GS-PD, duplicate of above.
1988 Neoplan/Mercedes 40' Bus
2002 SLK32 AMG
2013 Smart Electric

The car does not crank when turned. But when it does finally crank the car starts right up.

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1985 300D
Clemson Class of 2012
Ceramics and Materials Eng
Go Tigers!

Get a Bosch remanufactured starter.

Done.