Over the past month two times when I hit the starter I got nothing, like the battery was gone (ie not connected). I put it in drive, rocked it back and forth, and it started perfectly. So searching my memory I am wondering if the brushes landed on a flat spot on the commutator (is that the right word?) and I rocked it back to good contact.

As I remember if your starter solenoid is going out, you get a clicking noise. I did not have that. Had zero sound - just like someone had removed the battery. So I do not think it is the solenoid.

So do I need brushes and are they available for a 1981 300SD?

Thx.

more likely the bushings in your shifter are worn, and your neutral safety switch is preventing a start.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I second that.

i have all new burnings and now if I bump the shifter it can take it out of park. Need to dial back on the adjustment to make it less sensitive.

Best test I've found is to pull it back into low and count the clicks until you hit neutral and give it a try. It it work 100% then VST is right on the money.

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Mad_Matt's Current Stable:
Oil Burners:
09 Jetta TDI The highway queen @ 105k
83 300D. Sold
Gassers:
16 A4 sport line
10 Passat
83 Recaro Trans AM WS6 Bone Stock Survivor
11 Harley Ultra

Thanks guys. That's certainly easier than rebuilding the starter. Can I replace the bushings with the car on stands; assume I do it from underneath the car rather than trying to take out the console?

from other forum, but a good write up non the less...

How to replace your Neutral safety switch w/pics - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

The bushings are on a rod completely under the car between the bottom of the shift lever and the transmission. There are a separate set of bushings in the shift rod lever itself but those don't typically cause problems with the NSS.

Sixto
87 300D

I would have someone turn your key to the start position and hold it while you bang on the starter with a piece of pipe as I don't think you have room for a hammer. My guess is that it is a solenoid rather than a NSS. If it starts then you know. I did the rocking thing and I think it is just a coincidence because randomly even without the rocking the solenoid will pop. I never had a clicking sound either when the solenoid/ starter was the problem

Easier to hold the key in the start position and rock the shift lever between R and D to see if the starter catches. Then you know if it's the NSS.

Sixto
87 300D

Yeah, I second Sixto. Just make sure the parking brake is engaged.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

How many right arms do you guys have?

Good pictorial - thanks for the link. Think I will try the NSS test for a while.

Solenoid - at least in the old days, I thought it would click if it was the solenoid. You say not?

Wonder if Phil has the bushings if I need them? Hate to go to the stealership.