Which bushings did you replace?

Do you get voltage to the starter "bendix". when in start position. That would rule out the wiring from the battery through the two switches.

Have you put on jumpers to a known good battery.

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85 Merc 300D - Unwinding 31 years of wear
86 VW TD
Mahindra Diesel
Iseki Diesel

In 2007 I didn't own a diesel.

Battery was in my '87 300D while running

I'll get the voltage at the starter connections next. Forgot to do that.

Bushings were replaced by the previous owner.

Not really weird that the voltage drops to 11v when you try to engage the starter. That tends to point to the starter itself.

__________________
-Louis

'87 300D Anthracite

The starter could be bad??? I hope not

Should I pull the battery and test it?

I can't reach the starter to put my test leads on it because the car is parked in a parking lot.

It certainly *COULD* be the starter, but I'm not thinking that's conclusive, yet. Really need a voltage reading from there (the starter). The fact that the voltage dropped when you went to the "start" position points to the starter as that voltage had to be going somewhere, but a reading at the starter would certainly be helpful.

__________________
-Louis

'87 300D Anthracite

I'm probably
Going to tow it home

So I can't really see where to put the test leads on the starter solenoid.

Me thinks the voltage went to 11 when glows engaged. Does the battery get the power to the "bendix". Isn't there a test point at the violet wire that "should" connect to the start solenoid. You might look for the battery voltage there when you try and start it.

__________________
85 Merc 300D - Unwinding 31 years of wear
86 VW TD
Mahindra Diesel
Iseki Diesel

In 2007 I didn't own a diesel.

The manual says that you can tow start the car at 35 mph.

__________________
85 Merc 300D - Unwinding 31 years of wear
86 VW TD
Mahindra Diesel
Iseki Diesel

In 2007 I didn't own a diesel.

Well I don't have a tow strap at the moment.

It's home. Her insurance covers a 15 mile tow and we apparently live 16 miles from where the car was sitting so they said not to worry about the 1 mile. I need to eat something for lunch before I pass out, push it into the garage and test the starter. I'm glad I picked up a bunch of extra shifts last month so now I have extra money if anything.

I want to check the NSS and make sure the arm on it didn't break off and get stuck or something, that would just be stupid.

Will report back soon

The drivers side back tire looks low!

__________________
85 Merc 300D - Unwinding 31 years of wear
86 VW TD
Mahindra Diesel
Iseki Diesel

In 2007 I didn't own a diesel.

Short sleeves in February? Man I gotta get outta New England!

__________________
I could not own any MB without the help from you...fellow forum members.


83 300td 207,XXX

Update

Put the volt meter on the starter while attempting to crank.

I put the positive lead on the top most bolt on the solenoid and put the negative lead on a ground for the car and the volt meter read around 9 volts. I hope I took the reading from the correct spot because even with the key off I was reading 10.3 volts. But when starting it dropped.

But why wouldn't the solenoid make any semblance of noise. I've jump started cars before that had an almost dead battery and it still clicked.

I havent checked the NSS switch arm yet. I'm in the process of eating lunch.

Yeah, look at the NSS. Still, 9v seems awfully low. Do you have a charger? I'm not sure I trust your jumper cables BTW.

__________________
-Louis

'87 300D Anthracite