i have an 82 300TD and the other day it didn't start. glow plugs and dash light but nothing happened when i turned the key. not even a click. next day it started. drove it a few more times and it was fine, but now am afraid to take it anywhere because i don't want to get stranded.

had a 240D with sporadic no-start issues but with that one i could access the starter to jump it with a screw driver (and it was stick so i would always just park on a hill just in case). with this one is standard and the starter is hard to access so i'm a little hesitant to take it out till i know whats up.

could it be the starter? ground issue? what things should i carry with me to prepare for the next time this happens?

You can jump the Starter at the Wire Terminal/Junction Block in front of the Battery on the Turbo 300Ds. See Pic

My neutral safety switch thread
Neutral Safety Switch Troubleshooting 84 300D

If bypass the Neutral Safety Switch allows it to start all of the Time it could be the Neutral Safety Switch or the Shifter Bushings.

Cleaning the contact points of the Engine to Chassis Ground (about where your Feet are but under the Car), the Chassis to Battery Ground and the Battery Terminals can only help your Electrical System out; so it is a good idea to do that.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

take 2 keys and let er' run!

also check all electrical connections on bat and starter.

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[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.

You don't even need go take 2 keys....just pull the brown vacuum line under the hood....no vac to the shut off....no shut off

I would check the connection box for dirty contacts and then move on to shifter bushings and neutral safety switch..

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The above is also a way to see if the Vacuum Shutoff Valve on the Steering Colum is working OK.
If your Engine always starts OK with the Brown Vacuum Line disconnected from the Vacuum Valve on the Fuel Injection Pump it could be your Vacuum Valve on the Steering Colum is not allowing the Vacuum to leak off and keeping it in the Shutoff Position.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

[QUOTE=Diesel911;3182965]You can jump the Starter at the Wire Terminal/Junction Block in front of the Battery on the Turbo 300Ds. See Pic

so i jump the negative to any of those positives? looks from the picture like you can't span that with a screw driver...so just a short piece of wire to jump that? does it have to be a heavy gauge?

thanks for all the other info too everyone!

[QUOTE=adamkat22;3183034]I have done it with a piece of Wire.
No it does not have to be a heavy gauge because you are only activating the Starter Solenoid.
Look at the size of the wires that are connected to the Block for comparison.
If you look on the far right of the Picture you see a White Wire and a Purple/Violet Wire on the same Terminal. The White Wire is the one that goes to the Starter Solenoid. The Purple/Violet Wire goes to your Glow Plug Relay.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I seem to remember that a starter would sometimes get a flat spot. If you rock the car back and forth in gear, it would move the starter off the flat spot and it would start.

Just a thought.

But, the Starter is not engaged when you rock the car back and forth in gear so there is no manual turning of the Starter when you move the Car.

That makes me think something else would have to be effected like the cables of the Neutral Safety Switch.

What Fixed the Problem.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!


you jump from a big screw in the block to the little screw in the block.

DO NOT JUMP TO GROUND... YOU WILL BURN UP THINGS...

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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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!