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Stranded in parking lot, had to do the hammer trick
Got some groceries, hop in the car, turn the key, click and fail.
Tapped starter with a wrench, car fired up. Has started several times without being smacked since. So I guess it is time for a new starter. My question is how much borrowed time do I have? Should I park it till I have the new starter in it? Is it a case of just being annoyed every so often by having to tap it? The car is my daily driver so it could be annoying if I have to park it for a week. Thanks
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1978 300D |
#2
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It may last for a while like it is. Eventually getting worse to the point when you'll have to rap it every time.
It's likely the solenoid section of the starter that is causing it to fail to start. It could Aldo be something simple like poor connections or a bad cable. So check all that first. If you are comfortable to take the starter off and take it apart. The solenoid may be able to be cleaned to bring it back to life. A new solenoid can also be had for like $90 if you want to try that route.
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Current fleet 2006 E320 CDI 1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped former members 1984 300D "Blues Mobile" 1978 300CD "El Toro" |
#3
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Thanks for the suggestions. By cable do you mean that ground wire thing?
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1978 300D |
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That. And the big cable from from the positive lead to the starter.
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Current fleet 2006 E320 CDI 1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped former members 1984 300D "Blues Mobile" 1978 300CD "El Toro" |
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When i had that problem, it was first intermittent but gradually got worse. I changed ignition and neutral switches with no improvement. Checked cables. In the end, i had the starter rebuilt. It was in a mess inside and depending on where it came to rest, it would sometimes work, sometimes not. Dirt on commutator, i guess.
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Graham 85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5 |
#6
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I kind of figured that was the deal. I'll start looking for a replacement. This does not seem like it would be a smart job to do with the car on ramps in a gravel driveway. From what I have read so far it sounds like getting the starter off is a real *****
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1978 300D |
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i think on the non-turbo its somewhere between the 240D and the 300 turbo. the 240D is easy. i've heard horror stories about the turbo. let me know how it goes if you do it. i have to change mine soon and am considering just taking it to the mechanic. i figure with a lift it wont be more than an hour of labor cost.
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1981 NA 300D 310k miles |
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That started about a year ago on my SD, and is still there (happened today again). When it fails to start, I just hold the key in the start position for 5-10 seconds or so, and it eventually starts. It has been that way for a year, so you may have a while left. For me it usually happens after driving a while, and then turning off the car. A few minutes later, the car won't start. I tried the hammer (actually a piece of pipe) trick the first few times, but after a while I realized that just holding the key made it start....Rich
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All Diesel Fleet 1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL 2005 E320 CDI (daily) LOTS of parts for sale! EGR block kit http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html 1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This! Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst. Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11): http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html |
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Quote:
The job is quite involved when it's 300d turbo model.
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Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#10
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Easy job on the non turbo - remove some stuff on top and reach on down in there!
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver 1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone 1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy! 1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits! |
#11
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I would not wait on this. Both my cars starters died within 1.5 weeks of the starter exhibiting similar simptoms. If you have the option to park it untill you fix it, do so.
As others have said, the starter on the non turbo isn't that bad. Pull out the air cleaner assembly and battery tray and you have access to the top bolt, easy weekend job.
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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily 2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily 1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended 1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper 1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL 2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped 1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above 1992 BMW 525i -traded in 1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103 1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one 1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold |
#12
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I've done starters on a 240D and a turbo 300D. First time in the 240D was the hardest. The last one I did was in the 300 and it took about two hours with me taking my sweet time about it. I probably could have done it in one if I had been in a hurry.
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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar. 83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles 08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles 88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress. |
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starter easy on a turbo
Starter is as easy as most cars.However you must have a big arm to break the bolts.
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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran |
#14
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Hmmmmm food for thought here. I will try the "just hold the key" trick if it happens again
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1978 300D |
#15
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Be careful when poking around the starter. If you accidently touch both posts on it it will ZAP you big time. I was changing the oil on my '94 wagon when I dropped the socket for the oil filter housing cap and it fell on top of the starter and when I moved it to pick it up it bridged the + and - poles and blew a hole in the socket and sent sparkks flying everywhere - no joke!
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dtf 1994 E320 Wagon (Died @ 308,669 miles) 1995 E300 Diesel (228,000) 1999 E300 Turbodiesel ( died @ 255,000) 2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 AC 4X4 (115,000 miles) rusted frame - sold to chop shop 2011 Audi A4 Avant (165,000 miles) Seized engine - donated to Salvation Army BMW 330 xi 6 speed manual (175,034 miles) 2014 E350 4Matic Wagon 128,000 miles 2018 Dodge Ram 21,000 miles |
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