I don't know your ability but these BOSCH starters are generally pretty easy to take apart, clean, replace the brushes and solenoid , grease and re assemble .

Even if you screw it up you can re assemble it and turn it in to your local guy later...

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Just to avoid any confusion for others who may read this - The starter for my 85 300D is actually an SR67X. This is the one vendors list for the 83/84 models.

I found this out by reading the Bosch number off the existing starter (00001362600). The ACDelco I am getting has number 3361307 which is apparently what I need. And the new MB number for the SR67X is 0031510701-80 (-80 means rebuilt.)

Re starting in Canada in winter. I used this car as my daily driver in every kind of weather. Over 30 years I learned a thing or two So long as battery is good, my car with rebuilt engine always starts easily. But only when the starter works I do have one bad glow plug and have a new set on order.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I will probably do this. Have to check bearings too. Have to decide if it is worth doing. Solenoid plus other parts will cost me probably something like 60% of having local shop rebuild.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

And therein lies the rub : they always clean and reuse the solenoid, I've been working on German cars since the 1960's and one thing you learn is : always replace the solenoid .

The bearings are *very* sturdy and are usually oillite bronze bushings, almost never need replacing just cleaning and greasing .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

This entire thread sounds like solenoid contacts.

I drive a beautiful 00 Cummins that came wrapped in a crappy Dodge truck. I had the same intermittent click and no start that would go back to working normally and would always jump.

I had the starter rebuilt locally because "you always want to keep your OE starter" (and avoid cheap McPartsStore starters. All was good for a few years when it started doing the same thing. A set of contacts fixed it. I lost the link but contacts literally cost pennies when you find a wholesaler that sells to the public at a decent price.

Rebuilders do not pay significant dollars for their parts. The rebuild price is mostly labor. Yes, some things need welding or brazing but many don't.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

It could be the contacts, but when I was diagnosing problem, I did get full voltage on solenoid to motor terminal. Motor had been getting weaker and turned very slowly before it failed.
Regarding parts costs, I was comparing what it would cost me to buy the parts vs having shop do the rebuild. No doubt their parts cost is a lot lower than mine

Think I read somewhere that the Bosch solenoids are not serviceable. Crimped together?

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Reman ACDelco starter arrived and looked good. Solenoid is new. Hard to see how they can sell those for $67.25. Must be at least an hour or two of labor plus parts in the reman/testing process. The starter is based on a Bosch 0001362001 which actually comes up needing an SR61X replacement. But my starter is a 0001362600 and that comes up as needing an SR67X Bosch. Difference seems to be in solenoid location. ACDelco part 3361307 is, according to their site, apparently correct for my starter.

New starter should have been installed by now, but local shop is having trouble removing old one. That top bolt is in there tight and they are having trouble getting it out. Expecting big labor bill

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Two ways to get this bolt out :

I prefer to use several feet of 1/2" drive extensions, a knuckle and a 10MM Allen bit .

Others use an allen bit and a long box wrench on the Allen bit, it's *very* close quarters in there but do able .

DO NOT try to use an open end wrench ! .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Never should touch the top starter bolt until you are certain it is clean inside. Plus the allen tool is in like new condition. Plus bottomed in the head of the bolt.


Not all the time but it usually loosens up with a horrific snap. The most common error may be using 3/8ths extensions. You may not be able to manufacture the force needed. Instead they twist. It takes a fair amount of extensions to reach that bolt.


If you do not know these things in advance you can make a mess of the removal. I was never aware on occasion why that top bolt was so tight.


Again if a person does not know what to expect bad things are very possible. Just an 18 inch power bar may not move it.

I had a local shop doing the removal. They deal with this sort of stuff every day. They changed the starter on my 107, which is a much worse job. They eventually got 123 starter off, but that top bolt was apparently really tight!

That was the good news.

Later they called me. They had the remanufactured ACDelco/Bosch starter installed and it does not work

They tried applying power and ground direct to the motor and it still does not turn. They did not bench test it first, but you wouldn't think that should be necessary for a starter that comes with documentation that says it has been rebuilt to ISO/TS 16949 and passed numerous tests!

So now, they have to remove the starter. I will get local shop to rebuild my original starter if they can. In testing, it does rotate, but only very slowly.

Now problem I have, is how to return faulty starter to Rok-otto. Any Canadians here that have experience doing that?
I haven't contacted them yet, but will once the starter is removed.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Sorry to hear about the starter! I'm always leary about purchasing heavy items by mail order for that very reason. Returning an item and having to pay return shipping becomes uneconomical. But I heard Amazon eats the return shipping costs hopefully rock will help with that?

__________________
92 e300d2.5t
01 e320
05 cdi
85 chev c10

Continuing my starter Saga:

I took the original starter to our local auto-electric rebuild/repair shop. While I was there, he dismantled the starter. The brushes were totally gone and the brush holders had been contacting the commutator which was chewed up.

He checked, and can get parts he does not have overnight. So old starter will be repaired. New armature, new solenoid, new brushes and holder assembly, new drive. Just casing and field windings will remain! Cost will be about 1/3 more than the ACDelco reman that does not work! (Hope I can get a refund on that). Even for the shop, starter parts will have to come from three wholesale sources, so DIY rebuild likely not too practical for us.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Thanks. I believe Rok may. As just posted, I am having old starter repaired so I hope Rok will just refund me. Warranty on ACDelco starter may cover labor costs, but that might not apply when bought on-line ?

Waiting until I have the ACDelco starter in my hands and have tested it again, before contacting Rok.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

They've been very good to me when I had issues with defective parts, you're in Canada so who knows but if you spend some time searching there's a telephone # buried that will get you to a live person, be sure to ask for a "Call Tag" if they want the starter back this is a pre paid return shipping label that's a standard thing although they're in no hurrty to offer it .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

According to their site, there should be no problem returning the defective unit. But they don't say anything about of how this works for those of us outside USA. Some Canadians have told me that they were able to return defective parts - I guess I will soon find out!

The ACDelco warranty says that shop costs for install/uninstall "might" be covered, but you have to talk to your source! I suspect that might be the case if the shop had supplied the starter. As it is, I am probably going to have to eat a large labour charge.

Just about to go pick up the rebuilt old starter. I should have done things this way the first time around! We have two rebuild shops here in our small town.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5