I've read many of the starter/ solenoid posts, but I did not find anybody state how they solved the problem. I've noticed that I have one symptom that no one else mentioned.

Here are what I have:This only occurs during the first start of the day, no mater what time or temp.

1. Starter engages momentarily then disengages and stops spinning. 'Sometimes' it acts like one of the cylinders fires, causing the starter to disengage but not always.
2. solenoid engagement time varies from a 2 or 3 revolutions to a split second.
3.Getting harder and harder to start.
4. solenoid does nothing if I turn key straight to start bypassing glow-plug warm up cycle, even after several start attempts. starter just spins.

Question: can the glow plug controller going bad, cause the Solenoid to not engage/ or disengage?

__________________
MC Professor

1981 300D non-Turbo
with unknown 617. motor and 711.311 transmission