Hello,

The starter on my '82 240D seems to act up on rainy, wet days. It will drag, spin but not engage, and at times it sounds like it's going to tear the teeth off of the flywheel. Have any of you ever experienced a problem starter on rainy, wet days?

The alternator is charging like a champ and the battery is fresh. The wiring is clean and securely connected. What gives

I would say that it is time the change the starter. They start acting up for awhile before they go completely. For about a year before I replaced mine, it would ocasionally spin and if it was hot outside, it would lock up. If it locked up, I could just give it a good whack with a tire iron and it would start. Eventually it needed to be whacked about once a day and that is when I had enough.

New ones are not cheap and used ones are pot luck. I got a really nice clean bosch starter used from Sun Valley Mercedes and it has worked out just fine. I put it in myself...much harder on a 300D than a 240D but if you have trouble reaching the top bolt, unbolt the transmission mount and the engine will sag down enough to reach with a couple of extenders and a universal.

Some say you have to unbolt part of the steering linkage to get the starter out. I found that if the car is on two jack stands and the ignition is unlocked, you can manipulate the wheels back and forth with your feet and maneuver the starter out. Remember to say "AbraCadabra!!!"

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1982 300D Turbo "Helga"
380,000 miles