Hello guys!

Im having trouble starting my 123 200D by the key ignition switch.

A couple of days ago, i would turn the key and it wouldn't crank (but the idiot lights still work). What I would do is to just repeat the key stroke/cycle once or twice and then it would fire up immediately.

Unfortunately, this morning the trick wont work! No matter how many times I turn the key, nothing happens! What I did to start the car was to use a small screwdriver to reach the starter then fire it up manually by connecting the two 'bolts/screws' wherein the battery leads are directly connected. It would then crank and fire up with no hesitation. Obviously, I have a problem with the key switch.

So, is there an easy way to fix this? What part should I clean/replace so that it will work again? I was thinking (since I have to be on the go always) of putting a heavy duty push-button switch directly connected to the starter in order to go around this problem, but then I want to fix the key switch nevertheless. Is this an easy DIYer?

Thanks a bunch!

And oh, the battery is new (and is confirmed to be in shape) and the starter was just rebuilt.

Not necessarily the switch. It could be a poor electrical connection somewhere else. Have you cleaned all the connections between the battery and the starter?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

When this happened w/my 240D, I banged the starter with a stick to get it started several times 'til I replaced starter. Starter brushes, etc., may be worn.

Thanks for the replies!

dieseldiehard, the car has a manual tranny (sorry I left out that otherwise related detail) And indeed, this problem is a bit frustrating! Having a car that runs quite perfectly but not being able to start it in one click...

wilton, the starter was just rebuilt so I *eliminated* that part of the equation. Funny, I remember doing that in one of the cars my ex used to own (do I hear 'The Way We Were' playin in the background...).:p

kerry, I will try to do that and hopefully that will do the trick. The difficulty here is that once I've cleaned (and by visual inspection, it appears to be clean; no crud, rust, or oil stains) the battery and starter connections, I do not know where else to look!

And so my screwdriver startin day continues... will try to fix it though. I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks!

Don,

Connect a test light to the terminal on the solonoid that is connected thru the wire to the key switch.

If the light does not illuminate when you turn the key to the start position, the problem is in the key switch, the wires or one of the connections between the key switch and the solonoid

If the light does illuminate and the starter doesn't work, the problem is in the solonoid or the starter.

This should give a place to start looking to fix your problem.

P E H

After cleaning the starter and solenoid thoroughly and doing the test described above, it was soon clear that I was wrong... and somewhat right nevertheless....

As it turns out, my key switch IS NOT broken (whew!), and yet neither is my starter (per se). It was *just* the solenoid (since when directly connected, the starter cranks mightily).

When I cleaned the thing, it appeared that there was a rather huge crack in one of the nuts of the solenoid (must be due to overtightening). This crack allowed water to seep into the mechanism thus causing corrosion and disabling the sliding action of the solenoid (one thing I forgot to mention in my original post was that it was raining in this part of the world as the typhoon season has begun).

What we did was to have the solenoid replaced by a new one. Now it works perfectly! However, I was told that the old solenoid would still work, just clean it and lube it up. I didn't want to take that chance so I just changed it.

Thanks for the advice guys! It was really helpful (imagine if I continued with my key switch line of thinking...)

-Don