Hello,
I'm a long time reader, and first time poster. I have a w126 diesel. I just completed a long trip, and stopped briefly near the end. When I tried to restart the car it wouldn't turn over or anything. The battery is fine, the alternator is new. I'm thinking its the starter. When I turn the key, I do hear a click come from the engine compartment. Any suggestions for a solution would be greatly appreciated.

-Cheers

Hi,
My thoughts are the basics. Connections on the battery terminals may be corroded. Pull them and clean them. Starter may be bad. Hit it with a heavy piece of wood or a hammer (not too hard) and then give it a go.
Joe

Yeah your starter solinod(sp?) is bad. Reach down and knock it a bit with a broomstick or something like that. Then it should start.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Where are you stranded at?

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Jim

I am stranded in morgantown, WV. I go to school here, but will be going back home soon. My father owns a European auto service center in VA, but can't help me up here. I had AAA tow it to an auto shop. I am concerned that they will try and pull a fast one on me seeing as though I am an out of town college student with an old mercedes (aka, stupid kid who doesn't know his stuff). Based on a verbal description, my dad seems to believe that it is a starter problem, but he didn't mention any solution such as banging either the starter or the solenoid. On a side note, while I was at home last week I had to tape my transmission kickdown solenoid with electrical tape because the plastic ties that had held it to the under carriage had worn down the rubber insulation after minimal contact over 21 years. thanks for the suggestions so far, any more help would be great!
-Cheers

Since you mentioned something about the transmission, another possibility is the trans neutral switch which ensures that the car must be in park in order to start it. Jiggle the trans stick in park and try it. If not successful, there is a terminal block (4 connectors with a black cover) near driver's fender side. If you jump the first and third terminals (the two with larger diameter wires), the starter solenoid will be energized, bypassing all the interlocks. Worth a try. If you only hear a click with this method, the solenoid/starter is definitely bad.

Good luck!

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Shane83SD

I forgot to follow-up on this... sorry. Here the solution is 10 years later. It was a failing starter. A temporary way to fix it is to use a hammer and a screwdriver to tap on the starter if you can't immediately replace it. Hats off to "Hatterasguy" for mentioning the fix 10 years ago. Sorry I didn't acknowledge sooner!

Of course, I haven't owned the car in over 7 years. Moved on to a 211 Bluetec! Diesel is in the blood.

Thanks for following up!

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

I towed mine once and it started around 30 mph.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

So I guess the college education worked out pretty good for you?

Well, after the old 300SD left me stranded in the middle of nowhere, I put down roots and started farming wheat grass next to the highway to sustain myself. I subsisted off of wheat and used my remaining diesel fuel for a kerosene stove to keep my warm at night as I slept in the back seat of that old 126. Little by little, my wheat farm took off and I became a success. All due to the old broken down 300SD! I named my highway wheat farm after a female spanish exchange student that I was rushing back to WVU to visit, but unfortunately never saw again. Her name was Monsanta, hence my company's name "Monsanto", which you may have heard of.

Well, that was a nice dream. In reality I graduated and have a soul crushing corporate job like the rest of us.

Too funny.....