She's never done that before...
 

ok so i just noticed something quite unnerving about the benz yesterday... she's been having some problems starting within the past few months, sounds like the starter is about to go :(... well just yesterday i tried to start her after work and the starter would turn but the engine wouldn't turn over, it was like it was strugglin... so i pumped the gas and tried two more times before she started... now this doesn't happen everytime i start it up, but one time is enough for me!... what's the prognosis?

btw - starter makes normal "turn over" sound then makes a sort of grinding noise before it cranks... sometimes it makes the grinding noise then goes back to tryin to turn over...

Bendix drive
 

Smoke,the little gear on the end of the starter motor,is called the Bendix drive,It acts on centrifugal force,It is a gear that when spun at a high rate of speed will be slung out to engage the gear on the fly wheel and spin the engine over.Problem's can be a broken spring or teeth of the gear worn or a starter motor not turning at the proper speed,take it out and have it reworked at a local rebuild shop that dose starter and alternator,rebuild.JNT:greedy:

well, wasn't too sure about the specifics, but i kinda figured i'd be eating some more cash on repairs... so would it be cheaper for a rebuild or a replace?... btw how hard is it to get to the starter?

Here's how I replace a starter in a '93 190E 2.3

I purchased a rebuilt Bosch starter at Autozone for $110, lifetime warranty...we'll see how long it lasts!

1) Remove negative battery cable
2) Leave key in ignition so steering can be turned to remove starter
3) Jack up front of car
4) Remove left front wheel
5) Turn steering wheel to far right
6) Remove cover/shield from under engine
7) Remove wiring from starter
8) Remove lower starter bolt
9) Remove upper starter bolt (this took longer to do since it was tight and in a tight space).
10) Remove starter by gently turning, twisting, and pulling out. It's tight, but it will come out without removing any other components. *NOTE* You will have to move the steering slightly to allow clearance to remove starter and re-installl starter.

I took the engine mount out as I could never get the ..#@#%%% starter back IN once it fell out.

Sadly, a replacement starter isn't likely your problem. If you get a screech and a clunk, it may be just the over-running clutch on the pinion gear, and that can be replaced. Otherwise, I'm betting you have a damaged ring gear, and that requires removing the tranny to fix.

Note that MB starters DO NOT have a centrifugal Bendix pinion, they are like GM and are solenoid operated. The starter solenoid pushes the gear into the ring gear, then applys power to the windings via a contactor.

The Bendix system moves the armature complete, like a Ford, with a spring to push the armature back when the starter is de-energized. This is why the solenoid for a Ford can be on the fender. The motive force is generated by the current in the winding.

Peter