I am trying to diagnose my brothers 300E from two thousnad miles away. Car has 200k miles I believe, and plays back up to a 96 e320.

Problem: Turn the key to start and only a single 'clack' sound. Sounds like the stater is getting juice and only can get the shaft out but not enough to engage and turn the flywheel. (he put the cell phone on the valve cover and turned the key for me!) No repeat clicking , just one click.

Battery or starter? The battery is a few years old but had juice to run the lights, fan, fuel pump etc. Also the battery has died a few times over the last decade and has not exhibited the usual signs in this case. He doenst have the test equip to see if the battery has any dead cells.

Any thoughts??

(car is in Colleyville, TX. Any independent benz shops out there?)

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Patrick Leber
'84 190E 2.3
'83 Porsche 944 (track car)
'84 Porsche 944 (parts car)
85.5 Porsche 944 (sled)

Does he have a multimeter? Then he could check the no load voltage of the battery to see if it is dead.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

Check battery connections and grounds for corrosion. If not that - and battery is up to snuff - probably the starter solenoid is not engaging the starter.

An old college-car trick:

Get a broom or other wooden-handled implement. Tap (TAP-don't beat it to death!) the solenoid and body of starter several times. Then hit the key (but not with the broom!) If the solenoid is sticking, this may get the car started.

I know its not a lot to go on, but i'll pass it on.

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Patrick Leber
'84 190E 2.3
'83 Porsche 944 (track car)
'84 Porsche 944 (parts car)
85.5 Porsche 944 (sled)

Thanks everyone for responding - it was the starter.

The dealer hit me for $640 to replace it!!! $240 for the part, $85 for a flatbed and and the rest in labor and taxes. This seems ridiculous for 2 bolts and an electical connector.

They told me they needed to modify the new starters because they do not fit precisely to the block of my '86 300E w/o the modification. This sounds extremely fishy. Any thoughts??

Pat, thanks for starting the string and the long distance diagnosis.