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  #1  
Old 10-01-2021, 12:19 AM
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1970 W108 starting problem

Looking for direction: Starter operates well. Ignition key will from time to time not engage the starter. Today it engaged for one second and wouldn't at all after that. Used the junction block to engage and start car Drove it home and the ignition has successfully engaged the starter twice again after.
Brad

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  #2  
Old 10-01-2021, 08:19 AM
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Sounds like the NSS. If you can find a sweet spot between park and drive where it will start, then it is NSS. You can jump it from the junction box like you described with a bad NSS. Neutral Safety Switch
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Old 10-01-2021, 08:35 AM
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My bad. Its a manual shift. No NSS. Starter will engage while in gear.
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  #4  
Old 10-02-2021, 01:14 PM
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Well its down to the relay or ignition switch.
Can relays be repaired? Cannot find an easy replacement.
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  #5  
Old 10-02-2021, 11:22 PM
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Relay? Which relay? there are folks like me with spares floating around, long divorced from the original car. -CTH
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  #6  
Old 10-03-2021, 09:41 AM
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Its the starter relay Original Part # 0 332 202 001. Its found on the passenger (right) side near firewall. I've been told that relays either work or don't. Intermittent failure would be unusual. For now everything is working, so I am waiting for the next failure to further isolate.
Brad
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Old 10-04-2021, 04:14 PM
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This?
https://www.authenticclassics.com/RELAY-FOR-MERCEDES-230SL-250SL-280SL-p/auth-005001.htm

That can looks really, really pretty, but that price tag is ridiculous.
Cheapest one I found on ebay was 80$. That's just scary to me.

I think I have a dozen in the garage, I will have to check.
I saw a 600 at a restoration shop this past spring, it had very spiffy looking ones. Worthy of the mighty car they were in.

-CTH
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  #8  
Old 10-05-2021, 10:10 AM
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According to Aaron Householder the new part # is 000-542-59-19. Available from Mercedes at $260 retail.
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  #9  
Old 10-06-2021, 07:54 PM
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no turn over

Reach behing the Key switch and hold it toward you ( press it towrd you ) and try it . Quite ofter its the ignition switch .
if it turns over when you push in and turn the Key then that's the prob

Have had several of them do that
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Old 10-07-2021, 09:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aluminum View Post
Reach behing the Key switch and hold it toward you ( press it towrd you ) and try it.
Thanks AU. Still waiting for another failure event.
Brad
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  #11  
Old 10-09-2021, 10:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bracurrie View Post
According to Aaron Householder the new part # is 000-542-59-19. Available from Mercedes at $260 retail.
All of the vintage Mercedes relays employ simple contact points that can become lightly corroded over time...say, 50 years. Gently pry off the protective aluminum cap, clean them up in the usual manner, reinstall the cap and they should work again for another 50 years
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  #12  
Old 10-09-2021, 07:24 PM
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I found out the relay in question will not interrupt engaging the starter. Its designed to make sure the AC compressor isn't engaged while the starter is engaged.
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  #13  
Old 10-26-2021, 08:55 AM
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Solution: Junction block at firewall

There is a junction box on the drivers side firewall where the neutral safety switch ties into the starter engage circuit. Mine has no such switch but there is a jumper installed in the block and that jumper was both loose and broken. I have attached a picture in case anyone else has the same problem.

These cars were made as automatics and manual shift cars. US Import models were exclusively automatics. You could order a car while living in Europe with US Federal lighting and instruments but with options not available on US Import models. Mine was ordered by a US Air Force officer stationed in Belgium and he specified a manual shift on the column car.
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1970 W108 starting problem-img_3915.jpeg  

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