Kefer:

Check for a loose wire at the starter solenoid. There are two small red wires (or three, depending) that go with the battery cable on the large solenoid connection. The other wire is purple -- this one activates the starter and goes to the small connection. If you have a loose wire that is falling down between the battery cable connection and the starter switch wire, it could produce most of your symptoms.

It is fairly easy to miss a wire when changing starters -- they are in a rubber boot and get covered with oil, it's hard to see down there, and the wires can get pulled back into the boot easily while manuvering the starter around!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!