Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-09-2005, 06:06 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: franklin,mass
Posts: 211
no start 83 300cd

After my brother rode in my 83 300sd he fell in love. He now has a 83 300cd, We had a motor put in and it started fine,We then replaced the oil cooler and both hoses.Now it won't start. The car has been outside for 3 years with the blown motor. As I said all was well before the oil cooler work.We have no idiot lites but the fan, radio, horn all work. I did a complete fuse box survice with all new fuses, I cleaned all connections and tightened all connections on the starter. The car will start if I connect the purple wire at the juntion box on the right inner fender to the poss. battery terminal.I just don't know, am I missing something? ingnition switch? I tryed a used switch and the glow plug relay clickes but no start. Any suggestions? 5 hours today and I'm still frozen after coming in an hour ago. steve 83sd

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-09-2005, 06:44 PM
84300DT's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mass.
Posts: 2,219
steve think you need to get the car in a controlled environment.. ie. thaw it out! sounds like you are on the right track with the key switch but if the glow plug relay is bad there's a good chance the car would not start outside in this nonsense weather we have right now. plus all the condensation and water around can't help any for those electrical connections.
__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-09-2005, 08:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: franklin,mass
Posts: 211
84 300dt, thanx for the suggestion on the wet and cold, didn't think of that myself duhhhhhh. Could it be that simple? hope so. steve 83sd
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-09-2005, 08:34 PM
84300DT's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mass.
Posts: 2,219
well only because you said it was outside for 3 years.. if the wires are all wet with condensation inside maybe a good drying out/warming will help.
do you think all the glow plugs are working?
did you put the old key switch back in? it seems something is not making contact between the key switch and the junction box on the fender well.
grounds all good?
__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-09-2005, 09:23 PM
Doktor Bert's Avatar
Das Sturm Uberdoktor
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Palm Springs, CA.
Posts: 2,670
I would check to see if the glow system is functional by using a test light at the glow plugs. See if you have current during the glow cycle.

You can test each glow plug individially by removing the wiring harness and hooking a common test light with the ground clamp on the positive battery terminal.

When you touch the probe to the threaded stem on each glow plug, the light should illuminate. If it doesn't, you have a faulty glow plug and it should be replaced.

I haven't checked my wiring diagram, but it sounds as if your glow realy is not getting power.

Remove the 'strap fuse' (usually a 60 or 80 amp metal strip) housed in a junction box on the fenderwell.

I have seem them with a hairline fracture that cannot be seen until it is removed.

I know these are basic ideas, but I hope they are helpful...Bert
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-09-2005, 11:50 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Varies
Posts: 4,802
Is the starter turning the engine over? What exactly happens when you turn the key?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-10-2005, 08:07 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: franklin,mass
Posts: 211
I took the back of the switch apart so as to replace the part the wires plug into. I switched that to a different, used one. So with it in hand I turn it with a srew driver. The only sound is the glow plug relay clicking with no response to the starter position. As I said before the car starts and runs when I jump the purple wire at the juntion box on the rt inner fender wall. I just get no response from switch. Does the switch have to be together for ground? What am I missing, this seems so simple. I guess the second used part could be bad also, but the turning action feel good. I guess i'll get another one and try that. steve
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-10-2005, 08:48 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 173
If the car isn't in park or you knocked the shifter arm off at the firewall or knocked the electrical harness off the side of the tranny , the starter won't crank. HTH MIke
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-10-2005, 03:09 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Varies
Posts: 4,802
It is probably a mistake to start arbitrarily changing things without testing. You may cause more problems than you fix.

If you can't get the starter to turn when you apply 12V to the correct circuit at the starter switch then there is no way that the starter switch is to blame. Right?

You have a beginning point with the purple wire. Find the next place that you can access that circuit and test to see if the starter turns when you put 12V to it.

I probably can't help you because I can't understand your writing. I can't tell when you did what or why. Try to write sequentially so that A leads to B leads to C. Part of this problem may be a high fluster factor.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-10-2005, 03:48 PM
84300DT's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mass.
Posts: 2,219
hmm, yes, i also see where there may be a problem with the neutral safety switch as westkill suggested. would that account for not being able to crank with the key switch but being able to crank from the purple wire?
__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-10-2005, 05:06 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 173
yes because you are bypassing the neutral switch. Check the plug on the left side of the tranny near the modulator. HTH MIke
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-11-2005, 08:10 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: franklin,mass
Posts: 211
thanks guys, I'll check neutral safty switch this weekend. steve 83sd
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-15-2005, 08:24 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: franklin,mass
Posts: 211
westkill, you were correct, the nuetral safety switch was loose, when I tighten it up and pressed the harness back on the starter cranked just fine. The lights on the cluster also came on when I pulled the cluster and removed the harness, cleaned both[ meanie greenies] and replaced. The car now runs great. Again, thanks to all who made suggestions, as I could not do so of these things without all the help here. Again. thank you all steve 83sd

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page