For the first time ever, my Mercedes has refused to start... 1985 300D Turbo. W123. It has always started with barely a touch of the key after glowing. So now when I go to start it, I get all the warning lights, the glow plugs seem to work and all that but I turn the key more and all I get is a *click*. I think it is the starter safety switch...I tried starting it in all the gear selections but nothing works. The starter has never shown signs of dying, no slipping or whirring or anything, just always works. Just need some ideas here, where is that neutral safety switch and can I bypass it or anything? What else can I check?

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

If your hearing a click it is not your Neutral safety switch. If that was bad you would be hearing nothing. What it sounds like is :
Bad battery then bad battery wires(corroded) then a bad starter solenoid. Sometimes if you take a hammer and hit the starter (not solenoid,you'll crack it) the starter will work. As a last resort you can pull start these cars. Turn key on and have someone pull you in neutral till a speed of 35 MPH is obtained. Then shift from neutral till drive. The motor will turn over. HTH Mike

Well the headlights work... the battery is at least 3 years old now. The connections are rust free and dont have any white flakes on them. Im gonna go see about that starter. Im at my sisters place here so I dont think we have a voltmeter lying around.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Got it started, whacked it about 20 times with a hammer. Thanks!

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again............

If the Bosch starter has some age, they fail that way when warm.

To check for bad battery or bad battery connection, turn on the headlights and try to start it. If the lights go waaaaay dim, the battery or battery connections are suspect. If everything stays bright, I would suspect the starter or starter relay.

Glad you got it goin' agian.

Wes

Glad it worked out. Now the fun part of replacing that starter. Those bolts are tight! Make sure you antiseize the bolts once there out to help in the future. Mike

I had the same problem. If it only does it when the motor is warm/hot then its probably the solanoid sticking. I bought my car in October so when the first warm school day in March came around, guess who was stranded in the school parking lot. Usually if you jump it to another car and have them raise their rpm's a bit, that'll be enough voltage to kick it over. I did that for a month until I could save up the money to buy a new Bosch and have it installed. I tried to get at that danged top bolt but couldn't get it. I read about lowering the tranny a little while after that and after changing out my tranny mount last week, I'd say it might be do-able that way. Good luck which ever way you go. BTW, new Bosch starters rock. I never thought my motor would turn over that fast, especially below freezing. I'd say it was definately worth the $$.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo