I went out to eat tonight with the wife and stopped and the book store on the way home. When I go to start the car ('82 240D), I put in the key, turn it, all the lights come on, but when I go to crank I get nothing.

Luckily there is a police officer nearby giving someone a jump so he offers to give me a jump to. Doesn't help. I get a slight click at the starter solenoid but it won't crank. Finally, I get a screw driver and bridge the starter and it cranks right over. Drive it home, park it, try to start it again and same problem.

Here's what I suspect:
The battery isn't bad because when I get it home, it cranks by bridging the starter without a problem and noone is giving me a "jump." I think it must be a bad ignition lock assembly. I just installed a new ignition tumbler but I don't think that could be the problem because there's only one way to put it in and it started just fine several times before.

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)