A strange thing happen at the BMW dealer - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

paul46 · #1 12-25-2006, 10:59 PM

I drove my daughter in my 80 300D to a BMW dealer to look at a new car she wanted. After sitting there for about 4 hours purchasing a BMW 325i my daughter left in her new car. I went to start my car and nothing...

No starter, no nothing except glow lights... I tryed it several times and nothing... It acted as though it were in gear when trying to start, but I moved the gear shift around and put it in park and still nothing... I had to call my daughter to pick me up in her new car and since they were closing had to leave my car there for the night.

The next day I went back and tryed again still nothing... I touched the starter and shorted it out with the end of a clamp from a jumper cable causing it to turn over the engine for a second. Then I went in the car and turned the key on, waited a few seconds and it cranked and started... I quickly pulled out of the dealership.

I've been driving the car everyday for about a week since that happened, starting the car with no problems several times a day....

Think it just didn't like being at the BMW dealer?

jwhughes3 · #2 12-25-2006, 11:07 PM

Sounds like the starter solenoid is going out - you hit a dead spot and only by arcing it direct were you able to get it going again - replace the solenoid (not whole starter)- it will happen again sometime otherwise.

John

Brian Carlton · #3 12-25-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul46

I drove my daughter in my 80 300D to a BMW dealer to look at a new car she wanted. After sitting there for about 4 hours purchasing a BMW 325i my daughter left in her new car. I went to start my car and nothing...

Think it just didn't like being at the BMW dealer?

Now, honestly, you take a perfectly good Mercedes and leave it in the parking lot of a BMW dealer and also purchase one of them.

Do you really think that the Mercedes is going to actually start when you return to it?

its_snowing · #4 12-25-2006, 11:19 PM

same thing happened to me recently. but the car just miraculously started. is it the starter solenoid, only, or could it be a ground, too?

paul46 · #5 12-25-2006, 11:32 PM

I replaced the starter about 3 weeks ago... actually theres another story about that.

I bought a new rebuilt starter at Auto Zone was going to try and replace it myself, but after looking under the car and what was involved I decided to take it to a shop and get a quote .. They told me they would do it for $103.00 so I said fine go ahead and do it...

Well they call me and tell me that the starter was droped and the end of the solenoid was cracked and they had to pull it back out of the car because it didn't work... So I went to get another starter at Auto Zone using my son's truck and it took me about 3 hours to drive round trip to an Auto Zone that had one. I brought it to them and they installed the new one and I took the other one back... I paid about $80 for the starter.

They charged me an extra $70 bucks because they had to reinstall the starter... Whos to say they didn't drop the starter? Anyway, there is a new rebuilt starter in the car...

Ara T. · #6 12-25-2006, 11:44 PM

This happened to me once, and only once. I'd get a *click* and nothing else.. no crank. I went under the car and found the starter and whacked it with a hammer a few times and after that it started and never did it again (about 6 months later).

justinperkins · #7 12-26-2006, 12:19 AM

Usually just getting down there and banging on the starter with something good and solid kicks it into shape.

t walgamuth · #8 12-26-2006, 05:46 AM

that also could be a dead spot in the windings on the starrter, i think.

i would be sceptical of using an autozone starter. because of the difficluty of the changing of them and the relatively high incidence of callbacks i would probably not use starters or alternators from them. i like their batteries though. and many other things. this applies to all large volumn sales places in regard to rebuilt starters and alternators.

i would pay a little more and get a bosch rebuilt unit. but first choice is to repair my own unit.

tom w

POS · #9 12-26-2006, 09:09 AM

Clearly BMW salespeople sabatoged your car while you were in the can - they were hoping to sell you a new BMW too.

TheDon · #10 12-26-2006, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Now, honestly, you take a perfectly good Mercedes and leave it in the parking lot of a BMW dealer and also purchase one of them.

Do you really think that the Mercedes is going to actually start when you return to it?

exactly.. see what happens when you purchase something of inferior engineering

kip Foss · #11 12-26-2006, 08:03 PM

I have had this problem in several cars I've had. I usually tear into the starter, solenoid, etc. only to find out that it is a corroded battery terminal. The first thing I do now is to remove the terminals, clean the posts and terminals, tighten the bolt slightly and hammer the cable back on.

Now wait a minute. I know when I say hammer the terminal back on the cockles (what ever they are) on the back of every mechanic's neck will stand up, and I know that here is nothing worse that a mechanic with an erect cockle. I have been mechanicing for about 50 years and know better that to really hammer a cable onto a terminal. By tightening the bolt until it just contacts the cable fitting face this keeps the clamp from splaying out and gives you a very good contact. Perhaps I should use the word tap on instead of hammer.

pastmaster · #12 12-26-2006, 09:22 PM

Just a suggestion on some things to check, as electronics are sometimes like women, logic has no impact on the discussion, nor conclusion.

ALL GROUNDS

The battery may have an intermittant short within it's integrity, where ever it may be.

The battery cables, both or one, has internal corrosion and with intermittent ability to carry the power of the battery, check the numbers--amps/volts, to the starter motor and solenoid, or both. Also, don't fail to check both connector ENDS, of the cables.

The starter motor and solenoid. Even the ignition switch from key. the wires and connections to the fuse panel, even the fuses, and from there on...It's there someplace. You will find it, keep looking. May be the obvious, may not. As has been stated, a good whack with a hammer or a rock, on the battery and starter assembly, may fix it! German Car You Know!

Good Luck.

patbob · #13 12-27-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kip Foss

.. The first thing I do now is to remove the terminals, clean the posts and terminals, tighten the bolt slightly and hammer the cable back on. .. Perhaps I should use the word tap on instead of hammer.

They make a nice wirebrush tool for cleaning posts and the mating inside surface of cables. Takes all of 20 seconds to get 'em both shiney, then bolt back on.

I don't see how your tapping method does much more than this, and even tapping on a rigid plastic container of battery acid with a hammer sounds dangerous.

MTUpower · #14 12-27-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kip Foss

I have had this problem in several cars I've had. I usually tear into the starter, solenoid, etc. only to find out that it is a corroded battery terminal. The first thing I do now is to remove the terminals, clean the posts and terminals, tighten the bolt slightly and hammer the cable back on.

Now wait a minute. I know when I say hammer the terminal back on the cockles (what ever they are) on the back of every mechanic's neck will stand up, and I know that here is nothing worse that a mechanic with an erect cockle. I have been mechanicing for about 50 years and know better that to really hammer a cable onto a terminal. By tightening the bolt until it just contacts the cable fitting face this keeps the clamp from splaying out and gives you a very good contact. Perhaps I should use the word tap on instead of hammer.

You would be using what is called a finish hammer- like done, finito; not Scandinavian. They are small and used for things just like you are calling for. Also used for finding out why BMW's turn signals never work on any model. Tap BMW's turnsignal until plastic is removed and check bulb- find it's functional and then locate driver.... if you tap drivers skull you hear a hollow echo and understand why blinker is unused. In this case one brown cow DOES mean all cows are brown.

Hatterasguy · #15 12-27-2006, 10:16 PM

Well you bring a MB to a BMW lot, what do you expect?