Diagnosing Starter Problems

[rchase]

Hey everyone. Where would you start in the diagnosis of a possible starter issue? My 300SD sat for a while and would not start. When you try to start it you get a click like something is trying to engage but then nothing. I thought it was the battery but after replacing it I found that I was wrong. Needed a new battery anyway so no major loss there.

I have some ideas on where to start but just wanted to get some other opinions. Normally at this point I would just give up and haul it over to the mechanic but I would like to avoid towing it.

[JimmyL]

I guess start off with the ole hammer to the side of the starter while somebody cranks......

[rchase]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I guess start off with the ole hammer to the side of the starter while somebody cranks......

I like your car description "rear ended harder than Elton John". Kinda scary

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by rchase

I like your car description "rear ended harder than Elton John". Kinda scary

Yep, and at 273K it is way less miles than Elton.....

[rchase]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Yep, and at 273K it is way less miles than Elton.....

Heh heh. Yea even my 300SD has less miles than Elton. Elton Lives in Atlanta maybee I could convince him that the top of my OM617 was a piano and it would start from the hard finger action on the cam lobes? I would just have to quickly install the valve cover before oil started squirting everywhere so Elton would not get too excited.

[rchase]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I guess start off with the ole hammer to the side of the starter while somebody cranks......

The hammer trick worked. I was so busy diagnosing the electrical side of things I completely forgot about this old trick. Thanks for the help!

I'm going to see what happens with the starter and put off replacement for a little while. This is not my primary car so if it does not start its not a big deal to me. What have other people found when you get a starter that jams for the first time? Will it be ok in the future or will it continue with its old tricks? The part is cheap so I may have this dealt with when I find time to drop it off at the mechanics for a while.

[clint77002]

I finally replaced the starter on my 81 300D. It would start some days but some times it wouldn't start. It would start in the morning but refused to start when I got in to go home after work. The starter seemed to spin slower than normal. I finally just bit the bullet and had it towed to my indie who replaced it. Works fine now. I replaced the battery and the cables but still had the same problem. However, the cables needed to be replaced anyway as they had a good bit of corrosion on them (both positive and ground strap). I could have replaced it myself but was tired that day and just had the indie fix it.

clint

[rchase]

Originally Posted by clint77002

I finally replaced the starter on my 81 300D. It would start some days but some times it wouldn't start. It would start in the morning but refused to start when I got in to go home after work. The starter seemed to spin slower than normal. I finally just bit the bullet and had it towed to my indie who replaced it. Works fine now. I replaced the battery and the cables but still had the same problem. However, the cables needed to be replaced anyway as they had a good bit of corrosion on them (both positive and ground strap). I could have replaced it myself but was tired that day and just had the indie fix it.

clint

At the moment this car is driven once a month or so for pleasure trips. It used to be my primary everyday driver until I was seduced by my bank vault on wheels with its 11 speaker bose audio system. I can't seem to not drive the 140 these days. I'm going to see how things go with the starter and hope that its a once in a blue moon sort of thing and my 126 is showing its personality slightly and saying please drive me. If it acts up again ill just have it replaced. I have a list of things that need to be done to the car anyway.

[Judge]

Do the cables from the battery to the ground and to the start look okay?

[mbzkid]

Why the hate on Elton? Good music...

I would suggest a voltage drop test, if you know someone who can.

[Biodiesel300TD]

First check all the battery connections. Make sure your ground cable on the battery has a good connection. Make sure the ground strap on the trans. bell housing is good, and has good connections. Make sure the connections to the starter are good. After that then I was test the alternator to make sure it's pushing enough juice to charge the battery properly. Then on to the starter.

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by mbzkid

Why the hate on Elton? Good music...

I would suggest a voltage drop test, if you know someone who can.

We're goofing on Elton, not hating on him. Still the best concert I ever went to was Elton back in the mid 80's......

[captainmonk]

best concert was garth brooks foolowed by brooks and dunn with reba That is saying sumthin when i have seen Led Zepplion Stones Billy Joel Bruce Springsteen The who J Geils bout 8 times Boston Aerosmith Gawd I'm old I missed Tony Bennett