Start Me Up!
 

'83 300 TD

I just put this car on the road, it had been sitting behind a friend's barn for a couple of years, so I expected some issues...here's the first.

The other day I turned the key & nothing happened. I checked the battery, it was fine. I got under the car & tapped the starter with a mallot, she started up again. I drove her around for a couple of days, each start growing weaker until she gave up the ghost. Then I replaced the starter ( I happened to have one from an old car). She fired up & ran fine for a few days until one morning I turned the key and she sputtered meekly and died again! Checked the battery again, fine. At this point I hoped it was a connection problem and replaced the wires from the battery to the starter, alas with no improvement.

That's where I'm at. What could fry 2 starters? Or more optimistically, what else might be wrong (assuming the starter is ok)?

Any input much appreciated...Thanks!
Greenjed

How old is the battery? They can often test good but still be dead.

One test I've heard of is to turn your headlights on, and if the starter makes them go completely out, the battery doesn't hold enough charge.
-AK

I'm betting the replacement 'old' starter is bad.

Check engine-to-carbody and Battery-to-carbody ground cables also.
I recently found my Battery ground cable had a bad connection to the carbody and had been arcing, eating away at the metal. This could produce intermittent starting and charging issues.

you said you replaced the connection between battery and starter, but did that include a good cleaning of the contacts between ground and chassis? That connection is vital for the starter to work properly. Starters will act bad if this connection is bad.

You said the battery tests out fine? so this isn't a low voltage situation?

thanks for the replies....
The battery is new so the ground connections sound like reasonable suspects...Can you help me hone in on the location of these grounds?
(battery/starter/engine)Many thanks,
Greenjed

Mine was did the same thang.
The Merc mech told me those wonderful German wires get corrosion inside them and the resistance is then so great not enough juice gets to the starter to even make a click. Thus, he took 2 screw drivers and crossed 2 of the terminals on that 3 wire connection block on top of the right fender wheel and vaavoom off it goes.

I did it after that myself cannot remember but I remember just try til it starts.

Gets it going,

Dave