Besides the obvious (bad starter), does anyone have any idea what would make the ignition just go CLICK, from time to time? It seems like it does this more often after i've driven it for 10mi or so, go in a store, come out then when I try to start it it goes CLICK. On another car this would happen when the tranny electric plug wiggled loose, but this doesn't seem to be the prob here.

Any thoughts?

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1983 300SD 296K+
1984 300SD parts car

Hate to tell you, but it's probably just a bad starter. I had the same problem recently with my 300D--the starter wouldn't work when it was hot, turn the key and get nothing.

Lots of great suggestions here such as tapping the starter with a hammer, verifying ground connection from the battery, and jumping the terminal on the passenger-side fender to bypass any ignition/neutral safety switch problems, but none of those worked and I finally just had the starter replaced. That solved the problem.

Charlie

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

Search the forum and you'll find a fair amount on this topic. One problem can be dirty contacts in the ignition switch and there's a thread describing how to clean them. Some people have added a solenoid relay in the circuit to increase voltage to the starter to solve this problem.
It's pretty common on the 123's. I carry a jumper wire in my TD because it does it every few months for 3 or 4 times, then clears up.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

You're prob right.

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1983 300SD 296K+
1984 300SD parts car

Thats interesting. I haven't gotten in there to look around much. I will commence further investigation. Thanks for the suggestion.

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1983 300SD 296K+
1984 300SD parts car

My old tractor does that now and then, I give the starter a good "whack" and away it goes Pull the battery terminals off and clean both just too be sure thats not your problem.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Mine did this last year. Get a BFH and tap the starter.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine