I have a 1983 300D-T with 122,500 miles on it and now, when I start the car, I hear this awful groaning/grinding sound right right after the engines starts up. So I'll turn the key to start, the engine will crank once (it usually starts with only one or two cranks) and as soon as I release the key, I'll hear this pretty loud groaning sound. It sounds like the starter motor isn't disengaging quickly enough.
So, assuming it is the starter motor (although you guys can correct me if you don't think it is), how hard is that sucker to replace? The car starts perfectly. In fact, the only thing really wrong is the sound, otherwise, it's fine. I want to fix it to get rid of the sound though because it's awfully embarassing. I'm a pretty handy DIYer but I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into. Thanks a lot!

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Sounds like your bendix (the spring loaded centrifigul mechanism that meshes with the flywheel) is not disengaging. I don't know if this is built in or a separate part of the starter.

In my Ford pickup the starter solenoid is up on the fender well. Every now and then it sticks (brand new) and gives similar syptoms. I usually have to get out and bang on it with mt 44oz refill cup. It is rembarrassing but I just tell people my other car is a Mercedes. Some solenoids are not separate but built into the starter

Should I try banging on it? Couldn't hurt I guess since I was going to replace it anyway. I'll lightly hit it with screwdriver handle unless someone gives me a reason not to.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Would I be doing the car a lot of harm by not fixing it quite yet and driving around with it the way it is?

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Alex:

Your overrunning clutch is screeching because the starter motor gear isn't retracting properly. This implies an oil leak, or missing torque converter cover (dirt has to get there somehow!), so check that, too.

The starter gear and over-running clutch slide on shaft of the motor, pulled by the solenoid. Something is dirty, the pivot or the shaft itself, and can be cleaned when you get the starter out. The bushing at the "nose" of the starter often gets dirty, too, causing slow gear movement.

Mine does the opposite -- the clutch slips and/or the gear doesn't engage the flywheel, making a god-awful screech. Turns heads!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

So do you suggest I just remove it and clean it, then reinstall it? Or should I just put down the $160 and replace it?

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Donkey
I don't think you can do any harm by just driving it ,, Even if the starter sticks after the engine is running Im sure your engine is stronger than a little starter,, the starter will cry uncle first!

Yes but such a problem can take it's toll (broken teeth on the ring gear/flywheel) and cause major and expensive problems.

Alex:

I'd try cleaning and lubricating first (check to see what should and should not be lubed!).

$160 for a starter for this car will be a junk starter -- usually the windings go bad and the starter turns too slowly to start the car. The usual "american" starter rebuild (turn comutator and put new brushes and bushings in it) will result in a defective starter, since this will not address the excessive resistance in the windings. Most shops never check winding resistance -- it is almost never a problem with gasoline engine starters. A diesel has to spin at least 100 rpm to start, against all that compression, and a gasoline engine usually is rotated at about 25 rpm!

Bosch replaced the armature when they rebuild diesel starter, hence the cost.

Buy a good Bosch rebuilt (more on the order of $350) if you decide to replace the starter.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

There is dirt or other garbage in your starter motor, as others have already mentioned. I was experiencing the symptoms you described down to the letter. I removed the starter (following the procedure in the Haynes manual for these cars works), cleaned out all the garbage that had gotten inside, and reinstalled it. The nasty sound went away immediately and I have had no problems for almost two years now.

Give it a shot, you have nothing to lose. You'll be pulling your existing starter either way.

Actually, the $160 is for a Bosch unit from none other than Partsshop. I will try cleaning it out though, any saved money is good. I will let you know how it all works out but I probably won't get around to doing it until next week or the one after. Thanks everyone so much for the advice.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Alex,

I had a similar problem with the same symptoms earlier this summer. Turned out it wasn't any of the above; instead, one of the bolts was completely gone, and the starter was dangling rather loosely from the other bolt! The car would start, but it would always be followed by a loud screech. This came from the flywheel digging into the starter housing. The problem worsened, and eventually the symptoms were exactly like those of a bad bendix, or worse, missing flywheel teeth. I lucked out though, and just replaced the starter...and all is well.

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Matt
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1995 E300 Diesel (Die Blau Frau)

I will admit that I never considered the starter coming off! Easy fix if it isn't too far gone yet -- just put a bolt in.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!