It failed me again. First time was when I ran out of fuel and I couldn't get the fuel system primed. Today, while at an auto parts store with my 240D (buying a battery for my other car, which failed to start yesterday, requiring a AAA call), it would not start. Two days in a row i got stranded by 2 different vehicles (is it trying to tell me something? ). The glow plug light does go on, but the spring loaded start position on the key switch is unreachable, key just won't turn any further than the run position, so I was not able to engage the starter. I was hoping to jump the starter like the 300DT, which has a terminal block on the passenger wheel well, but the 240D does not have such a terminal block. Is there a McGyver way to start a 240D? I spent some time trying to apply + juice to the starter solenoid, which did not work- no clicks or sparks. I was using 2 pieces of the horizontal aluminum strips from the grill (all I had for wire- and no tools). Not sure if the solenoid terminal was corroded enough such that I was not making a connection with the soft aluminum. A few guys behind the parts counter gave me a push start, thanks to the manual transmission and the guys

Tomorrow I will poke around with a test light and a DVM.

Does it sound like my ign switch is bad? Is the switch repairable? How do I remove it? Please point me to some good pertinent posts.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked