Car sounds like its not getting enough power. Battery reads 12.87 volts, I just replaced the battery terminals with new ones and made sure they were clamped down tight. Also checked the ground near the battery and the little box of wires next to the battery. But still the car sounds like its not getting enough juice...I am seriously at my wits end I need to sell this car but its not starting. Any ideas would be great thanks.

you mean turning slowly ? i would try a new battery or else maybe a bad starter, i put in a junk yard starter once that turned wicked slow, got a bosch reman turns super quick now - (same battery)

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1996 E300 110,000
1985 300TD 212,000
1980 300D 238,000

Yeah turns really slowly, then it gets slower and slower and slower.....

Is that battery reading while you are cranking, or at rest?
The voltage while cranking is an important piece of data.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

did you clean the posts on the battery. you can remove the ground strap from the motor to the body and clean up the mating points and the ends of the strap and then make sure its secured good and tight. do you have a trickle charger to put on the battery overnight ? carry the battery up to chain auto parts store and they can test it and if its good charge it up for you. cross fingers its the battery, starter is a pain in the butt.

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1996 E300 110,000
1985 300TD 212,000
1980 300D 238,000

A load test of the battery is in order. Most parts stores will do this for free.

Speaking of starters, I went through two Bosch remans in my 240D in less than four years. I grabbed a cheapie from Autozoo and I noticed the cranking speed is faster than the Bosch ones ever were.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

You might be able to get some more amps out of the battery if you take it inside (let it warm up). Perhaps, even throw it on a trickle charger..?

Is this a recent occurrence? Is the vehicle being driven?

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1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Okay MS Fowler thanks I have just been frazzled and didn't even think about that. Battery reads 12.22 when hooked up and resting, 10.87 when glow plugs are going and 6.46 when turning.

Battery was bad.....Sorry guys its been a very long and bad day...

Everyone gets frazzled, now and then.
Best thing to do at that point is nothing.\
Or as Brian says, go brew a cup of tea, or a brew of your choice. Whatever, just walk away. Its amazing what the subconscious can do if you just give it some time and rest.

In any event, glad you found the problem, and that it was not too expensive. It isn't even difficult to do--even in the cold.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Walking away for a day or 2 is good advice. Would be a few cups of tea!!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving