81 300sd

been sitting parked for maybe 3 days, went to start it up today and the starter made a really bad sounding grinding noise (never done that before)

tried to start it again and did the same grinding

tried a third, 4th , 5th, etc and now its just clicking.

tried to turn the crankshaft bolt by hand and pushed as hard as i could, it wont budge.

this is my daily driver. what possibly could have happened to cause this?! i havent touched it since i parked it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aae0rf76PyI

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1981 300SD, 270K, two tank wvo system
1985 300D, 288K, california version
1985 300DT wagon, 315k, broken odo

1.Grinding noise was Starter and / or Flywheel Gears "Having their way with each other" to the point that the Flywheel/Starter Gear interface is now "Locked Up".
[Which is why you can't turn the motor by hand]

2.You may have had a bad Flywheel Tooth(s) and the Starter Gear tore it up.
(Or Vice Versa)

3.OR (Shudder) Engine was already locked up, and the Starter self destructed
trying to spin the motor.

Never ANY good to be had,repeatedly attempting to use/activate a Starter
system making ANYTHING other than normal Happy engagement noises.
(The Amp Load created by "Grinding" noises from a Starter should activate
an excruciatingly loud 24" Bell under the dash.)

'Set emergency brakes and chock both rear wheels,fore and Aft.
'Jack up each side enough to place ramps,securely, under the front wheels.
Investigate.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Well, I agree with the above, your starter is shot, or if you cant turn the motor your engine may have siezed up and the grinding may have been the starter shearing it's teeth

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Aye, that's what it sounds like. What's the oil level? Oil pressure last time it ran? Pull the starter and take a peak at the bendix gear and flywheel teeth. Also, if you're not completely confident in your strength, find someone who is to try turning it.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

The clicking sound seems to me to be the sound of the starter solenoid sending the bendix into the flywheel. If so, the starter would be functional and the engine seized. How much effort are you using to try to turn the engine/ You could pull the glowplugs and try to turn it. It should turn relatively easily with no compression.

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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

I've actually had this happen to me (though not on a Mercedes). As said previously by Compress Ignite, the starter gear can jam into the flywheel gear and the only way (I know of) to get them apart is to unbolt the starter. Once unbolted, I had to bang on my starter with a mallet to get it loose enough to pull out.

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-Louis

'87 300D Anthracite

Don't spend any time freaking out about a seized engine until you get that starter out of the way and then try to turn the crank.

I'd bet it was just the starter or flywheel.

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1987 300SDL 167k
1992 Volvo 740 140k
1990 Volvo 740 250k
1989 Volvo 240 269k

Anyone want to trade an old Volvo for an '87 300sdl?

oil level and pressure is good, will pull starter here in a few hours when i get my other errands done for the day. hopefully i'll get some good photos.

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1981 300SD, 270K, two tank wvo system
1985 300D, 288K, california version
1985 300DT wagon, 315k, broken odo

pulled starter.. came out without an issue. didnt see any damage to any of either starter or flywheel gear teeth. very odd. engine cranked over by hand just fine once starter was out. bolted it back up and the car started like normal. weird!

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1981 300SD, 270K, two tank wvo system
1985 300D, 288K, california version
1985 300DT wagon, 315k, broken odo

While starter was out, did you clean it by spraying the hell out of it with penetrating oil then grease the Bendix? To go a step further, You could take the solenoid apart and clean the copper contacts.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

wierd is right... you pulled the starter and then just put it back? uh, did you connect it to a battery and spin it around a bit on the floor? disassemble it and look for binding? it'll lock up again, I'd pull it and take the starter apart and at LEAST flip the contact bolts around, add new grease to the shaft ends.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I'm guessing the bendix gear got jammed so bad in the flywheel teeth that the engine would not turn at all. Make sure the bolts are in there nice and tight.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition