She Stranded Me and she will not start, now what?
 

She stranded me, now what?


I was out for a drive this morning in the 220D and I just love the way she hums along.
I had some fun at the farmers market and then went to start the old girl and nothing.
All I could hear was a small click near the stater.

I checked all of the wires, made sure the electrics and car had power but still, click, click, she would not turn over.
Now the strange thing is that I had a friend pull the old girl with a tow line, I dumped the clutch, she started and I drove her home.

After stopping I tried to start her and she started like a clock.
One, two, three time, she started like a clock.

What the heck, can anyone tell me what is going on with the car?
I want to drive her but now I am worried that I will be stranded again, yet she is starting so well now that it is like a bad dream.


Any ideas would be of great help to me.


Thanks,
Andy

Sounds like it might be time for a new starter. Mine started doing the same thing. Intermittently wouldn't start. Only a click. Other times it would start like there was no problem. New starer fixed the problem in both of my cars.

Answer
 

Several possible answers come to mind:

* Bad ground (engine to body cable).
* Loose alternator belt = poor charging.
* Voltage regulator failing.
* Battery failing.
* Starter failing.




.

She starts now??
 

Thanks guys.

As always, good, quick and great help to a newbie.

I will look into the purchase of a new starter.

All the best,
Andy

I did not see the Ignition Switch on the list.

You could connect a remote Starter Switch to the Starter (after the Ground and other wire connections have been cleaned).

If it starts OK like that all of the time with the Remote Starter Switch but does not start with the Switch removed; you have another Electrical issue.

In the mean time you can use the Remote Starter to keep you moving.

Another possibility.

Sounds to me like a bad or stuck solenoid. If it happens again, try tapping on the starter with a hammer. Might not be disengaging after a startup.

If this turns out to be true, the mechanism is probably able to be lubricated. Or else replaced.

I've never had to replace my starter on any Benz I've ever owned. But, my current 300D's starter is starting to make some moaning noises so... I might get some firsthand knowledge soon.

I would echo the solenoid possibility as well, and from a long term 220D driver's experience. The first time it happened we were in Twodot, Montana of all places. For whatever reason, I decided to whack the solenoid with something fairly heavy, and it worked. It happened several times on the trip and the whack solution worked every time. Took the starter off once we got home and cleaned it up inside and inside the solenoid. This seemed to fix it for sometime, but later on it re-appeared. That time it seemed like the contact areas where all the wires connected were corroded and thorough cleaning helped, but every once in a while I had to short the poles with a long copper rod, essentially replacing the "ign switch". Never did replace the starter in the 20 years we drove it.

Give it a wack
 

I gave the solenoi a tap with a wrench (a few times) but I may have not hit it hard enough. She would still not go but she is running now without any problems, but I worry she will leave me hanging again. My wife was not happy and when I informed her that she would need to pull me with her car in order to get the 22D running again, the temperature in the car became much cooler.

Thanks for the help guys.

Andy

Did you do that while the key was in the "start" position?

Yes, I had the key in the start position. I also had my wife try and start it while I rattled around down at the starter & solenoid.

She has been working great the past 4 days starting like a clock. I do worry that she will leeave me in the middle of a trip so I will change the starter as soon as I have enough cash to spend on the old girl.

Thanks guys.
Andy

Could be as simple as bad connections at the battery.

Most expensive part of the system. You'll want to do some testing first. Many remans are poor quality.

Check battery voltage and cable connections (both ends). Use a volt meter & measure voltage drop. (google for details) See if you are getting full battery voltage at the small terminal on the solenoid. Clean connections at junction block on the R inner engine compartment if your car has them.

If starter/solenoid is the problem, it may only be the solenoid contacts.

http://www.sherco-auto.com/contacts.htm

Look into having your starter rebuilt locally if that is the problem &/or check options here for replacement options.