Hi all,

Last night the 85 would not start. No click, nothing. Battery fine.

I eventually got it running by holding the key in the start position and moving the shift lever around until the starter motor went on.

I need to replace my shifter bushings - they are ripped apart and the shift lever is sloppy as a result. Could the no start be caused by the loose bushings alone?

Or should I replace the NSS as well?

dd

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

Yes.

Not yet.

Brian - Thank you.

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

Yes, first just do the bushings. If they are both gone that may well be the only problem.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Now if only it wasnt pouring down rain...and both bays of the garage weren't occupied with the pieces of '82 from its restoration...

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

While you wait, do some reading on the NSS and the arm that the shifter rod goes into. You will likely remove that arm and then you will need to be sure you replace the arm so that the slot in the arm engages the NSS. Or you break it....

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Guys,

I replaced the bushings - shifter is nice and tight now.

While replacing the bushings I accidentally broke the shift lever on the NSS, so I replaced it with a spare from another transmission.

Then last night, after three weeks of no issues, the original symptom returned - turned key, 'click', nothing. Moved shift lever and the engine started somewhere between N and D.

Is there anything besides the NSS than can cause this??? Or should I get a brand new NSS and go from there...

dd

__________________
-------------------------------
'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

The shift rod lever can be adjusted for length but there's rarely a need to do so. I would first try adjusting the NSS itself. Set the shift lever in reverse and have someone call out whether the reverse lights are illuminated. Tweak the NSS so it's in the middle of the range that the reverse lights are illuminated. For me, that gets the NSS to where the engine starts in neutral.

With the NSS set, adjust the shift rod length so the shift lever is in the right position in the gate.

It would be a bum NSS if it starts in neutral but not in park.

Sixto
87 300D

sixto, how do you adjust the NSS? i don't see any adjustments on it.

__________________
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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

Doesn't it have a slotted mounting holes so you can twist it a few degrees?

Sixto
87 300D

Sorry for the mini-hijack but Sixto, my 300SD doesn't start in park when its cold, however it will start if the vehicle is shut off at operating temp. If I turn it off for more than 5 or so minutes, it won't start. My reverse lights do not work. Could this be a adjustment issue with the NSS or is it bad?

Thanks.

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Jason

00 Subaru Legacy (fun wagon)
96 Nissan Sentra (disavowed)
82 300SD (garage queen, will run again hopefully)
87 300DT (Gone: 10/15/2010)

The quick check when it won't crank is to put your full weight on the brake pedal and nudge the shift lever slightly and slowly forward and aft of the neutral position while the key is in the start position. If the starter engages, adjusting the NSS is likely all you need. If that doesn't do anything, the NSS could be shot. It could be a host of other things like a bad starter, bad power and ground wires to the starter, etc.

Sixto
87 300D

I forgot to mention it starts fine in neutral. It only starts in park when the car has been driven.

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Jason

00 Subaru Legacy (fun wagon)
96 Nissan Sentra (disavowed)
82 300SD (garage queen, will run again hopefully)
87 300DT (Gone: 10/15/2010)

Yes, it does . And there is an index hole for inserting a 4mm rod through the lever into the body to line it up properly. Or do as Sixto suggests.

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

thanks for the insight guys

ill try lining it up, although I'm tempted to get a brand new NSS and line it up once and be done with it...since this seems like it can strand you.

__________________
-------------------------------
'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car