My 1981 240D with 115,000 miles has given me few problems, and almost always started , even on a few occasions with up to 80% unheated WVO in 35 degree weather. (I don't regularly run WVO that cold, point being tho, that the starting system has been nearly flawless).

Today, out yard sale-ing, after one stop I got just a click. No Crank. Repeated tries, hammering on the starter and solenoid, no go. 12.75 V on the battery. Pushed it , jumped in real quick and popped the clutch to get it going, & when I got home, turned it off, and still the same problem.

Jumping the 2 big terminals on the solenoid, the starter spins robustly. Jumping the 12 V terminal to the small solenoid terminal, a healthy spark and click, same as turning the key. Voltage drop from neg. battery terminal to engine valve cover while starter is spinning is .07 Volts, and with the solenoid jumped, .03 V . So I don't think poor grounds are a significant factor.

One weird thing, if I jump the solenoid and then remove the screwdriver and then jump the starter motor, it actually turns the engine for about 1 second and then disengages and just spins.

So I'm assuming the solenoid just went from 100% to completely failed.

Is this a reasonable diagnosis, or am I overlooking something?

Can one replace just the solenoid w/o the starter?

Would a starter from a 1985 300D (automatic) work in a 1981 240d (4 speed)?

Thanks for any advice. This forum has been most helpful in the past!

Mercedes part #000 152 30 10

However,MB Stealer wholesale list price is $147.++

I would look for the Part as a Bosch part number.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Are the various W123 starters interchangeable, 240D, 300D, standard or automatic?

In Re: R&R solenoid w/o replacing starter - yes, but you would still have to pull the starter. In most markets you can find a reman starter/solenoid combo for less $$ than going to MB for a solenoid (I routinely see this starter assembly for $80-$100). If you are just going to R&R your solenoid, at least clean up (& undercut) the commutator, replace the brushes, and lube/replace the bearings/bushings while you have the starter out of the car. (Of course by the time you find/pay for all that, you'll see why it's probably easier/cheaper to just swap out the assembly.) Good luck!

Than ANY reman !

Call Bosch Monday and they can cross reference the MB part.

I believe you've got a Bosch SR67X Starter.(Any Bosch Diesel Service Center in the US can look up your starter's solenoid)

The EPC shows OM 615,616,617 engines using the same Starter.

BUT,I do agree with CF.
In that,
If you take the Starter OFF Clean and Lube it.

BUT!!!
Before all of THAT run through the FSM's Tests for the Ignition system.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Most towns of any size have a rebuilder. Pull it off and take it to them. They did the whole deal on mine for about $100 and they'll stand behind it forever - pretty common for the local shops and they know they'll have to eat it if it craps out so they do great work. The big box stores - they just grab another one off the shelf and don't really care. In the meantime you're without a car.

As far as "it has to be M-B or nothing". Well, I don't have that kind of money and so far I have no regrets - and I've been doing this stuff for longer than most of you have been alive.

Dan

I believe the 240D starter is of a lower power rating - I'm not 100% sure about this though. I'm pretty sure the flywheel teeth are the same for all OM61X engines so I a starter from one should fit the other (as the holes on the adapter plates are all of the same shape)

Link for a DIY starter rebuild =>

PeachPartsWiki: Starter Motor Rebuild

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I'll amend my prior comment regarding swapping out the solenoid while the starter is on the car. If you are more limber than me, you just might pull it off. In my albums ('engine swaps') I've posted annotated photos of the starter on the block & the view from above. Granted it's a om617 but the back end of the engine is the same. I just happened to have an engine hanging around and a car in the shop (nope, not doing on swap on this car). Sometimes a few photos help w/decisions. BTW I'm stripping the engine this afternoon, so if anyone wants some close ups of a particular procedure/part removal, just pm me, I'll try to oblige.

Bought a reman starter at Pep Boys, it was a Bosch, hopefully not a Botch.

The solenoid terminal has a much dinkier screw, had to use a washer with it, but it does work.

The old one seemed to work once out of the car.

Almost tempted to keep my old one but the core charge was $35.

Wish I could find a really trashed starter in the West palm beach area to give them for the core.

Thanks again everyone who offered input on this.

The core can be any starter.

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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

Really? I have a hard time believing that.

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

What are the chances that the person working at Pep Boys (or any other mass market retailer) is going to know a MB starter on sight? Unless they are laying a side by side.

I gave them back some old Datsun Calipers for some MB one`s I bought.
They didn`t know. Just happy something was in the box.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works