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#1
10-16-2017, 06:51 PM
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Mystery Non-Starting 300d
My 300d has been running well recently. I went on a trip last thursday and it was running fine while I was there. Last night I drove it home (4 hour trip) and it was doing great on the highway.
However, today it won't start! It doesn't even crank at all, just total silence. Lights look strong and the battery reads 12.47 when off with a multimeter. I tried moving around the shifter and starting it in neutral but no luck. I replaced the shifter bushing a couple years ago. I've been reading threads here but most deal with cars that are cranking and not starting. Anyone have any suggestions?
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1980 300D, 128K 
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#2
10-16-2017, 07:33 PM
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When I had this problem, it was the chassis-to-engine ground strap. Being loose, it would sometimes start fine and other times complete silence. I believe the strap is on the driver's side for your model.
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Sam 84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )
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#3
10-16-2017, 07:42 PM
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If the bonding wire doesn't work, you can try jumping the starter solenoid by running a wire from the screw terminal on the solenoid to battery positive. If it cranks, your problem is somewhere between the solenoid and ignition switch, including the neutral safety switch. I like to hold the key in start and run the shifter through its whole range.
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#4
10-16-2017, 11:57 PM
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Post number 3 is the fastest way to determine if it is the Neutral Safety Switch (Automtic Transmission only).
Similar to post 2 clean all of the battery cable contact points to included the mentioned ground strap. Hook up the Volt meter to the Battery and have someone try to start and see how far the Battery voltage drops. If voltage plungers it is likely your battery is shoot. I drove, stopped, started and stopped to eat. Got in the car and nothing. The Battery showed 12.50+ volts. When I was trying to do the test as in post 3 I noticed a had littl spark when I applied the wire and no cranking. I took the jumper wire and applied it to the terminals and just a tiny spark. I determined from that while I had voltage I had minimal amperage. I walked acrosse the street and bought another Battery and put it in and started right up. So it was the Batter that was shot.
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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
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#5
10-17-2017, 10:37 AM
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I hooked up the multimeter and turned the key - it went down to 11.4. Seem ok?
I hooked up a wire from the battery to the screw on the starter solenoid and still nothing. So maybe it's the neutral safety switch? Still trying to locate the ground strap...
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1980 300D, 128K
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#6
10-17-2017, 10:49 AM
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I saw in another thread about bypassing the neutral safety switch but my 1980 300d doesn't seem to have the box in front of the battery nor the connection with purple wires above the pedal like in this picture. Any idea how I'd be able to do this? I've looked around under the dash and don't see anything similar.
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1980 300D, 128K
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#7
10-17-2017, 10:53 AM
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got it started! i made my own chassis-engine-ground wire and it started right up!
now to find the real one...
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1980 300D, 128K
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#8
10-17-2017, 10:54 AM
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this forum rules, thanks for the help!
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1980 300D, 128K
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#9
10-17-2017, 11:03 AM
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turns out the one that connects directly to the negative of the battery was loose. all good.
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1980 300D, 128K
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#10
10-17-2017, 04:16 PM
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Quote:
"I hooked up a wire from the battery to the screw on the starter solenoid and still nothing." If you were speaking running a wire from the positive battery terminal to the smallest screw/nut on the Starter Solenoid that should have caused the starter to work no matter what is going on with the Neutral Safety Switch. May be your Starter is shot or the Ground strap issue. On my W123 the Ground Strap is under the car about where you feet would be when you sit in the drivers seat. It goes from the Chassis to the Transmission Bell Housing. Only the W123s with a Turbocharger have the wire junction/terminal block near the Battery on the Fenderwell. Just to be sure the postive current has to be applied to Terminal #1 in the picture.
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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
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#11
10-25-2017, 04:28 PM
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Well the saga continues...
It was working fine for a week and now it's doing it again. I tried the ground thing again and tried reattaching the battery cable and it still doesn't work. I was able to get it started by hooking up the starter to the positive terminal (I had been hooking it to the wrong terminal on the starter). So what does that mean? Neutral safety switch? Not sure why it was working all week.
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1980 300D, 128K
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