Tried to start my 84 300CD the other day and got one crank then nothing.

Checked the starter and found the braided short strap that goes from the solenoid to the main starter body had completely rotted away and broke off. It doesn't look like its bolted on to the starter body.

Is it possible to run a heavy gauge wire from the solenoid and ground it to the chassis?

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1984 300CD 155k miles
1983 300TD 199k miles
2005 Legacy GT Wagon

Yes you can add a ground strap from the engine/tranny to the chassis,. make sure it's at least a 4 gauge wire, I normally use 0 or 1 gauge .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

My transmission to chassis ground strap seems in good condition

As it's too hidden to photograph I found this image of where my problem lies

There's a short strap that goes from the starter body, can be seen in the image with the plastic ring around it on the starter body directly above the word 'battery' in the image. This strap completely rotted and broke in two.

Not sure exactly how to remove that end of the strap from the starter. The other end has a ring connection and a nut and fastens to the solenoid.

Planning to buy a ground strap cable and run it from the solenoid to the chassis and see if that works.

Thanks!

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1984 300CD 155k miles
1983 300TD 199k miles
2005 Legacy GT Wagon

That braided wire is the power going into the starter. If you put a gound strap from that terminal to chassis you will destroy your solenoid.

Look for a local shop that rebuilds starters and alternators. They can easily fix that wire.

When you get the starter back, grease that wire well to keep salt and water from wicking into it.

O.K., I got it, good photo skills ! .

You need to have this starter repaired or cheaper replaced with a good used one .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

OK, glad I looked at this before I added the wire.

Makes sense now, thank you!

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1984 300CD 155k miles
1983 300TD 199k miles
2005 Legacy GT Wagon

If you remove the end cap on the Starter Body you may be able to see where the braided cable goes.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

If the car isn't you daily drive, consider dismounting it and taking a look inside ~ the brushes will almost certainly need replacing and it's easy ~ they're soldered in place, you should also clean and lubricate the bushing so it'll keep working a long time yet .

If it's too burned up inside just get another, be sure to KEEP THE DEAD ONE UNTIL THE CAR IS WORKING TO YOUR SATISFACTION ! .

You can return it for the core value after because once you leave it, it's GONE FOR GOOD, remember this warning .

Plenty of good used starters out there, I only buy BOSCH branded rebuilts when forced to buy, no other brand is as well done .

Let us know how this turns out ~ I bet you can fix it at home cheaply and if you can't, just button it up and use as a core _after_ .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I recently bought a winter car to try to save my CD from any further rot. I wasn't planning to take it off the road just yet, but this was the decider for me. Unfortunately it was stuck in my driveway blocking my other vehicles. I managed to convince my wife to give me a tow around the block to jump start it and it worked a treat!!

I have the CD parked at the side of my house now so I'll pull the starter at my leisure and work on it over the winter.

Thank you all once again for all the advice and I'll be sure to update once I have the starter on the bench.

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1984 300CD 155k miles
1983 300TD 199k miles
2005 Legacy GT Wagon

To get the upper starter bolt out is a PITA, I use every 3/8" drive extension I have plus a u-joint, then my longest flex handle (NEE :breaker bar) .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I substituted the wire with a piece of stainless steel ribbon strapping. By drilling a hole at each end.

I replaced the braided wire as it let go with the last owner over cranking the engine. Plus that wire had probably deteriorated with age.

It passes a fair amount of current to service the solenoid. Not the starter motor load itself though.

The wire he's talking about carries the entire electrical load from the solenoid to the starter motor proper, no ? .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Yes he is, but reading is a skill that's lost on most these days.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Don't feel bad, as I age out I discover many new things not working as well as I'd like .

At least a beautiful Woman made a pass at me the other day, that was certainly a surprise .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better