About a month ago, my 83 300D turbo would no start when left parked overnight. I was able to get it started by shifting it to neutral. Now it does not start at all.

I replaced the neutral safety switch about 2 months ago. My suspicion is that it is the ignition switch.

I did the following; (parking brake on)

1) turn the key on, shift the gear to reverse - the reverse lights in the back were on (neurtal safety switch seems okay)

2) gear in park, key ON, jumped the 2 right (out of 3)wires on the right fender - car starts. I can drive it around, just have to jump it.

I think it is the ignition switch. What do u guys think ? Is there something I have overlooked ?

I noticed today - if I start the car without waiting for the glow plug timer to stop, the car starts after a few cranks.

If I wait for the glow plug timer to stop before starting the car, I cannot get the car to crank at all. No sound at all.

I have to then jump start the car (from the right fender box)

I can start the without glowing when it is warm.


Any suggestions as to what maybe causing this ???

I managed to isolate the problem.

If there is a front to back play in the tranny linkage, then the linkage bushings is one of the suspects.

What I found was there was east - west ( driver door to passenger door ) play in the linkage screwed to the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS).

I jammed a nylon tie between the linkage and the NSS and that solved the problem.

If u have to move ur gear shaft up and down a few times to start ur car, try this next time. Keep ur ignition key at the max position and hold it there with one hand. Use the other hand to slowly move the gear shaft slowly in Park (move it slowly down, about an inch, and then back into park again).

If that does not work try the same in Neutral.

So are you certain that it works well now?

Another thing to mention before the thread dies is that the neutral safety switch is not the same as the backup lights, that switch is under the wood in the console where as the NSS being mounted by the tranny.

Also your thread probably would have worked better with a more descriptive title.

__________________
Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k