Odd 240D behavior... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

acastell · #1 06-13-2004, 10:14 AM

I have a 1983 240D with 318K miles. I have put on ~7K miles in the past 5 months. NO PROBLEMS!!!

Last night, after driving for about 20 min on the freeway with the AC on, I parked the car at my friends house. About 5 min after I stopped the car, I was asked to move my car, so I went to start it again. No luck...

I turned the key to glow plug position, all indicator lights, radio, fan, glow plug light came on, as usual. When I turned the key to crank the car, nothing. The car did not crank at all, nothing at all seemed to happen when I turned the key to cranking position.

So, I called the tow truck. While waiting for the truck, about 20 min later, I tried the car again....you guessed it, it started right up. So I shut it down and started it again, not problems. Then after the BBQ, 3 hrs later, I started the car and drove it home.

Any ideas?

Battery is either 2.5 or 12.5 years old. The 2 indicator is marked...

1994, 120K miles ago
Bearing in Starter
New Starter Solenoid

All other fluids in check.....

Thank you for any insight...this is concerning as it is intermittent for no appearent cause...

AC

FrankM · #2 06-13-2004, 10:48 AM

by your term "nothing" do you mean no cranking?

acastell · #3 06-13-2004, 10:50 AM

That is correct...no cranking. I should have been more specific.

leathermang · #4 06-13-2004, 10:58 AM

Are there ANY noises whatsoever accompanying the no start condition ? Any clicking , groaning, screaming ?

SoyDriver Matt · #5 06-13-2004, 11:02 AM

Neutral safety switch?

acastell · #6 06-13-2004, 12:44 PM

I tried my best to listen for ANYTHING when I turned the key...nothing. No clicks, groans, screaming...

AC

acastell · #7 06-13-2004, 12:51 PM

Is there a Neutral safety switch on a 4 speed manual? I will say this...I have not used my A/C for a LONG time. Not only did I use it yesterday, but I had it cranked at fan speed 3 for a long time. I say this because I searched on a Neutral safety switch and found a post relating their A/C and the car not starting. I too noticed that my fan was running in the the first key position when the dash lights illuminate.

AC

SoyDriver Matt · #8 06-13-2004, 03:09 PM

Didn't realize it was manual. Don't think there is a switch on those...

leathermang · #9 06-13-2004, 03:18 PM

I think on the manual there is a switch requiring the clutch pedal to be in the down position if the trans is not in neutral... but I don't think mine works that way...

leathermang · #10 06-13-2004, 03:23 PM

A couple of months ago mine was doing that... no nothing... which I assumed was the actual switch...
But I really hated to deal with the switch so I took the starter out... and to a rebuilding shop....
They accidentally had one in stock which they had ordered for someone else and I got it for $100 ....
But not before they had taken mine apart and showed me where the screws holding something on the inside had been arcing... I don't really understand how something inside the main shell would keep the solinoid from trying to function.... but this is my story and I am sticking with it...
I put the new one in.... and the starting is Instantaneous ever since.

Jimmy Joe · #11 06-13-2004, 04:01 PM

Yep, I've had a fried starter do that same thing....

kamil · #12 06-13-2004, 05:07 PM

I've had the same problem. It was the starter on mine. You should carry a hammer just in case that happens again; you would just hit the starter and the starter solenoid if it does not want to start. If you do find that it is the starter then buy yourself the solelnoid only. I did that on mine and it only cost me 23 bucks. Search Auto Barn I believe and they have the rebuild kit.

DieselAddict · #13 06-13-2004, 05:56 PM

I don't think there is a neutral safety switch on a 4-speed 240D, at least not on mine. I did accidentally start the car once in gear without pressing the clutch (I have two other cars with automatics so I have to pay attention) and the car hurled itself forward. It sounds to me like your starter might be dying. Mine failed once too but then it came back to life again. Later on it would crank slowly even with a fresh battery so I knew it was the starter. Now I have a new rebuilt one and all is good. Remember if you have a 4-speed you can always try to push start the car. Worked for me.

#14 06-13-2004, 06:16 PM

On a Chevy big-block the starter pinion will get hot and jam. Usually works after about 20 minutes cool-off. Chevy now sells a redesigned solenoid unit for retro-fixing.

Some cars get a chipped pinion or gear that won't allow cranking in some positions. Sometimes this can be 'fixed' by giving the car a big heave while it is in first gear.

An almost endless topic.....

leathermang · #15 06-13-2004, 08:01 PM

From the 123 chassis manual... LOL