Starter motor seems slow getting out of way on <20F days
 

Hoping Gilly might have seen this and knows if it's a problem w/ a solution. A few folks on Benzworld also said they hear it.

Basically, on really cold days (below 20F degrees), when you turn the key and let it start, near the end of the start cycle, it sounds like the starter motor is having problems getting out of the way of the engine starting. It happens near the last second or two of the start cycle. You hear almost the same sound as turning your key to the start position on other cars w/o out the "if car has started already, don't let the owner try starting it while motor is running" feature that we have.

A few TSB's match your description of the problem:
 

--- DDAF15_30-U-640JUN 00 Starter Occasionally Does Not Operate

--- DDAF07_61-U-600AUG 99 Engine Cannot Be Started

--- NHTSA Item# 606283 Service Bulletin #09M992 Seq 628 CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE NOT STARTING (STARTER MOTOR DOES NOT CRANK)

starter works fine though
 

The engine starts perfectly each time. Just worried I might be stripping gears.

I also have an '01 so those TSBs don't apply...

Last one
 

is specifically for 2001 ML's listed on NHTSA

Don't always assume it is the starter...
 

It could be the battery itself.. test the battery to see how strong it is...

The NOISE you're referring to is the SLIDING STARTER DRIVE GEAR is binding on the armature due to the EXTREME cold causing the grease to solidify, causing it to remain engaged with the RING GEAR . . .

Either that or the starter drive (also called the Bendix drive) is sticking to the ring gear itself (on the flywheel). I don't recall hearing of one do this before. I'd have a mechanic listen to it. I'm thinking a new starter is in order. The flywheel assembly would of course require removal of the transmission/transfer case, so I'd hope the starter would fix it.

Gilly

Re: Last one
 

That's true, but like I said, there are no problems starting. And the weather has gotten warm enough in the Northeast that I likely won't be able to reproduce it until next year.

Thanks, Gilly and mpnye. That terminology might help me describe it to the tech the next time I go in. If it really is binding, will this damage the starter motor or tranny?

It will burn up the ONE WAY ROLLER CLUTCH in the STARTER DRIVE(Bendix) in SHORT ORDER and cause POSSIBLE damage to the RING GEAR . . .

Get it handled . . . SOON, if continues ! ! !