Mysterious starter problem
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10
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1981 w123 240d
Mysterious starter problem
I recently parked my 1981 w123 240d with a manual transmission and when I came back several hours later and turned the key to the start position. Nothing happened. There was no sound, the starter motor didn't spin and I didn't hear the solenoid click, The battery seemed to be charged and the instrument cluster lights were on. I went to the starter and tried bridging the solenoid and starter motor connections with a wrench. Nothing happened except for a few small sparks, not like the sparks you usually get when you do this. Fortunately I was parked on a hill and started the car by rolling it and popping the clutch. I drove home and none of the idiot lights on the dash were on. So it seemed the alternator was charging. When I killed the engine I tried to restart it. It started in the usual way and started when I tried several more times. I went to the starter and bridged the starter motor and solenoid connections as I had before. This time the solenoid didn't throw but the starter motor spun. Does anyone know what's going on here? I suspect the solenoid and wonder if solenoids sometimes work intermittently. Thanks for your advice.
Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 148
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mercedes w123 260e
Fully charge the battery . Battery was very low on cherge .One of the best things about the W123 240D diesel is it self contained . Now these cars have a red or orange light on the dash to say the battery was charging up . And if its not on when you first switch on the ignition ,,,,with out starting the engine -,,, then this bulbe would have blown ,,and it will not charge the battery up . If it turns out your battery is fuly charged and bulb is good i would get a check on the starter circuit . If it spins without turning the engine over possability starter is faulty .
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 6
From: Columbia SC
95 E320 cab, 81 300D,, 83 300D
Resolved similar problem - which began to occur with increasing frequency by taking the ground cable from battery to chassis and soaking it in vinegar/clean contacts. Also, wire brushed the bolt points for the cable underneath that goes from chassis to transmission.
