fast_car

My wife E320 1999 have a weir symptom, when she tried to start the car and look like it's keep spin and make weir noise, could this be a starter issue?

Today, she could not start the car and a friend help to hammer the starter and it's start fine

Please help

Thanks

LukeM

Possibly a bad starter solinoid. It is a part of the starter motor that is a small gear that engages the fly wheel to turn over the motor. Sometimes they can stick, have weak spring or get corroded and not engage the fly wheel. Not sure if can be lubricated, may have to be replaced. Check around for a solution.

fast_car

the car start fine, but the noise may be came from starter, and I affraise they may brake some thing inside, turn off the car and wait a while then it's start fine

you know it's fell like you start the car and once the car started, you still holding the key as staring mode, hope you get what I mean

LukeM

It may be a bad spot on fly wheel or solinoid gear of starter, either way it will have to be inspected by an auto mechanic.

fast_car

I went home today, and tried to start the car, and it's starting fine, but I kinda scrare if the the will not start while mywife drive it.

I am not a machanic but I can do very much medium jobs, can I just buy a new starter and replace it myself?

Thanks

LukeM

You can do it yourself for about $155.00 w/core exchange at www.autohausaz.com

fast_car

Thanks, do you know where is the starer located ?

fast_car

Thanks, do you know where is the starer located ?

LukeM

I would suggest that you find a mechanic willing to install your purchased starter for a labor charge of about an hour. The starter will be located at rear of the engine where it meets the transmission. You will need jack stands for access, a possible safety issue. You will still save by at least half by having a mechanic do the install on a lift. Good luck.

fast_car

I have all the tools and heavy duty jack stand, I have changed many starter from Honda/BMW/Toyota for families member and my own car.

I will jack up the car this week-end to see how accessable of the starter

The hard part is wrong guessing could cost me $150 for the starter and may be not a real fix.

I don't if I discribe the symptom to the shop and they can pin point the root cause

What is your suggestion, pay Benz dealer for diag?

She have been driving the car lately and the car start fine with no hick-up or whinging noise, seem like a ticking bom could fail any time

Ben'z

If you decide to chenge the starter yourself, could you please take some pictures and post here?

Thanks!

d2Benz

I had the symptoms described yesterday...This morning, I hit the starter with a hammer couple of times and vroooooommmm, the car starts.....
how easy is it to change the starter on our cars? thanks for input.

ohlord

year old post.Start a new topic.Get a new starter and install it from autohausaz.com
bout 200 bucks and if you have ever installed a starter,easy.

kangfu

I have the following symptons for my 2001 E320:

I turn the key in the ignition. The motor will attempt to start. It vibrates the engine. It makes a clicking type noise. The engine will not "catch" and start. Sometimes, it will appear to "catch" and start, but then sputter and die out. If I attempt to turn the key again (after removing key), the same problem repeats. If I leave it alone, and wait 10 minutes or so, the car will then start. There's no way to predict when this happen, but it's been happening at least once or twice a week now. Oh also, on more than one occassion, this problem has occurred at a red light. The car dies out, and will not start again.

Has anybody else experienced this problem? Is this a starter problem?

ohlord

it always happen when the car is warmed up?Like you start it in the morning and no problem,but then you go for a drive and it stalls at a light and won't restart until you wait for 15 minutes?
Tell us more.
ohlord

kangfu

It is erratic and hard to predict when the problem occurs. It has happened to me on a cold start, and it has also happened in the middle of the day.

ohlord

Have the battery checked for condition,charge and output,and that all the wires hooked up to it are tight and in good condition,sounds like a bad cable or ground connection.But with those symptoms it could be several things.Easiest to start by doing the above first,instead of throwing parts at it.Any good auto electric shop can perform the tests on the battery and the starter.
ohlord

MAYIMBE

Wuz up guys, I just replaced my starter. I took my e320 1999 to the car wash,then it would not start,but everything else worked. Ended up towing the car. after I check the batterie/fuses/power to the starter terminal I realized that the hair brush connection between the starter and the solenoid was corroted and broken. ( so it has to be the starter. call everywere that sunday morning- autozone had one in stock for $225.
it took me like 4 hours because i could not find info on this one hr job.
1-engage the parking brake
2-remove the ground terminal from the batterie
3-remove the air filter cover/remove the bolt that attaches the windshield fluid reservoir
4-loosen the lognuts from the tire in the pass. side ( remove the tire so you can work better. the stater is behind the pass tire behind the lower front arm assambly area )
5-place kack stands on the front pass and driver side
6-remove the bottom shield if you have it
7-remove the bolts from the engine mounts driver and pass ( this will allow the engine to be jack up a few inches later )
8-the bottom bolts for the engine mount ( rubber like cones behind the lower arm assambly area )are hidden inside a hole in the bottom frame of the car )
9- after the removal of the engine mount bottom bolt 16mm, find like two feet of 2 x 4 wood. place the 2 x 4 vertical ( up ) in a spot between the transmition and engine ( not in the oil pans ) then get a jack place the 2 x 4 on top of the jack and jack the engine up a few inches,this will raise the engine mounts so you could remove the mount on the pass side only. then remove the top bolt on top of the metal piece that hold the top og the mount ( i did it with a 16 mm closed wrench/rachet combination ( very tight )
10-once removed the mount top bolt/metal piece remove the two starter bolts,and the bolt that holds the starter wires,then remove stater,the the wires ( 1/2 inch. 10 mm wrench ),or however you can get it out. you might need raise the engine a bit more if needed. just make sure you will not dettach anything
11- reverse the process
it worked for me!!