Starter fun!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 87
Likes: 44
From: Bloomington, IN
2010 GLK350, 2021 Taco, 2019 Lexus GX460, 2009 BMW 335d, BMW 328xi
Starter fun!
Good morning all,
Thought I’d share my starter fun with this group, since my wife seems unsympathetic.
Brief background: bought the 2010 GLK350 4matic a while ago with a “blown transmission”. Car had been sitting for a year or more. Transmission fix was relatively simple, and failed because of a few broken bolts.
It has been running well, and is my 16-year old daughter’s back and forth to school and swimming vehicle. She got stranded with a no-crank at her high school. I figured she left the lights on or something silly like that. I headed there with my scanner, a multi-meter and a tool box full of…you guessed it, tools. No codes other than a rear passenger door speaker failure. Cluster gauges all lit up, steering unlocked, but no crank. Not a click, grind, or anything. I checked the relay, which was working (I took the cap off to inspect inside). Also checked conductivity, and it was contacting as it should. I checked voltage at the pins, and they checked out. I pulled the relay and jumpered across, and nothing.
Never had a starter fail in this way before, but there was not much else it could be. Had the car towed home and re-tested all the things. All signs pointed towards a failed starter. Found one at an Autozone around 40 minutes away…winning!
I got the car on my lift and got to work getting at the starter. By far the easiest way is to drop the steering rack. 1/2 hour later, faulty starter was out. I tested with a battery, and nothing, not a sound or movement. Installed the new starter, and just like that, it started up.
Looking back on it, the starter always sounded a bit off, like it was turning slower than it should have.
In the back of my mind, pretty much the whole time I was worried it was the ESL.
Thankfully much simpler, but still a pain in the neck.
Thought I’d share my starter fun with this group, since my wife seems unsympathetic.
Brief background: bought the 2010 GLK350 4matic a while ago with a “blown transmission”. Car had been sitting for a year or more. Transmission fix was relatively simple, and failed because of a few broken bolts.
It has been running well, and is my 16-year old daughter’s back and forth to school and swimming vehicle. She got stranded with a no-crank at her high school. I figured she left the lights on or something silly like that. I headed there with my scanner, a multi-meter and a tool box full of…you guessed it, tools. No codes other than a rear passenger door speaker failure. Cluster gauges all lit up, steering unlocked, but no crank. Not a click, grind, or anything. I checked the relay, which was working (I took the cap off to inspect inside). Also checked conductivity, and it was contacting as it should. I checked voltage at the pins, and they checked out. I pulled the relay and jumpered across, and nothing.
Never had a starter fail in this way before, but there was not much else it could be. Had the car towed home and re-tested all the things. All signs pointed towards a failed starter. Found one at an Autozone around 40 minutes away…winning!
I got the car on my lift and got to work getting at the starter. By far the easiest way is to drop the steering rack. 1/2 hour later, faulty starter was out. I tested with a battery, and nothing, not a sound or movement. Installed the new starter, and just like that, it started up.
Looking back on it, the starter always sounded a bit off, like it was turning slower than it should have.
In the back of my mind, pretty much the whole time I was worried it was the ESL.
Thankfully much simpler, but still a pain in the neck.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 486
Likes: 150
From: Lac Ste. Marie, Quebec
2006 Alfa Romeo Brera, 2010 GLK350, 2018 BMW 640i GT, 1997 Subaru SVX, 2012 Moto Guzzi Norge GT8V
1/2 hour including dropping the steering rack! I couldn't come close to that even if I had a lift and someone handing me the tools. Well done.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 87
Likes: 44
From: Bloomington, IN
2010 GLK350, 2021 Taco, 2019 Lexus GX460, 2009 BMW 335d, BMW 328xi
Compared to replacing the engine mounts, this was a genuine pleasure. Nothing seized or corroded, all came apart easily. I applied a generous coat of anti-seize to the steering rack bolts before reassembly.
it really is a fantastic little SUV.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 686
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
Congrats on a good job and thanks for posting. The way these starters are wired, it only takes one connection that gets hot, throws off the solder, and opens. It took about six to kill the older starters from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Of course, those also had about 25 pounds of copper inside, too.
It’s a bit easier to work on than its W204 sedan and coupe cousins. Keep it going as long as you can because you’ll never find another model like it, even Benz SUVs.
It’s a bit easier to work on than its W204 sedan and coupe cousins. Keep it going as long as you can because you’ll never find another model like it, even Benz SUVs.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 279
From: South Texas
2014 GLK350 base model (active) ; 2001 E320 base (retired); 2001 Wrangler soft-top
Hmmmm. Unbelievably, I've bought OEM auto parts at Oreilly, AutoZone, Advance, NAPA, ad nauseum.
(for our various vehicles over the years).
For fun, I looked up the OP's starter, and see Bosch and Valeo brands listed at AutoZone (both are OEM parts manufacturers for MB).
And yea, they do have the "Duralast" brand starters ... but the OEM choices are there.
I looked up the oil filter for our 2014 GLK350 at the official MBUSA parts site, listed as 276-180-00-09.
I bought that exact part # Mann filter (OEM) at Advance parts ... in stock !
(for our various vehicles over the years).
For fun, I looked up the OP's starter, and see Bosch and Valeo brands listed at AutoZone (both are OEM parts manufacturers for MB).
And yea, they do have the "Duralast" brand starters ... but the OEM choices are there.
I looked up the oil filter for our 2014 GLK350 at the official MBUSA parts site, listed as 276-180-00-09.
I bought that exact part # Mann filter (OEM) at Advance parts ... in stock !
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 87
Likes: 44
From: Bloomington, IN
2010 GLK350, 2021 Taco, 2019 Lexus GX460, 2009 BMW 335d, BMW 328xi
I’ve had good luck with most Duralast parts. I stay away from their brake rotors because I’ve seen odd discoloration pointing towards poor quality metals in the mix.
