Hello all, I have a question about my 1982 240D. In an earlier post I said that I replaced the starter because it would spin but not engage with the engine. Well, the new one is in and it is still doing the same thing!! Not as bad as the old one, but more than enough to get me worried. I'm not really familiar with how they work & was wondering if it could be the ignition? A guy at my parts store said some Ford starters needed to be shimmed out, I guess the starter gear sometimes goes too far? Could it be the same thing on mine?

Thanks for any suggestions!!

There are 2 things that immediately come to mind. First, what is the condition of your battery? Sencondly, I would check a couple of things. Starting with the starter gear. When you had the starter out did you look into the hole and see what the teeth looked like on the engine starter gear? Were they worn? Were the teeth on the starter itself worn or broken? Normally I would think solenoid, but since the "new" starter gives the same symptom I will go elsewhere. How about the wires? Check the ground wires especially, I would look at the battery cables and make sure I was getting good contact and that they were clean. Then trace the wires on the starter and make sure you have good contact there. Didn't you say it was "spinning" but not contacting the engine gear? Also look to see you have the starter all the way on and the bolts are tight. It sounds like the solenoid, but I belive you said "new" starter? Check the above and I will go from there! Tom

If it aint a diesel, that's what is wrong with it!

McRoth,

Yeah, if you put a new starter on it and it still won't engage the engine, the first thing I would check would be the ring gear on the flywheel. If you still have the old starter, look at the teeth on the end of the pinion, if they are worn or all chewed up, then so is your ring gear. It might just be one bad spot on the flywheel, try turning the engine by hand to put the flywheel in a new spot then try the starter again. Sometimes this helps. Good luck.

Sliverslinger,

Clarkston, huh? I'm not far down I-75 from you in Sterling Hts. There are a couple other guys from MI as well. Have you checked the Biodiesel Connections board? Maybe we can have an annual get together like the one they did in Washington.
Keep on Posting.Joe

Thanks for the quick replys! I checked the gear on the starter and on the big gear on the engine when I had them apart & they looked good, no wear on either that I saw. Granted I only saw a small section of the big gear, but if there was any damage to it I would think the starter gear would have been torn up too. My battery is in good shape, it looks new & starts the engine really quick when the starter engages. I'll check the connections as soon as I can & make sure they are all OK.


Thanks Again!

I'd check it all the way round.
I had a car with a damaged section on the flywheel gear. It would work most of the time but sometimes the damaged area would be lined up with the starter and it wouldn't engage.

Actually I'm in Clarksville, which is off of I-96 at Exit 59. Still that is only about 140 miles, which comes out to 7 gallons of fuel each way in a VW, even in the Mercedes it's less than one tank! I'd be up to the idea of a rondesvous of some sort though. They have a diesel get together near here in Hastings about once a month. Don't forget there is a TDI (national) rondesvous in Grand Rapids sometime this month. :~)

If it aint a diesel, that's what is wrong with it!

Don't rule out the possibility of a piece of junk new part. Not nearly as likely as a piece of junk rebuild or aftermarket new part, but sill very possible.

I've gotten bit so many times on professional rebuilds and aftermarket stuff that I buy only OEM parts now.

Sliverslinger,

OOPS, sorry about the Clarkston/Clarksville mix-up. Still, it's not that far. We also have Tony in Howell and Pharmerman in Kalamazoo. Keep us posted on these gatherings, I would like to try to attend one. Joe

Silverslinger, Joe_M & anyone else local,

I'd be interested in a biodiesel get together too. I'm from about 30 miles west of Cleveland & southern Michigan isn't that far from here. I have a friend near here who's been making & using biodiesel for about a year & a half who might be interested too. Keep me posted too! Thanks!

I have two questions - one , who makes/sells biodiesel in the Cleveland, OH area?

Secondly, mcroth, have you checked your vacuum system on your 240? Most of the probs i hear about are somehow related to the vacuum system on those old mb's. Check www.mbnz.org for in depth discussion on 123 and 124 mb diesels - hope this helps.
Dave

1999 MB E300 TurboDiesel