[RayBobL]

Just got this car two days ago Black 82 300D turbo diesel. straight body, clean interior, new tires, was running two weeks ago at 347,000 miles.
PO knows squat except it wont start...
For 500 bucks I figure its worth the gamble...

Day 1 trailer home, look it over, battery worn down from po and all the lookers tryin to start. pull fairly new batt and charge...

Day 2 hook up batt showing 12 volts, check grounds, gp relay reads 9.? volts, air filter clean, oil dirty, 1/2 tank diesel, see new fuel filters...give it a whirl.
Motor turns over, but slowly...with good batt I think probably a week or worn out starter/solenoid ?????

Day 3 was going to check wiring and maybe cleanup starter(quite a bit of oil n gunk down under), maybe go ahead and pull starter...
But two days worth of storms just blew in, so here i be...
My first MB, first diesel, so i could use any advice yall might toss my way.
Theres other issues i see need tending to, and probly more to come, but obviously i gotta get this thing turnin over right to tell much else?

Thanks guys I've learned a bunch just searchin the threads!!!

 

[dude99]

First I'd try turning it over with a jump start, just to assure that it's getting enough juice. Second is to check all the connections including the grounding strap. It is possible that with the excessive cranking by the previous owner that the starter has burned out. The starter isn't a hard job per say but it's a time consuming one require liberal use of expletives... Is yours the turbo model? i can't if it's not it's actually easier to take the starter out the top side as suppose to getting it through the steering linkage....

 

[brownrice78]

Taking out the starter in these cars are definitely an exercise in patience. Is the glow plug light coming on and then going off inside in the car on the instrument panel? How cold is it there?

I would also suggest that you disconnect the return and supply rubber fuel lines and put them into a plastic container. Fill that container with diesel and see what happens. It would rule out fuel delivery from the fuel tank.

 

[RayBobL]

Yes turbo...

Yeah kinda planned on the jumper, little more trouble shooting when the rain dies, before actually pulling starter. New starter worth the investment ide say...

 

[dude99]

ahh you do have the turbo..... well then you have to take it out the bottom..... all I can say on that front is patients is a virtue.... and do it inside, it took me a couple days to get it all done...

 

[RayBobL]

yes ive just been reading about the starter fun...gotta get some new allens i guess...
glow plug light does work right. been in 50's but will be 30 tomorrow...
might try the fuel trick once i get it turnin over faster, might start up.

 

[dude99]

yup a set off allen head sockets is a worth while investment for these cars. Also the day before you start soak the starter bolts liberally with penetrating oil. You'll also have to disconnect the tranny fill tube to get in there so make sure you have some atf handy. Also a good time to change the tranny filter since you'll be draining it anyways. The only way I could get the top bolt on mine was to take out the air cleaner housing and the battery tray, which was a lot easier than it sounds. Also gave better access to everything. But mine is a Non turbo, so I'm not sure if you can get to yours from the top.

 

[RayBobL]

i can see it from top and see its been banged on too...might be thats the main thing wrong.
first owner had it till 341,000 miles, got the medalions....took care of it. previous owner didn't know what he had or what to do with it....

 

[ImBroke]

It sounds like the PO used and abused it. Good thing is that it was only for 6k miles. Hopefully you can undo their abuse.

 

[carpenterman]

Accessing the starter was much easier from the top on my turbo 617. As was mentioned, you'll have to remove the air filter assembly, the battery tray, and the heat shield.

Loosen the transmission dip tube but there is no reason to drain the trans unless you are changing the fluid/filter. There was no way I could get an allen socket on the top bolt, so I cut an allen wrench off to get a fit. It would have been more helpful if I had bent it a little more acute. I had to use a pipe "extender" to break it.

I read of a good tip after I struggled with the top bolt. Cut a portion of an allen bolt off about 1-1/2" long and insert in bolt head. Then use a box wrench on the stub to break it. Then use a gear wrench to remove.

After replacing the starter, I found that the case on the old one was loose. I probably could have just tightened the case bolts and reused the old one. The PO had neglected to replace the block bracket bolts and I figure that was the cause of the loose case.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with a new starter. Banging on a starter from underneath in a parking lot is less than dignified.

 

[Owsley9]

Are you letting the glow plug cycle complete before trying to crank, or are you starting right when the light goes out? In 30 degree weather, sometimes I have to let mine go through the full cycle (~30 seconds or so) before I crank her up.

The plugs will glow long after that light goes out -- you can hear a click under the hood when they go out. Just a thought.