[bodiemurphy]

Hi, I'm new to the site. I have a 1985 300cd automatic transmission and have owned it for 5 years. About a week or so ago I woke up in the morning and heated the glow plugs and turned the key and the car wouldn't turn over. The battery is in good shape and there is plenty of power to the car. I heard a little click under the dash somewhere. I put it into neutral and back to park and it started up and worked for a few days. Then it happens again and it took a lot more playing around before it worked and that happens for the next couple days and now today I cant get it to turn over at all. All I get is the click noise when i turn the key. Any advice or thought on how to fix it would be greatly appreciated. Also the car has had a slight slip going into third gear for the first few minutes of my morning commute as well (not sure if they're related or not).

Thank you very much

Bodie

 

[300TDriver]

I have never had this problem myself, so anyone with more experience feel free to completely contradict me, but it sounds like your starter could be going. Or a loose connection somewhere between battery & starter.

 

[Stretch]

It sounds to me like a neutral safety switch related problem.

There is a position sensor on the transmission that only permits the starter circuit to operate when the selector lever is in either park or neutral. As you have a problem with the transmission slipping in a gear you might be best off looking at the selector lever bushes to make sure that when you are selecting P-R-N-D etc etc you are actually getting it in the right places.

If the bushes on the linkage are good then check that the linkage lengths are correct; and if they are good then check the switch unit on the end of the linkage at the transmission.

 

[Nutz 4 Benz]

Grab your Occam's Razor from the tool box and verify the battery terminals are tight and connections at starter are tight as well, then continue on to other items.

 

[300TDriver]

Haha... mine will start when it is in gear. Guessing the bozo mechanic PO hired for a tranny replacement just disabled it - I was surprised to find it started one day when I had forgot I'd moved the shifter to L to get it out of the way. Good thing the parking brake was on!

I hope it's that easy, bodie!

 

[drizzy]

Plus one on the linkage bushing / neutral safety switch theory. Otherwise it is possible it is just the starter but if you wiggle the shifter a bit and you can get it started then there isn't much doubt about it.

 

[bodiemurphy]

I was parked on a slight downhill slope and put into neutral and let roll a foot or so and put it back into park. As it locked into park, the car rocked a little. I tried this a few times and it started up and drove fine. I am parked on a flat surface now and it will not turn over again. I just hear the one click under the dash when I turn the key.

 

[Rmac58]

Check the battery, a click usually indicates a weak power condition.

Inspect all connections as well.

 

[sethwm2]

The bushings generally go bad before the neutral safety position switch. New bushings fixed the exact same issue on my car. As for the tranny get a fluid and filter change in it. Make sure it is flushed including the torque converter. Made the tranny on the turbo car shift like a brand new transmission. Also check for vaccuum leaks. Vacuum shift modulatior