124. Non Starter.

[trapperjohn]

Ye Gods mine. How very dare it.

1994 300D 24V.

All warning lights on at bottom of the speedo cluster, as per normal, when key turned, glow plug relay doing its stuff. Just not starting. No click from the starter motor nix nuffink. Tried starting it with gearlever in N instead of P no joy. Battery is good only about 6 months old.

Did it once before on me but started the next morning with no trouble at all.

Down to basics and the RAC I guess. Pitch black and persisting down at the moment so it can wait till tomorrow.

Any pointers gratefully received. Alarm stripped off it when I bought it so no issues there.

 

[grober]

Ignition+starter switch? You could try activating the starter solenoid not the starter motor obviously! with a lead straight from the battery as a temporary "get started" measure to eliminate the " electrics" Some advocate ministering a sharp tap to the solenoid body in case its stuck?

 

[trapperjohn]

Sharp tap will be administered in the morning. Thank you Graeme.

Then leads and stuff.

 

[grober]

Should of course have added to make extra sure the car is in park or neutral as the gear selector safety inhibitor switch is now out of circuit.

 

[trapperjohn]

So gave the starter motor a tap or two with a hammer and she started. Let her run for a bit and switched her off again. Failed to start again, and continued to fail to start on the key or with tapping of starter motor. Car now at local garage awaiting attention.

 

[optimusprime]

So gave the starter motor a tap or two with a hammer and she started. Let her run for a bit and switched her off again. Failed to start again, and continued to fail to start on the key or with tapping of starter motor. Car now at local garage awaiting attention.

Please let us all know how you get on wont you.

 

[grober]

So gave the starter motor a tap or two with a hammer and she started. Let her run for a bit and switched her off again. Failed to start again, and continued to fail to start on the key or with tapping of starter motor. Car now at local garage awaiting attention.

Sounds as if an exchange / reconned starter might be a plan then. ECP do a Hella one for £148 taking into account a £60 back on your old one. + any forum discount?

http://www.hella.com/hella-at/assets/media/Starter_Generatoren_2013_2014.pdf

 

[Charles Morgan]

Progress! We can't have this wonderful W124 not starting, you might have to drive the C270, or possibly worse...

 

[trapperjohn]

Sorted by local garage.

£105.96 for exchange starter motor.

£30 Labour

£27.19 - Vague Added Total at the bottom to the chancellor and John is a happy man again.

Thanks all. Didnt go for the forum discount, let my garage take the strain. "I remember these" said the guy who fixed it with some affection. "Nice to work on a proper engine" he said.

 

[jonnyboy]

Nice.

 

[Charles Morgan]

This is good, and wonderfully inexpensive, news!