help please, starter problem

[arkamelis]

hi all
fitted new starter motor last week, has i buggerd up the last one due starting problems from fuel issues, due to fuel pressure. got that problem sorted, and for about a week now its been starting fairly ok but with a few struggles but eventually it turns and goes. fuel problem is sorted and fuel pressure is ok and i can see no air in any of the fuel lines. i dont drive the car every day, and went to take it out tonight and it doesnt want to start, i can here the starter click then just a spinning sound. i got the new starter on the warrenty, and it wasnt a genuine mercedes starter it was a copy, look the same and fitted ok, and like a said for the first few days i didnt seem to have much of a issue starting, but it wasnt instant start sometimes, it took a couple of trys.
i guess you carnt bump start a automatic can you ?

any help would be appriciated. matt

 

[momomo]

What about the battery? Is that ok?

 

[arkamelis]

hi momomo
doesnt seem to be a problem with battery, the car seems to power up ok, but this is somethink i will look into tommorrow, i have no idear when the car might have last had a new battery, it is a possibility.

thank you momomo

 

[arkamelis]

might be damage on the fly wheel iv been told, has the starter does spin

 

[arkamelis]

has anyone with a 99-2001 e320 cdi had the same issues ?

 

[LouFer]

I used to be an auto electrician (many moons ago) so here's my 5p worth...
If the starter motor is engaging but not turning the engine over, then it is most likely the starter motor bendix gear. this is a one-way gear at the front of the starter motor that meshes with the flywheel when the starter motor engages. If the bendix is faulty, it will engage the flywheel, but will not turn it (hence the 'spinning' sound you hear).
You mentioned that the starter is an aftermarket make... maybe it is not strong enough to take the engine load, especially if it is a 3L diesel?

It is highly unlikely to be a damaged flywheel... I think you will notice that because it will most likely be that the flywheel teeth are 'chewed' off, and this will leave the flywheel unbalance causing a slight engine vibration.

 

[arkamelis]

hi loufer, thanks for you responce, what you say makes sense, but i dont understand the original starter was the genuine starter which would have been powerfull enoth to drive the fly wheel, and this was doing the same, so do you think the bendix gear had gone on that to ? and do you know what would have corsed it to go in the first place.
thanks matt

 

[arkamelis]

now know what the issues is.

fly wheel teeth worn, new fly wheel for me, bloody great all i need. just hope there do it on the warrenty. anyway found out by cranking the engine half a turn and it started, stopped engine and tried again, and it didnt start, sounded like it wanted to turn over. so cranked again still no joy, tried again and it started.

got car booked in for rolling road tommorrow, and not to forget remap on satuaday