Help!!! W210 E220cdi broke down - wont start

[DSB SL AMG]

Hi guys - Help...broke down in my car yesterday (2001 E220cdi)..perfect all day then about 6pm left to go home after nice day in peak district and car would not start...NO turnover...just a spinning sound from the engine...AA recovered the car he thinks starter spinning not engaging flywheel? he suggested possible gears on starter motor stripped..?

No warning info on dash.

Any ideas...

 

[NormanC]

Seems a reasonable diagnosis to me.

If the starter motor is spinning it suggests that the solenoid is engaging, which in turn means that the pinion is being moved into a position to engage with the ring gear. At this point no turning probably means no teeth on either the pinion or the ring gear.

Or will an expert shoot me down in flames!!

 

[Ted]

The starter motor also has a one way clutch on the pinion which can fail.

But I concur with NormanC

 

[corned]

I suppose it is possible that the solenoid is stuck/has failed, and is not throwing the gear forward into the flywheel teeth, and the motor is just spinning with the gear disengaged?

Or disregard this if it is known that the motor can't start to turn unless (and until) the gear has been thrown forward and engaged?

 

[DSB SL AMG]

thanks guys...got the car in at a local indy...he's struggling to look at it today due to workload but has mentioned if its a ring gear problem the gearbox will need to be lifted..?

If its the starter he says its straight forward...

Any comments as i am getting worried, he's told me this is not a common problem on this model and after searching there not many posts atall on this issue..

Thanks

 

[Ted]

The pinion HAS to be thrown forward for the contacts in the solenoid to connect (assuming that the lever has not broken)

On some starters there is also enough current flowing through the starter field coils to allow the armature to turn VERY slowly as the pinion engages with the ring gear. This allows the pinion to mesh, and prevents tooth to tooth contact.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Thanks Ted...were would gearbox removal come into this..?

 

[Ted]

Thanks Ted...were would gearbox removal come into this..?

No idea! Unless the flywheel was spinning on the crankshaft, which is so remote as to be impossible......

Edit. PS dont worry. It still looks like a starter issue.

 

[NormanC]

Thanks Ted...were would gearbox removal come into this..?

If the ring gear is damaged (e.g. missing teeth) then you have to remove the gearbox to get at it.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

bought a Lucas factory recon starter from Eurocarparts £75....just dropped off at garage...i really hope there no ring gear damage....he's hopfeully gonna have a look later.....

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Update - MBtech just called me ...new starter fitted...cars okay ready for pickup....

Thanks for all your help

 

[growlygrowler]

Did he say what the precise problem with the starter was? Juts interested

 

[DSB SL AMG]

will ask him when i pick car up 2moz....i gotta take old starter back to europarts as it part ex...