Starter Problem

[MasterAK47]

10(color=black)xxx(/color)

New here and I need help. My 1994 C220 refused to crank, when turned on the ignition key, I heard it clicked but no turnover. My mechanic said it was the faulty Solenoid. A reconditioned Solenoid was installed. The starter was back to the engine, again, it wouldn't crank - I heard only the clunk sound when the key was turned on, no different from before replacement of the Solenoid! Under no load condition, the Solenoid kicked out and the starter spinned well; when by-passing the Solenoid, it spinned well too. Could it be the starter is dead (wouldn't take load)? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Webby]

Was the "no load" test done using the car wiring,or did you just attatch leads from the/a battery. The reason I ask is that I once had a similar problem with a C220 i owned. MB could'nt find the fault but I traced it myself to a loose "heavy" terminal connection an a terminal block situated in the boot,adjacent to the battery compartement.Undid the terminal,cleaned the connections and tightened everything up.No trouble afterwards.
Check all wiring connections are clean and tight,you might get lucky,as I did.

 

[MasterAK47]

Hi Webby, thank you very much for your tips. Yes, the negative terminal at the undercarriage was very rusty, I cleaned it up and tried again, the starter still could not turnover. I decided to do a load test by disconnecting the cables at the starter terminals while the starter was in its position, then connected the jumper cables from the battery to the starter, supplied electric current to the Solenoid, it cranked a little but refused to go further. I thought the battery was weak, gave it a full charge then tried again, the result was the same - it cranked the flywheel just a few degrees (might be 1/8 of a turn?). At this point, I more or less confirmed that the starter has gone. After removing the starter, for no reason I did another no load test, to my surprise, the starter didn't even spin! But, it spinned beautifully When by passing the Solenoid. Obviously, I had a faulty reconditioned solenoid at hand! Whilst I failed to find a new solenoid (the dealerships here do not sell just the solenoid) and my parts supplier has had no confidence on the reconditioned one (he could not get the new solenoid as well), I guess I have no choice but to send my starter to the starter rebuilder!