W210 slow cranking

[rspete]

Hi

My e300TD has been getting more difficult to start with the cold weather arriving.

Today, with a good charged battery, it is cranking really slowly.
Now if its difficult to start normally it has no hope at this speed.

I was about to do the delivery valve seals, all fuel pipes already replaced with no air in system, new cut off switch - yet always starts with loads of smoke and shaking until warmed and smooths out and runs OK. This has got worse with the cold weather and finally I was going to bite the bullet.

The concern I have now is that it is cranking far too slowly and a lot slower than when I started on Friday evening.

Is there anything this is likely to be?
Other than starter motor...££££££!
Spare battery is new, good and fully charged. Battery on the car has been starting up to now but was going to be replaced. all connections seem good.

many thanks for any advice

 

[alabbasi]

Check ground connections.

 

[toolman1954]

If no luck after checking earthing connections then I would change your starter motor.
When I had my E300TD some years ago, starting became so bad with the seals leaking and letting in air, I actually burned out the starter motor churning the engine over. Big puff of smoke and an awful stench of burning and that was that!
I ended up jacking up the car in the street and laying underneath the car in the snow to remove the starter motor. I took off the inlet manifold also, to give me more room as it has to come out from the top. As I recall the starter was not that expensive from a motor factors, about £80.
On the plus side, the new starter spun the engine over with such gusto, that I had not realised that it must have been on its way out for some long time.
As soon as I was up and running again I took it to a Diesel Specialist and got the Delivery Valve seals sorted, and that was the end of starting problems.
Steve