Starting issues

Tiny
KOLOTOUR
  • MEMBER
  • 1981 MERCEDES BENZ 240D
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 200,000 MILES
Here's the story: Attempt to start the car. Turn key and everything powers up. Headlights are bright. Buzzers working. Turn key to engage starter and get one click and then nothing. And I mean nothing! Everything is dead. No headlights, no dash lights, nothing. Battery is clean and fine. 13.5 V. Fuses are fine. Wait 4 or 5 minutes and everything is back on line. Headlights, etc. Are all working again. Try to start again and one click and everything off! Have done this 4 times. I'm thinking that something is sticking and slowly releasing. Maybe the solenoid? I don't think a starter relay would act like this. Does the starting process disconnect everything electrical momentarily and restore power when the engine starts and the solenoid disconnects?
Monday, December 16th, 2019 AT 11:55 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,068 POSTS
Hi,

It sounds like you have either a loose or corroded battery terminal (or both). Take a look through this link and let me know if it helps:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Joe
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Monday, December 16th, 2019 AT 2:53 PM
Tiny
KOLOTOUR
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Joe,

Good call. The battery posts and connectors were very clean, but the negative battery connector was an after market item that clamped to the cable. I took that apart, cleaned it and the bare copper wires from the cable and bingo we have ignition! In my past experience if you get the click it's a dead battery. It doesn't come back to life in 4 minutes. But the article you sent explaining the heating and cooling process was very helpful. Now I can file that in the overflowing part of my brain that explains how stuff works.
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Monday, December 16th, 2019 AT 5:10 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,068 POSTS
Glad to hear you got it going. I'm starting to see that kind of a problem more and more. One click, everything goes dead, and then shortly after, power returns. LOL

Take care and let us know if you have questions in the future.

Have a great Holiday,
Joe
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Monday, December 16th, 2019 AT 5:18 PM

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