Starting issues

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?

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 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

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

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 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