Hello, I have a 81 240'd 4spd, She is my baby... After a 6 hour car ride she has decided she doesn't want to start.

Battery good,
voltage at starter solenoid, good
Using a screw-driver to 'bypass' the solenoid (scary....) but, good (engine cranks)

I am left with a faulty solenoid, or possibly a faulty ignition? What else could it be?

I am mostly writing to ask about bypassing the ignition (so I can see if that is the problem) with a seperate push-button. On my 300D I installed a button that lets me crank the motor if the ignition acts up. Because of the wiring in that car it was very easy to do. But the 240D is such a different animal. I can't figure out where or how to by-pass the ignition and trip the starter automatically. Until I do that I won't know which one the problem is. I suspect like my 300D is the ignition and I would just leave the button installed and use it as needed. If its the solenoid I need to get it on order... hhmmm..

Any ideas you guys?!

Thanks!

 

I'm sorry can you just clarify which switch harness? the one at the solenoid or at the ignition switch itself?

 

Ok, the purple wire gets voltage... when jumping the battery to the solenoid terminal, nothing, when jumping the battery to the starter terminal it turns over...

Bad solenoid huh? I can't seem to find just a solenoid locally... They want $200 for a whole starter plus core. I've never changed a starter on one of these yet............

Maybe if I bang on it a few more times... lol

What do you think?

Also, a long time ago you were the first person to post a response to one of my questions and you did it again, I really appreciate it! Your 240 makes me jealous!

 

So what you would you do? used one for cheap? find 'just' the solenoid? try to repair this solenoid? Or just pay the $200 and order a new starter with solenoid.

Now, have you changed out a starter on your 240? I'm a little intimidated...

 

Oh no I am not a happy camper!!!!!

It took me three days of a couple hours a day and I got the old starter out and the new one in... ITS STILL BROKE!

Its sooooooooo weird... There is a small chance my old starter isn't bad at all! ;( because the new one acted the exact same.

When the ignition is in the 'start' position, and and I jump the battery + to the purple wire screw it tries to start. BUT the purple wire gets voltage like its supposed to on the volt meter, this is what let me to believe the solenoid was out in the first place!

So I might have done a starter install for nothing...

I still don't know what it is...

The ignition is weird, I think its broken somehow, it rolls all the way to the right (so its pointed downward at a 45 degree angle, but it doesn't bounce back up to the 'run' position, it just stays cranked at 'start' and there is no spring back. Did the ignition just die? I don't get it.

 

bump, for any new ideas anyone has....