Mercedes Forum - Mercedes Benz Enthusiast Forums

i have a 1983 300sd. lately when i have started the car sometimes it does not start. the starter (i think) makes a terrible noise when i turn the key to start it and you can hear it make a winding noise. then i wait a minute or so and try to start it again. usually on the second try it starts up, but it has taken 3 times sometimes. it seems to happen much more often on cold starts. it sounds like the starter is working, but not catching or doing what it is supposed to do- i dunno all the mechanics involved which is why i am posting this problem here.

i dunno if this is related, but recently the fan for the heat has stopped blowing. none of the buttons including the high/low fan buttons seem to work. since i have owned the car when i turn it off, it almost always keeps running, even with the key out (i just tap the brake and it stops). but since i have been having this starter problem, the car will shut off immidiately when i turn the key to off. i know both of these things are influenced by the car's vacuum system, but i am not sure if these issues are related to the starting problem. then, just today, my radio has stopped working - i mean it just does not come on- it is like there is no power to it. i changed the fuse for it, but that didn't seem to help. i am going to replace all the fuses (if i can find some that fit) and see if that helps, but if it doesn't i dunno what else to do.

so, i dunno if all these problems are related - but since i have been having the starting problem all these other things stopped working within a week or so.

any ideas? anything i need to explain more that might help please let me know. thanks to all replies!