Weird starting issue

[fintail]

My C43 acts funny now and then, and I would like to know what it is. Maybe once a week, when I go to start it, nothing happens. Just a click and nothing. Then when I try again, it starts as normal. I start it maybe 15 times a week, and most of the time it is perfect. It reminds me of my fintail, where if it isn't in Park all the way, it won't start. Could this be a problem with the starter, or the sensor that tells if the car is in park or neutral?

[SLAMMED_C]

Ive heard about this similar problem on clks.. specifically the 320 (w208)
its an issue with the starter and ring gear.. excessive drag causing the rpms to jump, the car thinks that the car has started so it disengages the starter (hold in winding) and your car stops cranking.
when you start your car.. keep your eye on the dash.. the rpm gauge.. watch to see it if jumps to say over 600rpms.. when it doesnt start for you.
if so, you need to lubricate the ring gear.
hope this helps out a little.

[benzaddict]

Originally posted by SLAMMED_C
Ive heard about this similar problem on clks.. specifically the 320 (w208)
its an issue with the starter and ring gear.. excessive drag causing the rpms to jump, the car thinks that the car has started so it disengages the starter (hold in winding) and your car stops cranking.
when you start your car.. keep your eye on the dash.. the rpm gauge.. watch to see it if jumps to say over 600rpms.. when it doesnt start for you.
if so, you need to lubricate the ring gear.
hope this helps out a little.

Yup, that's probably what's going on. With "tipstart" if the tach jumps due to binding of the ring gear/starter, it kills the tipstart because it thinks it's running. You can lube it through one of the access holes at the bottom of the case usually used to access the torque convertor drain plug. Lube it with "Anti-sieze" lube compound. It's the silver/grey paste/lube that most people use on spark plug threads. Good luck.........

PS... what kind of fintail do you have.....gas or diesel?

[fintail]

Thanks for the info, I'll have to keep an eye on that the next time it happens. A couple times it has taken a few turns of the key to get started. Then it's fine for 10 days-ish, and it does it again. It's a big annoyance, as it makes me afraid the car's gonna strand me. But at least once the car starts, it starts normally, as if nothing happened.

My fintail is a W111 220SE, here's it and the C43



http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6858/pair57eq.jpg

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by benzaddict
Yup, that's probably what's going on. With "tipstart" if the tach jumps due to binding of the ring gear/starter, it kills the tipstart because it thinks it's running. You can lube it through one of the access holes at the bottom of the case usually used to access the torque convertor drain plug. Lube it with "Anti-sieze" lube compound. It's the silver/grey paste/lube that most people use on spark plug threads. Good luck.........

PS... what kind of fintail do you have.....gas or diesel? This was the fix for mine! My car use to do the same thing! Good info!