This has been happening on and off for the past 2 years on my 85' 240! During warm or hot weather, and mostly after a long drive(30 min or more) you turn engine off,then I try to restart by turning ignition key and no crank! The new Bosch starter is 1.5 years old and I just replaced the ignition switch from the junk yard two months ago when the same thing happened but did not solve problem! This has happened a half dozen times and with same warm weather long drive conditions, and every time if you wait it out, it will start again like nothing has happened( sometimes 20 minutes and a coulpe of times an hour). The connector in the firewall is good, I always check that when this happens (disconnect reconnect) still no start! The ground wire is tight and looks fine, I only see one on the rear of the cam cover. Is there another that I don't see? Any help is greatly appreciated!!

/// The correct post I should have referred you to is, "Sorry - yet another starting problem" on Monday May 28 at 12:37. I think I will go lie down.

/// All the suggestions are good and correct.

Does every thing else work when the car won't crank, radio, wipers? If they do the trouble is not (repeat not) the negative battery cable or the positive system wire from the positive battery post to the distribution rail behind the battery, (200 and later).

If nothing works use your jumper cables to connect the negative battery post to engine ground, use both sides to increase the wire size. If the car starts this means you need a repair to the negative battery cable.

If the radio and wipers do work then the trouble could be the starter cable at the joint inside the positive battery post clamp. A voltmeter or test light used at the time of failure will reveal this. Check for voltage at the starter bolt.

I recommend a NAPA repair part #728211. It is a six inch long cable repair end intended for trucks. I just posted the information to "After a long drive the car won't start" at Monday 28 May, 10:49 am. Go to the index and read it there so I don't have to type it all in.

Have you checked the safety switch associated with the automatics having to be in Park or Neutral before cranking. I can't see how the conditions that make the problem appear would be the cause of the neutal safey switch not functioning properly but it came to mind....

Randy

There are a number of possible causes: bad battery, cables, cable connections, starter solonoid, starter, wiring, ignition switch. To determine correct cause it is best to diagnose when the problem occurs. Check battery cables at both ends to be in good shape and tight. With problem present check voltage while trying to crank at: Battery posts, battery terminals, large cable at starter, small wire spade connector at starter. The results will narrow down the possibities.

Another approach is to run a small jumper wire from battery positive and touch to the small spade connector at starter. If starter suddenly works then you have eliminated starter, battery, cables, solonoid and starter as possibilities. This would also get ou on your way. The problem then would be ignition switch, associated wiring including wire to the small spade terminal at starter.

Good luck

Hi!

Try knocking a hammer gently against the starter when this happens again...

also check all connections to battery & starter terminals.

If you have an anti-thief device, it is possible that it's dead..

anyway, if you vant to be sure, install a light bulb (or a led with a 2200ohms resistor) between the solenoid terminal and the ground : when you crank the car, this must light, otherwise there's a problem whith your ignition switch (unlikely since you replaced it).

Otherwise, you'll have to dismantle the starter...

Antoine