Hi all I have a 96 300tdi auto, started getting intermittent starting issue at first a thought it was the battery as it had a little acid leaking so done that. Job done or so I thought! Next few days starting doing it again power comes on glow plugs light try to turn it and nothing except flicking dash lights and a clicking noise for engine bay think it's the relay next to the fuse box. So thought starter motor must be gone! Swapped it today and to my disgust still not starting and doing the exact same thing, looking more like an electrical fault!? Please share the knowledge so can got the old git going again.


Thanks all

Jonny

Start by removing main lead to starter and main earth and clean the ends and the mounting points.

Do the headlights dim if you try starting it with them turned on? If not, starter's drawing no current so the fault's probably on the switch/relay/solenoid wiring.

No start by adding a jump lead from Negative battery terminal to a nice clean ali part of the engine bay (not likley to get wiped out by belts or fans) if this cures your starting issues. then its likley you have a bad earth connection from your battey terminal to the engine. It could be the engine to chassis lead or the battery to chassis lead or both.

First check with lead if this works then clean terminals. If this makes no difference then look elsewhere