D1 Ignition switch

[BathurstTom]

Hi all, my 96 300tdi Ignition, I think, may be on it's way out. It appears to randomly behave as though it has a flat battery. Dual battery system and multimeter showing about 12.5v in each battery. Starter motor only about 2 years old new starter relay. Spyder has been bypassed. I pulled the cover of the steering wheel a couple of weeks ago and tried to check for any play on the connection at the rear of the ignition. Wasn't much, but it did seem to help quite a bit for a week or so. Is this typical symptoms for an ignition on it's death bed?

Thanks,
Tom.

[Robmacca]

Hi all, my 96 300tdi Ignition, I think, may be on it's way out. It appears to randomly behave as though it has a flat battery. Dual battery system and multimeter showing about 12.5v in each battery. Starter motor only about 2 years old new starter relay. Spyder has been bypassed. I pulled the cover of the steering wheel a couple of weeks ago and tried to check for any play on the connection at the rear of the ignition. Wasn't much, but it did seem to help quite a bit for a week or so. Is this typical symptoms for an ignition on it's death bed?

Thanks,
Tom.


Sounds like it... next time it happens, pull out the starter relay and the test for 12v at the relay activating coil terminal. You should get 12v when u turn the key to start engine - no 12v and I would assume its your ignition switch

[Old Farang]

Hi all, my 96 300tdi Ignition, I think, may be on it's way out. It appears to randomly behave as though it has a flat battery. Dual battery system and multimeter showing about 12.5v in each battery. Starter motor only about 2 years old new starter relay. Spyder has been bypassed. I pulled the cover of the steering wheel a couple of weeks ago and tried to check for any play on the connection at the rear of the ignition. Wasn't much, but it did seem to help quite a bit for a week or so. Is this typical symptoms for an ignition on it's death bed?

Thanks,
Tom.
The symptom is low voltage to the starter, not something a small relay will cause. Even though the starter may only be 2 years old, it could still be bad contacts in the solenoid. Other than that, a bad earth connection that only shows up occasionally.