Within the past few months, my 240dl has been doing the strangest thing. Sometimes I turn the key and the engine never turns over. Something else happens, a noise like a blow dryer starts, and no matter how many times I turn the key into on or off positions, the noise doesn't stop. The first time it happened, it ran for 20 minutes and was accompanied by a little smoke. All the macho guys I asked to look at it, virtually ran away. I walked away from the car, and it eventually stopped. Of course when my husband arrived, the car started as soon as he turned the key. It just happened again, and in my paniced state, I thought I would just pull all the fuses, and it would go away. With all the fuses out, the noise persisted. Everyone I told said it was the fan, but when I popped the hood to look, nothing turned. I shakily disconnected the battery, and it stopped. What goes direct to the battery like this? Is it cause for concern?

 

Sounds like there might be a short in the starter or starter wiring.

 

Don't 240s have an auxilary radiator fan, in addition to the engine driven one?

Could the ignition switch be going bad, causing the No-Start?


(I'm a master of the WAG)

 

Some do and some don't.The year wasn't specified.

 

So this noise you are hearing is when you try and crank the engine?

I'm a little confused with your description, but could it be a slipping starter motor bendex?