Hoping someone out there can help me diagnos my problem. This morning went to just in the car to take the dog to the beach and our dear 240 DL wouldn't start, wouldn't turn over, no click, and with very little electrical power. I know the alternator is on the way out but is this the problem? Shouldn't the starter at least click? Any advise would be appreciated.
thanks.

If the headlights are dim, then probably weak battery. Get a boost or recharge the battery.

If the idiot lights aren't on with a charged battery before starting the engine (key in position II) then you may have a loose ground (thick short blue wire) or exciter wire (thin red wire) that's preventing the alternator from charging.

If the alt light is on before starting car and goes off after, then you may have a high amp draw while the engine is off or your battery is on its way out.

If the alternaor light is on before and after starting car then your regulator brushes may need changing.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

i have a 91 245 and this same thing happend to me total 3 times already (over last 2 years). first time had car towed to mechanic who said car started right up after he tried it. drove for another year and happened again. left car alone, came back next day and it started right up. 6 months later (this past friday) same thing happened and had it towed to same mechanic. luckily, it wouldnt start when he got the car and he traced the problem to bad rotor and dist cap. cheap enuf fix, and i'm just praying this was the original problem. go get a cap and rotor, can hurt.
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oceanre 91 240 wagon 260k

Cap & rotor wouldn't have anything to do with the starter motor not operating. Completely unrelated systems. If it was turning over but not starting that could be a possibility.
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Chris, Dartmouth NS Canada 70 M-B 280SE, 83 245DL, 84 244 turbo, 90 780 turbo, 92 VW Golf

Sounds like the alternator already skipped out. Your battery needs to have at least 10V to make the relay click for the starter, lights need less. Get your battery recharged and then get your alternator fixed. Might be just brushes.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Start with a voltage test of the battery. With a bad or going bad alternator you may have killed the battery. If 12 volts at the battery then try a jump start. It may be a bad cable or starter. Check for voltage at the starter if the jump does not work.
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1965 Mustang A block 4 speed, 1969 Cougar Eliminator, 1990 Super-Charged Thunderbird and a car (740) that my wife can drive!!!

Thanks everybody...as it turns out the battery was dead. Very good info about needing min 10v to get the starter to click - I just assumed that was a sign of something drastically wrong with the car. Glad i was wrong.

Again, thanks for all the replys.

"as it turns out the battery was dead."
But is the problem solved? Why was the battery dead? Was it not holding a charge anymore or do you have a charging system problem or high amp draw?
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

Thanks everybody...as it turns out the battery was dead. Very good info about needing min 10v to get the starter to click - I just assumed that was a sign of something drastically wrong with the car. Glad i was wrong.

Again, thanks for all the replys.