I assume this is my glow plug relay..... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

AdvisorGuy · #1 06-03-2007, 04:30 PM

I drove to work this morning without a hitch. At 3pm when I was leaving, crank, no start. WTF ?!?! I crank again. Nada. Third time I finally notice that there's no glow plug light. I go under the hood and trace the wires to a big black box on the drivers wheel well. I pop the cap off it and find this:

Looks to be a bi-metal strip that disintegrated. I laid a key across the terminals and I had the glow plug light for it's usual 3 seconds and she fired right up. Is that strip replaceable or am I looking at replacing the box/relay ?

winmutt · #2 06-03-2007, 04:36 PM

Its just a fuse

AdvisorGuy · #3 06-03-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Its just a fuse

So my foreign parts source should have that ?

I've never seens a fuse that was just a screwed-down piece of bi-metal..

Brian Carlton · #4 06-03-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdvisorGuy

So my foreign parts source should have that ?

I've never seens a fuse that was just a screwed-down piece of bi-metal..

It must handle 80A.........so, it's a bit unconventional. They might have it in stock. The fuse gets brittle with age and finally fractures. If yours is burnt, then you might have another issue.

AdvisorGuy · #5 06-03-2007, 04:58 PM

Looks to be original. I'll see if I can find it and replace just the fuse.
and see what happens.

sokoloff · #6 06-03-2007, 05:59 PM

At about a buck apiece, buy two and always carry one as a spare.

Mustang_man298 · #7 06-03-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdvisorGuy

I've never seens a fuse that was just a screwed-down piece of bi-metal..

Take a look at motorcycles and atv's, Honda has used those since the 60's on their main power fuses. I imagine the other makers do the same. Now I'm curious, I wonder if they're the same rating as the one on my Goldwing...lol never thought about it...

bustedbenz · #8 06-03-2007, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdvisorGuy

So my foreign parts source should have that ?

I've never seens a fuse that was just a screwed-down piece of bi-metal..

That's all a fuse is anyway. A piece of metal that's carefully calibrated to burn itself in two and break a circuit if it gets to a certain temperature. The thinner the piece of metal, the faster it burns at a lower temperature. It's just a normal fuse without the plastic wrapper, look at your fusebox fuses, same thing.

raslaje · #9 06-04-2007, 06:41 AM

I bought one from Phil. Some of his stuff originates from New Jersey I believe. If you can't get it quickly locally you might want to check with him.

AdvisorGuy · #10 06-05-2007, 12:37 AM

Got 2 this morning from Foreign Auto in Pompton Lakes. Jim, one of the owners is a nice guy and knowledgeable when it comes to old Benz'. Two cost me $1.50 - parts store to parts store price. All is ONE with the universe.

While I was at it, I did a "Fuse Box Service".