What is This Thing?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

zsmith29 · #1 10-28-2008, 06:29 PM

I have no earthly idea what this thing is, At first I thought it had something to do with the cigarette lighter, NOPE?????

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd303/zsmith29/BENZ/?action=view&current=DSC03341.jpg

This is what the red wire that I explained in the photobucket description hooks to over at the battery terminal.

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd303/zsmith29/BENZ/?action=view&current=DSC03348.jpg

Thanks Guys,
Good luck these things are mighty weird.

#2 10-28-2008, 06:30 PM

Nothing that came from the factory.

KarTek · #3 10-28-2008, 06:36 PM

Someone wired themselves a power port for a radar detector or CB or other accessory...

Toblin · #4 10-28-2008, 07:24 PM

Wash your hands before you touch that car!

zsmith29 · #5 10-28-2008, 10:48 PM

Well Huh,
The plastic housing for the fuse had melted through and it looked like it was an open connection. I repaired it with some trusty electrical tape and then fired up the old worn out engine.

I was having a terrible time figuring out what was wrong with the alternator/starter/cables/????
I dunno it might just be a coincidence why it is starting now or maybe this open connection was the culprit.

We shall see in the morning.

Hatterasguy · #6 10-28-2008, 10:57 PM

Looks like aftermarket crap. I had the same problem with my SDL, had about 4 head units and 3 sets of speakers all with there own wires over its life. Luckly for me they just kept hacking the last hack's wire's and left the stock stuff alone! After a morning with the snips I had a pile

Maybe you got lucky, cut it out and fix the original stuff that they ruined.

zsmith29 · #7 10-29-2008, 12:10 AM

Does that makes since that the fuse socket/holder could have melted through which resulted in an open circuit that in turn kept the car from turning over??

Does this add up??

JimmyL · #8 10-29-2008, 12:21 AM

Aftermarket 12vdc power outlet.

compress ignite · #9 10-29-2008, 12:34 AM

IF (AND it ain't ever gonna happen) that silly little fused "TakeOff" 12 volt
outlet was keeping the engine from starting ...You've got a whole lot of
problems we've NEVER EVER seen.

The problem with: PO [Previous Owner],USTM [Untrained Shade Tree Mechanic],
(or the worst) SI/AI [Stereo installer/Alarm Installer],Etc. ...IS you do not know
what the Aroint they've screwed up.Or how many other things on down the
Electrical chain are compromised.

'Without a "Stock" Electrical system you may "Aroint Up" even more things
trying to diagnose and fix problems.

patbob · #10 10-29-2008, 11:43 AM

From the side, it looks like an accessory power tap. However, I assume you're savvy enough to have figured out if that's what it was

Perhaps it's part of some former alarm system with an anti-start cutoff. If you want to be sure, remove the fuse and see if the car will start then. If not, then it's been somehow hooked into the starter circuit.

Black wires do not automatically mean ground, even in the factory harness. On mine, the factory harness used brown for some grounds. You'll need to track that black wire back to whatever it goes to, to figure out what that device is there for.