I've decided to bite the bullet and fix it.The part was 1100.00 and Christian Brothers will install for 89.00 because they felt bad for me.( great people) This is the way I had to go. To some of the people who don't understand why this is a issue I would say to them, this car is the transportation for my family, we cant afford repairs such as this and it really hurts us to make this repair. When I got this car, yes it was 15 years old but I was relying on the company name and reputation, I am disappointed !

OK, replaced harness. Car is running great now, better than when I got it. Hope MB does not have any more time bombs waiting for me.

I've found a 1993 300CE coupe with 106,000 miles that has never had harness replaced. I'm going to inspect it tomorrow for cracked wires. Meanwhile, my friends 1991 300SE is experiencing a lot of anomalies as described here. Surging, misfiring and going dead. No one seemed to be able to locate the problem. He is inspecting his harness, tonight. Thanks for all the info!

Did you replace it yourself? How easy was it?

NO I had it replaced by Christian Brothers auto, great people! After charging me for plug wires boots & plugs (which were needed) they thought it was the injector #3 that was not firing. before they replaced that they checked further and found the wires were crumbling. they tried to rewire portion that was bad this caused the wire behind where they made the repair to burn up & fail. wire was bad all the way back after trying to splice wire for a full day they gave up and explained nothing to be done but replace harness. merc price 1100.00 for part / they replaced it for 89.00 . I am sure they made no money on this deal and only did it to help me. this harness has wires to all kinds of different things on the engine. I had a lot of wierd things before that seem to have gone away. Car still running fine. (GOOD LUCK WITH PROBLEM CAUSED BY MB )

As I changed ISPs, I have had trouble accessing my web site to update the MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1996 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT NHTSA COMPLAINT SUMMARIES list. The access problem has been resolved, as I have moved servers. I will try to update the NHTSA list in the near future. Note, I have changed all of my earlier posts in this thread to the new web address, and the below links also reflect the new web address.

If you have yet to file a complaint with the NHTSA, now would be a good time, as I plan on talking to the NHTSA soon. Tom

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MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1997 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT NHTSA COMPLAINTS

I am looking at purchasing a 300D in the 1991-1996 model year range . Is there any way to tell whether the wiring harness has been replaced ( tag , color code, connectors etc .) ? - Thanks

Probably better to post such a question on the diesel forum. But only a 1995 E300 would have a problematic harness. All you can do is inspect for cracked insulation and have a dealer run a VMI report to see if it had been replaced in the past under warranty or goodwill.

Post the VIN#, and I can give you the new part#

I just finished my most recent NHTSA update, and have added over three-hundred new complaints, to total 550 NHTSA MB Wiring Harness Defect Complaints.

Among them, I added some 14-15 new reported fire complaints (to about three dozen fires), a couple more reported accidents (one injury), and perhaps a hundred more reported "loss-of-controls."

Also, I recorded a large number of 1996 model year complaints.

MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1996 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT NHTSA COMPLAINT SUMMARIES

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MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1997 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT NHTSA COMPLAINTS

Such ink does exist. If someone wants, I'll see if I can look it up.

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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

[QUOTE=infoage1;2011249]I just finished my most recent NHTSA update, and have added over three-hundred new complaints, to total 550 NHTSA MB Wiring Harness Defect Complaints.

Among them, I added some 14-15 new reported fire complaints (to about three dozen fires), a couple more reported accidents (one injury), and perhaps a hundred more reported "loss-of-controls."

Also, I recorded a large number of 1996 model year complaints.

MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1996 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT NHTSA COMPLAINT SUMMARIES

Ok, so was a recall ever done?????

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the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...
2007 Honda Accord EX
2007 Honda Accord SE V6
96 C220
97 Explorer - Found Another Home
2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home
85 300D - Found Another Home
84 300D - Found Another Home
80 300TD - Found Another Home
Previous cars:
96 Caravan
87 Camry
84 Cressida
82 Vanagon
80 Fiesta
78 Nova
Ford Cortina
Opel Kadet
68 Kombi
Contessa

Not as of yet...

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'94 E320 with 272,000 miles. '92 500SEL 133,000 miles.
Mods to the '94: TomTom GPS in place of ash tray, Auto Dimming Mirror ,Memory seat, DEI 545T Auto lamps, DEI 530T Auto Up/Down Windows, DEI Remote Start, Motorola Bluetooth® Car Kit, Built in phone charger using factory phone wiring, RainTracker Rain sensing wiper, Keyless Entry, Ambient lighting of center storage compartment. Soon: factory heated seats, REST
Mercedes-Benz is my addiction of choice.
http://www.youtube.com/vanwiek

It's likely that no recall will be done because (as I suspect):

1. It would be expensive for Mercedes, and NHTSA has been known to back off from forcing expensive recalls.
2. Both Mercedes and NHTSA are hoping that the problem will soon fade away as these 13-15 year old vehicles are retired from service.

My 1991 190E 2.3 has had alot of problems this year. It's now at a foreign auto shop, where it's been diagnosed with wiring harness deterioration. This is the fourth one they've seen this year. I'm told that both Mercedes and Volvo "went green" in the early '90s and used biodegradable coating for their wiring harnesses. Unfortunately, the heat under the hood breaks them down just like sunlight!

I was told that Mercedes wasn't carrying the harness any longer, but would have a worker "custom make" one for over $800 (includiing shipping) We waited the promised two weeks, then have been phoning daily to locate the part, which we were assured was "in transit."

My mechanic learned today that Mercedes has declared the wiring harness for my car OBSOLETE, and has not made one for me, nor will they make one. The promise and subsequent lies are all Mercedes', not the dealership's or my mechanic's.

Perhaps this is a way for Mercedes to avoid a recall?