Below is a responce I sent to NHTSA today.

Hello Kristin,

The document you sent me is an Adobe document which can not be modified. Therefore I am not able to make changes to your attached document. I have tried to add to the issue below.

What you wrote:
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300SE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT HE NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY CLAIMED TO NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,500.


My additions (in red):
THE ISSUE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE IS FROM THE RESULTS OF A DRYROTTED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. DURING THE TIME PERIOD THIS CAR WAS MANUFACTURED MERCEDES BENZ USED A BIODEGRATABLE MATERIAL FOR THE WIRE COVERINGS. THIS MATERIAL THROUGH THE YEARS COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES KNOW ABOUT AND HAS SINCE CHANGED THE WIRING HARNESS COVER MATERIAL A FEW YEAR LATER. ALL THEIR MECHANICS KNOW THIS AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON EVERY MERCEDES FORUM THAT I HAVE FOUND. I AM TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF ACCURANCES RECORDED. THE REDESIGNED HARNESS IS A $600.00 ITEM WHICH IS WHY MERCEDES TENDS TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY AND REFUSES TO ACCEPT THIS AS A RECALL ITEM. THIS ITEM MUST BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IF GONE UNATTENDED IT BECOMES A SERIOUS FIRE HAZZARD WHICH IS ALSO WELL DOCUMENTED AND WAS MENTIONED BY MY MECHANIC. HE ALSO STATED THAT MOST MECHANICS WILL NOT WORK ON THESE CARS UNLESS THE ENGINE HARNESS IS REPLASED FIRST. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CAR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSIS IF THE WIRING IS NOT IN A GOOD WORKING CONDITION DUE TO THE FACT THAT FALSE SIGNALS ARE SENT TO THEIR DIAGNOSIIC EQUIPMENT.

MY MECHANIC ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH ADDITIONAL INFROMATION DIRECTLY FROM HIS MERCEDES BENZ PRELIMINARY INSPECTION & ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURES MANUAL. IT IS RETYPED AND QUOATED EXACTLY AS THE MERCEDES BENZ DOCUMENTATION STATES.

PRELIMINARY INSPECTION & DOCUMENTATION
VISUAL INSPECTION

1) VISUALLY INSPECT ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING, LOOKING FOR CHAFTED, STRETCHED, CUT OR PINCHED WIRING. ENSURE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FIT TIGHTLY AND ARE NOT CORRODED. CHECK FOR LOOSE OR DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ON STARTER MOTOR. ENSURE ALL VACUUM HOSES ARE PROPERLY…

NOW I ASK YOU; IF THIS IS NOT KNOWN BY MERCEDES BENZ TO BE AN ISSUE THEN WHY IS IT THE VERY FIRST THING IN THEIR PRELIMINARY INSPECTION THAT THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR TRAINED MECHANICS LOOK FOR?

BELOW ARE SOME PICTURES OF THIS DEFECT:


(picture missing)
ABOVE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE WIRING HARNESS THAT ATTACHES TO THE ENGINE’S CARBARATOR BASE WHERE FUEL CAN COME IN CONTACT VERY EASILY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FIRE. ALSO NOTICE BARE WIRES THAT MAY CONTACT ONE ANOTHER WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SPARK AND RESULTING INTO AN ENGINE FIRE.



(picture missing)
ABOVE IS ANOTHER EXAPMLE OF A DRYROTTED ENGINE HARNESS WHERE WIRES ARE EXPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER.




(picture missing)
ABOVE IS AN EXAMPLE OF BARE WIRING LEADING TO THE ENGING COIL, THE COIL HAS VERY HIGH VOLTAGE WHICH PRODUCES SPARK FOR EACH CYLINDER IN THE ENGINE. THE GREEN IS THE COPPER WIRE CORRODING.




(picture missing)
ABOVE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CONNECTOR THAT SHATTERED WHEN REMOVED DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT UNDER THE HOOD.


I have documented and stated my case very well. If you or your organization NHTSA have questions or require further information please let me know. I believe that this is irresponsible on Mercedes Benz’s part to not address this very serious issue. It is not my intent to bash or disrespect Mercedes Benz in any way. They are known for making a very well engineered and safe automobile and that is exactly what I thought I was getting when I purchased mine. However, this issue has gone overlooked and it is my sincerest hopes to get it addressed through the Department of Transportation.



Best regards, Earl

Hopefully something can be done... its clearly an issue on the 92-95 models. Did Mercedes not think these cars would last more than 10 years?

In months past, I had been in contact with NHTSA in regards to the 1990-94 Lexus LS400 as well. I do not know of ONE that dont have or have had a power steering pump leak - whats worse is that it leaks down onto the alternator, resulting in alternator shorting out and failure. Its also a safety concern since it can cause the car to eventually stalling. It also effects the steering, what with all of that fluid always leaking out.

I have one of these that naturally has a PS fluid leak and I have been told its effecting my alternator, as my "brake" warning light is occasionally DIMLY illuminated, but the brakes are fine. I was told it was because of PS fluid getting into the alternator.

Personally, I think that despite these cars pushing nearly 20 years old that something should be done by Lexus (even like a large discount for work done at dealers), especially since this was effecting these cars when they were not even that old. My aunt had a 90 LS400 she bought new that had a leaky PS pump and rack when it was 7 years old... cost them about $2500 to repair it all. Ridiculous.

There is also a problem on the same car with the wiring loom in the trunk thats attached to the trunk lid hinge. Seems like over time the wiring becomes twisted, frayed and frazzled and causes and array of electrical gremlins (warning lights illuminating for no reason - strange transmission behavior, etc). Most ALL 90-94 and even later LS400s have had this issue. Again, I think a recall should be in order.

This is wierd, ... I somehow got bounced to the Toyota forum.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Mog,

I'm UnAware of any lexus diesels offered in CONUS (?)

This is the Toy diesel forum:

Attached Thumbnails

 

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Some "Fluff" about the release of Toyota's TurboDiesel Land Cruiser Last Year.

today on edmunds.com it stated the 08 land cruiser has an diesel engine.
edmunds says:

"SYDNEY, Australia — Toyota's completely redesigned Land Cruiser 200 series made its world auto show debut in Australia prior to a November on-sale date.

The big SUV gets a new 4.5-liter twin-turbo diesel V8 engine paired to a six-speed automatic transmission as well as an optional 4.7-liter V8 with a five-speed. Toyota claims better fuel economy on both engines than on previous-generation Land Cruisers.

Longer, wider and taller, the new Land Cruiser has a more imposing presence. The all-new platform retains its full-frame structure. A technical highlight much mentioned here is the Australia-developed kinetic dynamic suspension system (KDSS), which is standard on all Land Cruiser models.

Other features are a Torsen limited-slip center differential, multiterrain ABS, and — on gasoline models — a "crawl control" function.

Toyota has not yet released prices but they are expected to top out at more than U.S. $90,000 for the top-end Sahara model.

What this means to you: Toyota Land Cruisers are beloved in this rugged country, and this latest new version is sure to maintain that tradition — especially with Aussie-developed technology in it."

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Toyota lovers; way to hi-jack an otherwise good post.