560SL Hardtop Rear Defroster

[stix518]

Here's one you don't hear very often!!

The (expletive deleted) former owner of my otherwise very nice '86 560SL CUT the cord off the hardtop to the rear window defroster right at the trim. Not much to work with and not sure what to do. Would like to simply replace the cord (where do I get one? Is this difficult??). If not, I can maybe splice a length of cord (seems to be pretty heavy guage) and try and find the male connector at a local auto parts store OR use a different connector and maybe splice it's counterpart behind the flap but that connector - the female end - is "mounted" and doesn't appear to have much play i.e. will be very difficult to work with due to the body panel and size of the opening. Under normal circumstances this should be easy by simply changing the connectors but I don't have much cord to work with on either end. Is there a positive and/or negative and does it matter which one goes where? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help!

Stix

[Strife]

I had the same problem with the connector shell itself missing, and the MB classic center gave me incorrect information as to its replacement. You might try them again because the EPC (the parts system on the Internet) will not help you in this area.

I did later get a junk hardtop with a good connector shell, which I moved to my hardtop.

[cbdo]

AFAIK it's possible to remove the interior side trim panel and get unobstructed access to the defroster cord assembly on the female (car) side. I ordered new connectors, which weren't that pricy, and my indy threw them on there along with a bunch of other stuff. However, the factory setup is that the female plug is mounted in place and you have to get the male one into the opening then plug downward onto the female fitting; in my pcar, the female plug isn't firmly secured and getting the male plug securely into place is a real PITA, really only done well with a plier to hold it. It'd be much easier if the female fitting were on a pigtail secured to remain accessible but allowing you to pull it out, plug the male into it, and stuff it all back in, and I'm considering exactly that. Using a polarized connector would guarantee correct hookup each time.