Just Picked Up an SL600 (Pics Inside)! Please Help Diagnose A Few Tricky Faults!!

[craigrhyne]

Originally Posted by TylerH860

This may help you with getting V12 only parts cheap.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/sale-wanted-trade-giveaway/1566146-parting-out-1995-s600.html

Since you say the harness looks good, I'm going to guess ignition module now.

Are the ECU's interchangeable between the 94 SL600 and the 95 SL500? I wouldn't mind buying the N4 EA,CC,ISC module if they are. If by ignition module your referring to the EZL, I've already swapped the two ignition modules in the car with no change. Also, Are the throttle actuators interchangeable between the 94 sl600 and the 95 s600?

Regarding the wiring harness, if the base engine wiring harness does not replace any of the can bus wiring, why would it help solve my issue "No reception from EA,CC,ISC N4/1, N4/3, N4/4 (As I understand it this is just one ECU)"?


A couple things I haven't looked into are the following:

1. I haven't looked at/cleaned the wheel speed sensors
2. I haven't looked at/replaced the stop lamp switch
3. I haven't looked at/replaced the neutral safety switch

The reason I have disregarded these things thus far was because my MT2500 can only communicate with the engine. Knowing this, it didn't seem likely that any of the three above mentioned roots could cause the engine codes I pulled. Does anyone disagree with this?

[Carlo(s)]

Try replacing the ASR switch/sensor; a 500E with the same symptoms had a faulty ASR; when it was replaced all problems were solved.

[craigrhyne]

Originally Posted by Carlo(s)

Try replacing the ASR switch/sensor; a 500E with the same symptoms had a faulty ASR; when it was replaced all problems were solved.

Which switch/sensor are you referring to? The 94 sl600 did not have an in the car ASR bypass switch.



On a different note, I may have found an early 90's model 600sel that has new ETA's to buy for parts (Veeery Cheap! ) Can anyone here confirm or disconfirm the interchangeability of the ETA's and computers between an early 90's 600SEL and the 94 SL600?

Thanks in advance,
Craig Rhyne

[myarmar]

Early ETAs had different connector - 90 deg. angle vs later ETA straight connector

[craigrhyne]

Originally Posted by myarmar

Early ETAs had different connector - 90 deg. angle vs later ETA straight connector

Same unit and wiring though? Swapping the connector would be no big deal..

[craigrhyne]

So I just got off the phone with Beckmann Technologies. They quoted the following:

Passenger side actuator rebuild:
Consumer price- $2366
Shop Price (With valid Tax ID) $1532.90

Driver's side rebuild:
Consumer Price- $2853.50
Shop Price (With valid tax ID) $ 1854.78

So, if I want to get both actuators rebuilt by a reliable source, it would run $5219.50. You've got to be kidding me. The car is only worth what, $7500 in perfect running condition? As of right now, I don't even know that the replacement of the actuators would resolve the problem. A new INJECTOR harness runs about $1k, but this appears to be in great condition on my car (bright, shiny, and flexible). A new body harness (which, if there is any bad wiring in the car, would likely be the culprit) goes for what, $3k on Ebay?


Are there ANY options here besides finding another wrecked SL600 to pillage for parts? I would love to drop in a 2jzgte as I have a significant amount of experience with that engine/transmission combo, but the resale value of that car would be $0, and I'm not really all that excited about putting forth the vast amount of work required for the swap. Are there any documented success stories of mechanical throttle bodies and and aftermarket throttle position sensors? Is anyone running stand alone engine management?

Thanks,
Craig Rhyne

[TylerH860]

Unfortunately you won't find many SL600 owners here because they are not shade tree friendly and nothing about them is cheap. Considering the fact that you basically have two engines running at the same time connected by a crank I don't see how it would be feasible to adapt a more primitive system onto it.

You might as well eliminate the cheap/obvious stuff in case you get lucky. If this is something you want to keep it may not matter, but for resale this is not going to be a worthy project. I would think for the cost of one of those rebuilt actuators you could get a complete 300SL drivetrain/wiring and swap it all over with greater ease than adapting a Japanese motor. In the end, though, you will always be fighting the biodegradable wiring in the car. By my year of SL the wiring issues were long gone and they simplified a bit too.

[Hatterasguy]

V12 MB's are quite expensive to fix that's why you can buy them cheap. The problem with a stand alone system is you would have to re engineer the entire car since its an integrated system. The engine talks to the wheel speed sensors, ASR, transmission, and a bunch of other stuff. Its a big job.

The PO probably knew exactly what it needed, that's why you got it cheap.

[TylerH860]

He hasn't posted in a week. Methinks the zeal has worn off and reality has set in.

[Hatterasguy]

Nothing more expensive than a cheap MB!

It looks like a nice car though, for the right price it would be worth putting $5k into it. If your an enthusiast and want to enjoy it its certainly worth fixing, as a money making or a break even proposition its not so great.

[johnflight1]

I took a chance and bought my ETA on Ebay for 200.00. I lucked out It worked great solved all the limp home asr/abs problems. The unit I installed on my 96SL came out of a E420 It had the same bosch part number.Both are 119 engines. Get the part number off the side of your unit and do a search.Everyone on ebay is good about posting the mercedes part numbers. Two or three hundred is worth the risk when your talking 2grand. John.......................

[TylerH860]

Originally Posted by johnflight1

I took a chance and bought my ETA on Ebay for 200.00. I lucked out It worked great solved all the limp home asr/abs problems. The unit I installed on my 96SL came out of a E420 It had the same bosch part number.Both are 119 engines. Get the part number off the side of your unit and do a search.Everyone on ebay is good about posting the mercedes part numbers. Two or three hundred is worth the risk when your talking 2grand. John.......................

According to his user profile he hasn't logged on since the 7th...

[johnflight1]

Yea That car will keep you very busy

[DanielG]

its always great to see how much the members here care about these cars -- PM the guy and tell him you have a suggestion -- it would be nice to know that that beautiful car is still on the road.

[Bondavi]

Makes it hard to own a 129/140, huh??