Lafontaine <clafonta@yahoo.fr>
Newsgroups: alt.auto.mercedes
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 9:45 AM
Subject: Several odd things concerning the motor behaviour - Cable worn out


Hi,
I have been having mercedes for 12 years and after a 230E W124, I have now a E 220 Coupe (Year 1994).
Since November 2000 this car has odd engine behaviour. The actuator close to the carburator was suspected by Bosch and
for 2 weeks now the car is out of order and in a mercedes garage.
The problem seem to be coming from an injector, then from the computer (or calculator) and finally the problem is due to
cable insulation. The cable wires going from Bosch Computer to the different parts of the motor are worn out:

The cable ISULATION has been CORRODED BY THE ACID of the battery.

I don't think that is a normal for a brand as MERCEDES !
Has somone already heared or faced a such problem ?

ADDITIONAL INFO
AS I sent this contribution to the news forum several days ago, I have to do some updates:
the wiring harness has been replaced, but now the ECU (Engine Control Unit) is dead and as to be replaced.
ECU Bosch ref: 0261 200 442 ==> new Bosch ref 0261 203 230
MB ref 015 545 9532 ===> new MB ref 016 848 5532 Price about 1100 dollars (VTA included)
> Thanks C Lafontaine
>

In the US, we are having A HUGE PROBLEM with wiring harnesses! I have seen many fail. This is not just you!

Our local dealers are replacing many under warranty.

ECU + Wiring Harness replaced
 

The wiring harness and the ECU (Engine Computer Unit) have been changed and after one month w/o car (Parts ordering and replacing and testing) everything seems well working now. (About 2100 Dollars)
But I have done a deep ckecking around the physical implementation of the ECU and there is no trace and stains of acid of the battery, in this area and nowhere. It seem that the wiring harness was damaged by crushing and squeezing and NOT BY ACID. I guess that Mercedes tells that because they will not accept to be responsible of a bad setting of these cables.
What is your position ? Thanks

claf,

Like you heard earlier, the wiring harness is a cronic problem with these cars. When I purchased my 94 E420 back in January, the wiring harness was starting to rot/crack.. etc, so I had it replaced. I found a Mercedes Dealership who would do the labor for free if I covered the part (about $500). I have heard that some dealers (Atlanta?) replace them for free.

As far as ECU goes, you should have bought a used one. I had a problem with my ECU which required a replacement, but I picked one up at a salvage yard for $225.

Willy