Early 70's Federalization? WTF!? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

350SL4spd · #1 05-21-2007, 11:27 PM

I have finally gotten the time to start attending to all my SL's needs and every single little thing I pull off or look under has evidence of the hideous crimes perpetrated against her.

It is begining to become clear that a good deal of the damage was done the Hack that imported the car in '73. I now think it was he that tampered with my ECU. I offer the following damning evidence:

This mess of prehistoric spagehetti was lurking behind the instrument cluster:

After much investigation I decided that it is an after market "put-yr-seatbelt-on,-dumbass" buzzer. It must have been mandatory for federalization that year because I cannot imagine someone putting one in voluntarily. It was wired to the ignition and the little light bulb was added to the instrument cluster as was the seat-belt dummy light.

Then I found this bit of genius while looking for an exghaust leak:

The hose that is off in the picture runs up to the air cleaner and there is an identical valve behind it as you can see to the left. I'm guessing that it is some kind of ghetto EGR set-up...

I am now convinced that the same hack who perpetrated these crimes on my poor euro may also have modified the ECU for federalization. I can deal with the other stuff, but the ECU makes me so mad I might have to the shop on the import tag and ***** out who-ever answers the phone.

Time to brush up on my German and hit eBay.de.

-M-

Seriously though: If anyone has a lead to a euro 3.5 M116.982 D-Jet ECU let me know. I'll buy you a bar.

truckinik · #2 05-22-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 350SL4spd

I have finally gotten the time to start attending to all my SL's needs and every single little thing I pull off or look under has evidence of the hideous crimes perpetrated against her.

It is begining to become clear that a good deal of the damage was done the Hack that imported the car in '73. I now think it was he that tampered with my ECU. I offer the following damning evidence:

This mess of prehistoric spagehetti was lurking behind the instrument cluster:

After much investigation I decided that it is an after market "put-yr-seatbelt-on,-dumbass" buzzer. It must have been mandatory for federalization that year because I cannot imagine someone putting one in voluntarily. It was wired to the ignition and the little light bulb was added to the instrument cluster as was the seat-belt dummy light.

Then I found this bit of genius while looking for an exghaust leak:

The hose that is off in the picture runs up to the air cleaner and there is an identical valve behind it as you can see to the left. I'm guessing that it is some kind of ghetto EGR set-up...

I am now convinced that the same hack who perpetrated these crimes on my poor euro may also have modified the ECU for federalization. I can deal with the other stuff, but the ECU makes me so mad I might have to the shop on the import tag and ***** out who-ever answers the phone.

Time to brush up on my German and hit eBay.de.

-M-

Seriously though: If anyone has a lead to a euro 3.5 M116.982 D-Jet ECU let me know. I'll buy you a bar.

I'd hunt him down, and put a bounty on his head..
But, I guess that's just the American way...To ruin a perfectly good thing, after much thought process went into its development..Mercedes builds, and always has built vehicles, a certain way, for certain reasons. It isn't supposed to even have a stupid EGR, yet there it is right..? All thanks to the wonderfully, totally incompetent, US Government, listening to those Green Peace, tree hugger morons, advise, and B.S. about the environment, and all of that Hooey. This is why I hate tree huggers, actually, only one of the reasons...I'ver got more. Thanks for letting me vent on your thread..This sorta stuff, and those people just drive me up the wall sometimes with their ridiculous antics, etc. It makes me sick to see what that hack bastard did to that poor car.

GaryF · #3 05-22-2007, 06:02 AM

Dont get me started on the environment, someone I know is replacing their 2 year old Toyota with 5k miles on the clock with a Prius to help the environment. As I pointed out, running their current car for 20 years with 2k miles per year would be better for the environment then the energy and waste produced by renewing their "new" car.
Keeping my 33 year old Merc going with light use is also better than the effect of scrapping it on the environment.

Thanks also for allowing me to vent, and sorry I dont have a spare ECU. The following link might help diagnose any problems with yours though http://members.rennlist.com/pbanders/ecu.htm

350SL4spd · #4 05-22-2007, 09:53 AM

I don't have any beef with the evironmentalists (or the environment itself for that matter). My only beef is with shops that charge good money for this kind of work and do rediculous half-assed jobs like this.

I've owned or worked on quite a few Benzes that had come the federalization requirements and none were this horribly botched.

Oh well. I will make it better, faster, stronger, I have the technology!!

Or to quote a certain Ghostbuster: "We have the tools, we have the talent."

Mark DiSilvestro · #5 05-22-2007, 06:09 PM

The mangled wiring sample looks typical of many home-made automotive electrical 'improvements', as well as some so-called 'professional' installations of car alarms and audio systems.
The plumbing on the exhaust looks like part of an air-injection system (also known as a smog-pump system)
Still looks like a mess though.

Happy Motoring, Mark