I took the battery out of my 95E300D, to check the wiring hardness. Which one of the harness goes bad? Is it the one to the computer or the one that goes to the connecter that is right behind the battery?Anyone have a part number from the bad harness? Thanks, Jay

__________________
Thank you, Jay
83MB 300D 241K "The silver coffin"
10 Prius lll 1K
95 MB E300D 120K Mable
02 Saab 9-5 Areo 131K
Cannondale SR500
www.thecornerstonefamily.org/

Jay,you are looking for trouble where there is none,the 1995 E300 Dis a bullet proof car,My own 1995 E300 D now has over 140K miles and has not skipped a beat,no squeaks,no injector problems and one set of glow plugs,Yes I count myself lucky,but my car gets the attention it deserves.Tom

I have the same car, and my harness is basically scrap. I have been patching it on an on-going basis. Running new wires, replacing insulation, etc., etc., At one point very soon, I'll have to bite the bullet and change the whole harness.

The problematic wiring harness in question is the one that connects to the lower plug behind the battery. I am going by memory but I think its a 16 Pin plug, directly below the KILMA relay (the front most relay).

Although many of them are defective, If yours is not, than don't touch it. Don't even look at it. In case you ever need to order it, you will need to order the one for YOUR specific car. Ordering it based on the fact that its an '95 E300D is not enough, as there were several variations even within that model year. When you order it they will (MUST) ask you for your car's serial number, otherwise you may end-up with the wrong harness.

Somewhere along the harness, upstream from the aforementioned plug, probably (within 1-ft) there should be a small tag with the part number. If you are lucky and can find it you will be way ahead of the game. Order it using that Part No.

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

Thanks, Tom and Phil. Phil, where on the harness are you having problems? Is it near the plug? I just want to check my harness before winter. Thanks, Jay

__________________
Thank you, Jay
83MB 300D 241K "The silver coffin"
10 Prius lll 1K
95 MB E300D 120K Mable
02 Saab 9-5 Areo 131K
Cannondale SR500
www.thecornerstonefamily.org/

The problem is really along the whole length of the harness, in some places, such as near the plug behind the battery, you may not see anything because the harness is covered in a sheath. If you were however to unravel that sheath, you may be shocked to see exposed wires. Mine caught fire in that area. Other places are mainly at the numerous plugs below the intake manifold. These are not easily visible unless you first remove the cross over pipe.

The first time that I noticed a problem was 2 years ago. It was with the wires leading to the coolant temperature sensor controlling the electric fans. This sensor is visible and sits on top of the engine near the fuel filter.

The 2 wires leading to it had lost their insulation, and were shorting to each other. The short started about 1 ft away from that plug and extended below the intake manifold. The wires at the plug itself were fine. These wires are also part of the same infamous wiring harness.

The latest problem was 2 weeks ago and was with the 4 wires leading to the coolant sensor that controls the engine computer. This is a different sensor than the one mentioned above and is towards the back of the engine, again under the intake manifold. I ran 4 new wires to it. By now I probably changed/fixed 50% of that wiring harness. I am sure that I am not done yet. Currently I am still chasing a problem that I am certain will turn-out to be wiring harness related.

As I said in my previous post, unless you can visually see that your wiring is crumbling, or if you develop strange starting/idling or AC related symptoms, such as AC compressor speed sensor wiring problems causing the AC compressor noyt to come on) than DON'T touch these wires, especially if you don't have any such symptoms.

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

Phil, the only probems I have is that the windshield wiper sometimes come on by themselves and my aux cooling fans don't work. Dose that sound like it might be harness related? Thanks,Jay

__________________
Thank you, Jay
83MB 300D 241K "The silver coffin"
10 Prius lll 1K
95 MB E300D 120K Mable
02 Saab 9-5 Areo 131K
Cannondale SR500
www.thecornerstonefamily.org/

The windshield wipers no, but it is possible for the auxiliary fans. There could be other causes as well. The simplest one is the 30A strip fuse for these fans. Its located on the driver's side fender well, in a small black box with a flip-up switch. Check that first.

Relays, Sensor, and of course the wiring are other possibilities.

Phil

__________________
'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

Phil, where is the aux fan relay? Is it behind the drivers side headlight? Thanks, Jay

__________________
Thank you, Jay
83MB 300D 241K "The silver coffin"
10 Prius lll 1K
95 MB E300D 120K Mable
02 Saab 9-5 Areo 131K
Cannondale SR500
www.thecornerstonefamily.org/