I don't know the easiest way to ask this question so I will just tell my experience, also this may happen on non-diesels but I am not sure. This is in reference to my 1987 300TD (W124)

When I open one of the front doors, the radio turns on, antenna comes on, and the Glow Plug light turns on among other interior bits. When I bought the car this was disconnected on the drivers side door so I reconnected it but quickly figured out why it was disconnected! It almost seems annoying, if I go in the car for a second the antenna goes up and down all retarded (lol jk).

Sometimes when I open the door, the glow plug light goes on, then goes out, and so I get in the car to get going, turn the key to the on position and the glow light doesn't come on so I assume its because it has been on long enough from the door being open and go to start the car. That never works, the car never turns on at that point and I have to put the key back into the off position and wait a second, the put it in the on position and patiently wait for the light to go out again.

Why does it deceive me like this? The car has no starting issues, when I use the key everytime w/o the door being open for long enough for the glow light to go out the car fires up in what seems like miliseconds after the light goes out.

Do you guys have this feature disconnected?

Are there other reasons this happens?

My GPS freaks out too everytime I open and close the door considering it is hooked up to the cigg. lighter which turns on when you open the doors. I don't know it just seems weird. Lets hear your thoughts, comments, etc.

EDIT 1: So I figured out why my car does all of this... I purchased the car and it was missing a pass. side visor and clip. Today I got a visor but no clip so I took a bunch of washers but them together and Jerry rigged something to so it could hold up the fairly heavy visor... Would you believe it, as soon as I screwed those washers tight the head unit (which was on with all of the power because I had the door open) turned off.

Instantly I knew why and I turned the key to make sure I didn't short anything out and sure enough the mysterious issue is now solved. So all of you people who thought that was a 'cool feature'... take out your visor clip.

EDIT 2: Scratch EDIT 1 I ended up blowing a fuse because the washers were touching both leads on inside of where the clip meets. I put another fuse in and sure enough it pops, I have a jerry rigged sunvisor clip temporarily and now its made of rubber. =)

__________________
'87 300TD Estate (Panzer Wagon, Sold)
'95 E320 Estate (Sabertooth, Sold)
'94 E500 (Stark 1, For Sale)
'04 VW GTI (Rhino, Sold)
'12 VW GTI Autobahn (Shadow)

There have been some 124s with door wiring damage, usually in the rear door wiring though. It seems like it is possible (since unplugging ?? "fixed" this) that the door wiring is damaged and shorting against either the body or each other when the door is opened.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Ive noticed a strange thing with my W201 190D 2.5...

Not a fault I think but could shed light on your problem, or maybe suggest where to look.

Doors closed, keys in your hand, sitting in the car,-- Elect windows will not operate--Fine, I can cope with that!....

Open the driver's door and the elect. windows will operate normally from their switches as if the ign, was on.

__________________
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

AHA!!!!!!

So mine is NOT the only car that does this. My 86 300SDL does it. I'm assuming it's a feature, not a bug.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

You can operate the windows with the door open? I know opening the door lets you adjust the seat, but I'll try the windows.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

There are differences between the '80s and '90s 124s in that respect, with the express-down windows, close windows & sunroof with the door keys, courtesy power until the door opens, ... not sure if/when the 201 and 126 got these but the '87 300TD does not have them (to the OP).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

The way you have so many things comming on when the door is open makes me think someone reversed the power wire and ground wire that feeds this stuff so when the interior light comes on it feeds power to the other items. Does this happen if you are in the car with the door closed and then turn on the dome lights?

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Sorry about that, I have a 87 300TD I will edit my post!

Those would be nice options to have ::dreams:: 1991-1995 300TD Estate!?


With the doors closed, key in pocket, dome light on, no other power options work.

I just went into the car to check on that and I have an update...

With the door open the following work:

• Sunroof
• Windows
• Cigg. Lighter
• Radio/Antenna
• Glow plug light goes on

__________________
'87 300TD Estate (Panzer Wagon, Sold)
'95 E320 Estate (Sabertooth, Sold)
'94 E500 (Stark 1, For Sale)
'04 VW GTI (Rhino, Sold)
'12 VW GTI Autobahn (Shadow)

Ain't right.

The roof, windows, lighter, radio, and GPs should not come on in your year/model without the key on. Further, the GPs don't come on in position 1 with the rest of the stuff, not until position 2 which is a whole different set of contacts.

I'm not sure how the two connect in your car, will take some troubleshooting.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Well it doesn't work on the W126, shame sounds like a nice feature.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I am going to check this 2morrow morning; I didn't think this was wrong but wow thanks for the feed back.

@ bustedbenz: glad this thread could help you figure out some mysteries with your car!

__________________
'87 300TD Estate (Panzer Wagon, Sold)
'95 E320 Estate (Sabertooth, Sold)
'94 E500 (Stark 1, For Sale)
'04 VW GTI (Rhino, Sold)
'12 VW GTI Autobahn (Shadow)

There is a diode in some relay that when it goes bad causes things to work when the door is open. A search on diode should provide some information.

MBs of 1970 vintage had a relay to energize the power window circuit when a front door was open. I don't know why they did away with that feature.

Sixto
87 300D

I think it's the diode in the power seat relay in the box aft of the fusebox in the engine bay.

Sixto
87 300D

Check your fuses. I think it is #6. My radio and other items would only work with the door open. When I depressed the door switsh manually they would go off. Fuse was compromised.

__________________
www.jerseyplanning.com
1987 300TD 440K - My car
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 107K - Tim's car
2000 - CLK320 100K - Deb's car
1994 C230 150K - Josh's Car

I will have to check into this

Will check #6 when I get out of work!

Thanks for your help guys!

__________________
'87 300TD Estate (Panzer Wagon, Sold)
'95 E320 Estate (Sabertooth, Sold)
'94 E500 (Stark 1, For Sale)
'04 VW GTI (Rhino, Sold)
'12 VW GTI Autobahn (Shadow)