Still trying to figure out charging system, short problem - long hx here but have two specific questions:

1. I found a wire that was cut just hanging out in the engine compartment - not taped or anything - the loose end was around the windshield washer reservoir and housed in intermittent plastic tubing that ran back toward the top of the wheel well and joined several other wiring bundles that all ran toward the driver's side firewall. There were actually two separate wires, one was brown and the other green AND blue. I stretched it past the wiper fluid reservoir and it was long enough to reach to the radiator but I have no idea at what point it was cut or when. Everything electrical seems to work... alternator light has come on a few times when in car wash and also when wiper reservoir had hose disconnection and was dumping fluid in the engine compartment... that wire would have been exposed at those times...
What's did it go to guys?

2. Checked the fuse box today and was surprised to find MANY fuses with wrong (all higher) AMP's than recommended on the factory chart. I carefully changed them all out with new fuses of "correct" amp. rating. I know less than nothing about electrical (or mechanical for that matter). Is there any reason to have higher amp fuses than recommended and could there be any effect on the charging system from that? Most of the recommended 8 amp slots had 15 amp fuses and some of the 15 amp slots had 25 amp fuses.

Any help appreciated!

What vehicle? Could be a washer fluid heater line. Some are in the hood, some are in the tank. Some could be somewhere else that I don't know about...

Browns seems to be MB's color for the DC ground.

1983 300D turbo. The brown was coupled with one that had insulation that was half green and half blue. ?

There isn't much electrical stuff in the area of the ww reservoir. I assume the ww pump works? Besides, the wires are not that color. Looking at my '85, I don't see much that your wires could go to.

Does your car have an EGR vacuum solenoid on the left (driver's side) inner fender? It has a blue/green and brown wire pair. Mine has been removed, so it's just hanging there, like yours. A picture of that part of the engine bay might help us figure out the ID of those wires.

It could also be for a factory alarm option (hood switch). I've never seen one on a 123 but they were available.

The plus-size fuses won't hurt until you have a problem, then they could cause a fire, since they will allow an overload. Someone may have just put in the fuses they had handy rather than the correct ones. BTW, the copper/brass fuses are better than the aluminum ones--as the aluminum ages, it oxidizes and aluminum oxide is an insulator. Brass and copper will also corrode with age but will be more conductive even so.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
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Thanks much - I'll try to get a pic on. WW works - unfortunately I'm not able to ID much beyond battery, alternator, and filters - really inept.