Identify this box! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

The Warden · #1 08-08-2002, 11:08 PM

Hello! As I was tearing into the underside of my dash to get to the cruise control amp (which needs to be re-soldered, I assume), I ran across another box. This box looks kinda similar to the CC amp, but is kinda L-shaped. The connector (which, according to pics I've seen, looks identical) is not connected at all. It has a 14 pin plug, and the part that appears to plug into it is sitting right there. It is almost directly above the hood release. There is a tag that says:

Mercedes Benz
000 820 52 2
BAW 840 Z 0008
Gepruft: 5084

What is this? Any idea why it was disconnected, or should it just be plugged back in?

Thanks in advance!

The Warden · #2 08-09-2002, 12:26 PM

...anyone?

BTW, in retrospect, the title for this thread could sound rude to some; I apologize for that. I was actually trying to be funny.

Also, I did a few other things. For the heck of it, I turned the headlights on briefly while I was under there trying to get the CC amp out, and the buzz that you get that tells your your headlights are on while the door is open appeared to be coming from that box. I plugged the connector in briefly and the horn started going off, so I pulled the plug almost instantly.

That implies that it could be part of the supposed alarm system this car was equipped with from the factory (but did I somehow activate it, or is somethign wrong?)...but I'll have to look further into it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated...thanks in advance!

gsxr · #3 08-09-2002, 08:37 PM

You're one digit short on the part number. It should be 000-820-52-xx. If you have that, we can look it up on the EPC and figure it out.

Eberhard Weilke · #4 08-09-2002, 11:07 PM

...to do with the indicator lights.

The part number at least heads into that direction.

The number with suffix "1" would be an indicator light.

Unplug it and see if the indicator lights work.

But this is just a guess.

Kind regards
Eberhard

The Warden · #5 08-09-2002, 11:36 PM

Eberhard, how do you mean by indicator lights? Are you talking about the lights on the dash (i.e. brake, alt, brake pad wear, etc)? Those work perfectly, and, again, this was disconnected before I pulled the panel off, and I believe, was disconnected before I bought the car.

I haven't tried further, but, again, when I plugged it in, the horn blared so I almost instantaneously unplugged it (with the neighborhood I'm in, I would have gotten many complaints had I not done this). AFAIK, except the alarm system that this car was theoretically fitted with at the factory (and the cruise control, although I doubt this is related), everything seems to work well...be nice if there was R-12 in the a/c and/or the electric fan worked, though...

Eberhard Weilke · #6 08-10-2002, 08:44 AM

...would be, that it is some part of the alarm system.

With indicator lights I meant the turn signals at the corners of your car.

Kind regards
Eberhard

gsxr · #7 08-10-2002, 10:45 AM

Say, Eberhard, what exactly is that a screen shot of? It appears to be some type of Mercedes part lookup & pricing tool. But it's not the EPC or WIS. So what is it? I'm stumped!

Kind regards,

Eberhard Weilke · #8 08-10-2002, 12:19 PM

...available on CD-Rom.

Unfortunatly only with the german prices.

There is also a website available at
http://wwwsg.daimlerchrysler.com/Projects/wi/cda/etpl

where you can get the german prices and availability.

With the VIN number it would be possible to look up the part at that particular vehicle at the EPC. Unfortunatly I don't have I don't have the EPC for the W 124. I could search through the microfiches, but that would take a while.

Kind regards
Eberhard

gsxr · #9 08-10-2002, 01:43 PM

Hi Eberhard,

Thanks for the info! I tried the link you posted, but all I can see is three blank image boxes, each of which link to the Daimler Chrysler home page. I guess they have it set up so we can't check prices across the pond here in the USA. That's too bad, I'd love to have access to online prices and availability, particularly for Euro-only stuff like the E500 headlight lenses. The CD-ROM would be neat, too. Is there any FTP site where we could download it, or is it heavily password/license protected like the WIS?

Oh, btw, The Warden's car is a 123, not a 124. We didn't get the 124 chassis over here in North America until 1986. We're always a little behind you guys in the Fatherland...

Regards,

Eberhard Weilke · #10 08-10-2002, 08:24 PM

....the link doesn't work on my computer either since I have the new broadband hookup.

Anyway, I will check on monday at the office.

If you send me the VIN of the vehicle in question I will see if I can find something at the EPC at a friend of mine computer.

The E 500 should have the same plain headlights as the other W 124.

Kind regards
Eberhard

The Warden · #11 08-11-2002, 06:13 PM

Eberhard, if you were wanting my VIN, it's WDBAB33C7FA236037

And gsxr's correct, I have a 123, not a 124. Also, my turn signals and 4 way hazard lights work perfectly, except they don't click as loudly as I'm used to (I can't hear it at all unless I'm looking for it). Assuming this car uses a plug-in flasher unit as every other car/truck I've owned does, I'm guessing the flashers are getting tired...I should probably replace them with solid-state units.

Actually, two questions...assuming this is part of the alarm, how do I work it? I'm guessing that the alarm's currently set and me plugging in the unit with the door open caused the alarm to go off (even though I only have the master key). Also, is there a site that gives the right info to decode the VIN?

Just curious, thanks

jbaj007 · #12 08-11-2002, 06:40 PM

Call me craazy but I'll bet your seatbelt lamp and/or buzzer don't work.

The Warden · #13 08-11-2002, 08:52 PM

You mean there's supposed to be a seat belt buzzer?

I think my seat belt light works, but to be honest, I never paid attention.

The Warden · #14 08-15-2002, 10:03 PM

Well, I finally found a nice quiet spot in a seaport and plugged the box in. My horn started beeping on and off for 30 seconds. So, it looks like it's the brainbox for the anti-theft system.

I plugged it in with the driver's door shut; after it quieted up, I opened the driver's door...and it went off again. Shut the door, locked it with the key, unlocked it with the key, and opened it again...and no horn. So, going by what my manual says, it appears to be operating normally now.

However, I have one complaint...apparently, this is how it's supposed to function, but the horn will go off if I open the trunk, even with the master key, while the door locks are locked. Is there a way to bypass this while allowing unauthorized (i.e. breaking open) trunk openings to sound the alarm? I would never go and install a car alarm, but if the car already has it, I may as well use it.

Thanks!

sixto · #15 08-16-2002, 03:56 PM

Folks usually disconnect the alarm controller because one of the lock switches is bad, as in my 91 300SE. Each lock has a switch in the lock and unlock extreme key positions. The controller doesn't distinguish one switch from the other. In my case, only the lock side switch works. The alarm is armed when I lock the car from the driver's door. When I unlock the driver's door, I pull the door open, then quickly turn the key to the lock position. That turns off the alarm. I got tired of doing that so I disconnected the alarm again.

AFAIK, those switches aren't available separately. You have to get the whole latch assembly to get new switches.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL