Hello,
I need the wire harness section for the coils and plugs on a 300 E 1993 2.8L engine. One of my three coils flamed out and destroyed that section of the wire harness. If you have one to sell please leave a message. My number is 732-321-4963 if you want to call.
Thank you,
John Schaber

...possibly your best sources for a "used' part is the MB boneyards

however, your vintage part may come with the dreaded "wiring harness problem" so, a new (upgraded) MB OEM part may be the wisest choice to avoid probelmo's in the future from this area

good luck
-fad

I just got another wire harness section from a MB boneyard and it is just as bad. Now my only option is to order the complete wire harness. I only need the small section that goes to the plugs and coils (3). I will splice the wire harness section into the harness. If I was to change the complete harness it could take days?

I would recommend changing the harness as your electrical problems are sure to get worse.
From no fuel to ABS and in between.
Get it over with before it cost a fortune....and the possible fire

Now my auto repair guy tells me that 2 pistons are not firing. He thinks that the main CPU got killed when the coil burnt up. This all stated when the coil flamed out. When my mechanic looked at it he noticed that the wire harness was bad also. He now has replaced the entire wire harness and the coil that burnt up. But still the two cylinders will not fire. On Monday he will trace the wires and see if the signal from the CPU is coming. Any other suggestions? Please let me know
HELP !! How much will a CPU cost?

That ignition system fires 2 cylinders at the same time.
The spark goes from the coil to one plug, over to the next plug
through ground and then back to the coil to complete the circuit.
[ Series circuit. Called wasted spark ignition- that is why there are 3 coils.]
So if he did not check the plugs and you have a fouled one, the second one will not fire. A simple plug check will tell.
The second guess is the boot that goes to the plug under the coil tower. Ask if he changed this when changing the coil.

Thanks for the information. Does the main CPU have anything to do with the firing of the pistons? Could this be a part of the mess?
Thanks.

It triggers the coil , which fires the plug.
Nothing fires a piston.

You asked for possible simple causes of non firing of the plugs on 2 cylinders. The ecu could be at fault, but it could also be as simple as a bad/fouled plug.
Here are the plugs effected by each coil.

Coil 1 fires plugs 2 & 5
" 2 " " 3 & 4
" 3 " " 1 & 6

As I stated, because the plugs are wired in Series, one bad plug/wire/boot/resistor,coil. etc. can result in 2 dead cylinders.
I would think that your mechanic has checked the plugs/etc. when he did the new harness, but sometimes they don't.
Hopefully it is getting power to the coil as the fix will be fairly simple and inexpensive....
For more of an explaination on the wiring of these distributorless ignitions, I have a temporary page all can go to that shows the series , 2 plug design.

http://members.aol.com/ajdalton7/ecoil.jpg

IS the ECU the main processor board? What is the chance that the ECu was taken out by the wire harness? I guess anything is possible.
Thanks for the great information.

Yes, the ecu can be fried....
But, again, for the price of 2 spark plugs [ which will cause the same symptoms], I would change them and take it for a ride around the block.
then you will know ......

The ECU was the problem. We put it on another car and it had the same problem. In short the wire harness shorted and took the coil and ECU unit out. I found a used ECU unit in Florida for 200 bucks. My mechanic installed the wire harness in two hours.

Thanks for your help.

Hello,
Now I have a new problem that started. Since it has been very cold in the mornings the car acts if it wants to stall out. After it has been warmed up it is okay. When I first start it the idle is very high like it is suppose to be. Then I put it in drive and it hesitates. I did not have this problem before the wire harness and ECU was replaced. It almost appars like the idle needs to be adjusted higher. The tach needle is sitting on the 5. I put white gas in the gas tank to get rid of water. Any other suggestions?

300 E 1993 2.8L