I have a c220 1995- I love the car, but this weekend I did something stupid. I paid someone to clean my car and they washed the motor and immediately the car has major problems. Car dies when started - I must keep foot on gas. Also, car dies sometimes when I stop. And the car started sputtering and I could not go over 20 rpms. I live over 2 hours away from mechanic- I called and they said that my electrical had got wet. I have been told to use a blower and sun to dry out motor. But mechanic said that I porbably would need to replace my wiring harness. The last time I went in for service I was told my wiring harness was dry rottening and that in a few months I would need to have it replaced. This is my question- does the C220 95 have a describner (spelling wrong) cap? Everyone says the car sounds like there is water in the describner- but I can't find a digram of my car. I would appreciate some help. Thanks, Angie

An engine wash resulted in my father's '93 E320 coupe requiring a new engine wiring harness. The harness was crumbling anyway but the moisture was sufficient to finish it off. I can't say I have heard of the harness in the C220 of any of the other 4-cylinder models giving the same trouble. Yours is in the right era ('92 - '95) for it to be a possibility since just about any other model from this era suffered from faulty wiring insulation (and you mentioned that the harness had been noted as failing). First ensure that everything else is dry around the spark plugs and ignition coils (2 coils on your M111 engine and no it does not have a distributor).

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

thanks for the help- When I was searching for information yesterday I noticed several sites selling discounted MB parts. Have you ever purchased parts from the internet and took them to the dealership to have installed? They quoted $600 for a new wiring harness. Thanks again for helping- Angie

600 sounds pretty good for a new harness, they can be upward of $1100-1200 from the dealer. Not too difficult to instal either if you or someone you know is a competent DIY'er.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

I would suggest that you begin by drying the high voltage spark wires. Be sure to remove each boot from the spark plug and be sure that no water is trapped below.

If the problem still persists, there is a possiblility that the high voltage wires are 'punctured' and allow the spark to jump from the wire to the engine, instead of across the spark plug gap. A good mechanic can find this with an ingition scope that displays the firing voltage of the plugs.

Your wiring harness may be the culprit, but start with the basics. Find out what is really bad and replace it, one step at a time. You might save some money.

Best Regards,
Jim

There is water in the top of the head where the spark plugs screw in. Remove the cover, pull each spark plug boot off and dry or spray compressed air onto the holes to remove the water. DO NOT remove any spark plugs before removing the water from the holes! Good Luck......

__________________
Porsche's for Breakfast & Ferrari's for Lunch

have a friend start the car at night, with no lights on. get a spray bottle of water and mist the engine very lightly. If you have major hi volatage leaks, the water will make the electrical leaks evident--they will glow blue-- and you can start your repairs there. Good luck!!

__________________
71 220D 169K wrecked
83 240D 118K sweet 4 speed
91 350SDL (one of the 60% good engines) 156K
84 300d (loaner to my sister) 189K
79 300SD (partswagen)
86 420SEL partswagen
70 220d (partswagen)
68 280s GASSER!!! under construction now
85 300sd 310K miles winter beater car retired
93 300d 2.5 turbo 168K wife's car
83 280SL euro 5 speed 155K
69 250S newest project 54K

I really appreciate all the help. I will try everything suggested- the car runs but jumps and stutters at around 4000rpms. Thanks, Angie

Have you ever purchased eggs at a grocery store, then walked across the street to the pancake house and asked them to cook your eggs instead of theirs?

The dealership will have a similar response and justifiably so.

__________________
'91 300-SEL

I would let it sit in the sun for a few days and let it dry. Long time back, I had washed the engine of my Mitsubishi Galant, and the engine failed to run smooth, but by the next day, everything was back to normal.

__________________
Zafar
94 E320 58000 Miles

We tried everything- finally towed it to the dealership. They called to say they didn't know what the problem was but knew there was no compression in one of the cylinders. Basically, they explained that I would have to pay $600 for them to pull the head off Monday. The technician explained that it was probably a valve and the cost would be around $3500. I am in complete shock. What should I do? Someone told me that compression problems may be related to timing.

I do buy my parts myself (online) and take them to my local mechanic. The owner is a friend of mine and he says it saves him from having to order them.

They just charge me labor ($60/HR--extremely reasonable) and one of his mechanics knows MB's and they have the MB computer repair software.

I live in the boonies and the closest MB dealership is nearly 75 miles each way, so before I bought my 300E I checked with him to be sure he could take care of it.

Please help- couple of weeks washed car motor and immediately had major motor problems. Dealership called they are not sure what is wrong with the car, they are sure that washing the motor could not cause compression problems in the cylinder. Basically, they want to pull the heads ($600) Monday (5/16/05) to see what is going on. I asked if there could be anything else wrong since pulling the heads is $600. They explained they had pulled the plugs and there was no compression in cylindar 1 therefore there must be a problem w/ the valves or pistons? I am so scared- they said to plan for around $3500 maybe more. I have a 1995 C220- I purchased it used and still owe money and this is my only vehicle. Could it be anything besides something that requires pulling the heads? I have been dealing w/ these guys for a couple of years and they seem honest, but 3500 seems like a lot of money. Also could compression be affected by the timing? thanks for any advice

wow! I happened to see this posting right next to one of my threads. I think i have the same problem. I wonder if the discribner is causing the problem. I think I should have my heads pulled too. Paco washed the engine and now there's baking soda all over it!

please help me. Seriously. Please. Anybody. Help. Hello? Hello? Okay, fine.

__________________
'98 Lowered Integra with neon underbody lights