W124 500E Cigar Lighter +12VDC shared with ?

[ke6dcj]

I traced a dead-short to the cigar-lighter positive lead.

Unfortunately, when I un-plugged the cigar-lighter connector, the short still existed.

As I traced the connector backwards, it turns out there is a factory "splice" using the same 3-pole connector and ALL THREE wires (GN/BLK; BR; BU/WT) but I cannot seem to find where this goes to, and what's more frustrating is that I don't see it documented in the ETM anywhere, paper or CD-ROM.

The ETM does NOT show what else is sharing the +12 VDC of the cigar lighter, which in my car is GN/BK.

When I "cut" this off, the offending 40-AMP! draw is gone.

Again, this is a FACTORY accessory using/sharing this cigar lighter +12VDC lead.

Any insights here ?

Thanks,
:-) neil
1993 500E

[ke6dcj]

BTW, I checked the fuse-box lid, and for Fuse #1, it lists the following:

cigar lighter (works)
switch heatable rear window (works)
glove compartment light (not applicable)
folding head restraints/rear compartment (works)
radio (works)

In short, EVERYTHING works even though I did clip the factory spliced portion of the GN/BK wire since it was drawing 40-amps.

Again, it is factory spliced just one connector back from the cigarette lighter connector, but I don't know where it goes to.

It looks like it goes down the center console and is in a sheath shared by a YL/BK wire.

Ugh!

:-( neil