Could not believe how easy the job was. No pictures needed, as a blind tech, or my wife could probably have done it. Would be interested in what the time allowed for a tech at the dealer is. The old harness was absolutly toast,,,, can't believe the car even ran. One concern I have is that the new harness has the date 9-9-92 on it,,,, probably the same materials I just took out, but I don't imagine I will own the car for another 11 years and 98K.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Good deal! (don't look at the ETA funny- don't even think about it! Erase that thought immediately!)

Does the car run better now? Or was this a preemptive stike?

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

If you confirm that is the manufacture date I would go back at the dealer for another one. First of all they're selling you one from the "flawed" manufacturing era, and secondly at the age of 15 going into service it's not likely to last nearly as long as the original. You paid good money for a car part, not an antique.

Looked at the tag again this morning and it has two dates on it,,, a Z D of 9-9-92 and an F D of 6-11-2006. Will call the dealer this morning and ask what FD and ZD mean.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

The car had been just shutting off occasionally. Once I saw the wires, I knew this situation had to be addressed first.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Design date VS production date...none of the old bio-degradable harnesses are still out there!

A good dealer tech can install that harness in 1-1.5 hrs.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Right....the harnesses are made with better materials as MB did admit to using the 'castor bean' stuff that degrades as you look at it.

Yes, quite amazing how the car(s) ran with them all decrepid. I couldn't believe that my car didn't catch fire at one point.

__________________
Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Another horror picture

Attached Thumbnails

 

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Made in Poland

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

That is an irony in itself if the Pols can get it better than the Germans.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

I hope someone appreciates the irony of the rotten harness on top of a box that proclaims "Quality & Value"

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Skybound: Nevermind. I think it stands for Over Voltage Protection relay. Correct me if I'm wrong. Where is that located on the 400E and could that be the cause of a continuous engine stumble or miss? Thanks.

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1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles