124 Blower Problems - I Need Ideas

[allenhouse]

This has been a helpful forum for me. I am a first time MB owner - 1986 300E. Great ride.

Last September driving along happily, my AC Blower all of sudden quit working and I smelled something burning; it seemed to be coming from under the dash on the passenger side. I quickly pulled over and saw no smoke and so I pulled onto the highway again.

The Blower has not worked since. This is what I've done:

- Put a new Blower fan in. Checked the old one and it worked with direct connection. So that was a waste of 80 dollars.

- Checked and replaced all fuses. Couldn't find any fuse matching the description of "an aluminum fuse in a coffin shaped box outside of the fuse box."

- Found a cheap but working Button Control Unit. Both of mine work now.

- Changed the Blow Contro Regulator.

- Jiggled the ignition more than I've probably needed.

All to no avail.

Today, I was searching under the dash on passenger side behind the glove box (where I originally smelled burning last september) and found a huge cluster of wires with the black fabric tape around them. The tape had melted and had melted the rubber backing of the carpet directly covering it. This cluster of wires is huge with two big red wires running right down the middle. None of the wires had lost insulation. Couldn't find a short.

What in this mess could be causing my AC Blower to not run.

Desperately seeking any help.