300E- Wire Placement on Distributor Cap
 

1986 300e- m103 Engine

Made the mistake of pulling off the distributor cap without noting the placement of the wires.

I expected to find a diagram somewhere in my 3 manuals quickly, but no luck.

I can see from one manual that the firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4, but how does this map to physical placement on the distributor cap?

I have to know where to place wire #1 for this to be helpful!
Thanks for the help.

Look at the black cover that goes over the distributor cap. There may be an embossed diagram there.

i made this stupid mistake recently as well.

fortunately i have three 124's

if you can't find the way to fix, find a 124 brethren in town...

Thanks for the tip. Alas, no such diagram in my case.

The terminals on Bosch distributor caps are clearly marked. Install the cap so the "Bosch" is horizontal and right side up. As you're likely aware the cylinders are numbered 1 thru 6, front to back.

For a rule of thumb that will work on any engine, put the crank marker on zero which will put the number one cylinder at tdc. the rotor inside the distributor will be in a particular location. The nipple for spark plug wire to number one cylinder will be right at the point of the rotor. Install that wire in that nipple. Noting the direction that the rotor turns, the next nipple will be for the next cylinder in the firing order, etc.

Tom W

Thanks- I'll check that out. I was working at night with poor light, so no chance of noticing such a thing. I can try looking at the old one for reference. Once the inner cover is on, you cannot see the cap.

Click on the lower picture and you'll see a little diagram, which may help, or it may not.

http://www.***************/search/product.aspx?sid=wt42uj55u2514miqfvvh0p55&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1193813@300E&year=1986&cid= 25@Ignition%20Parts&gid=7124@Distributor%20Cap%20Cover

You can see where #1 goes in the photo below and you can go from there.

124 distributor cap

Starting at the bottom right (passenger side in USA) it's 1 5 3 6 2 4.

Ah yes- looks like #1 is the first stop clockwise from vertical. That would have been my guess with nothing else to go on. That fact that it was a somewhat tight pull for the #3 wire made me uncomfortable with that hunch.

Thanks a lot!