can't find CTS in 500E for cool harness
 

I can't find the CTS in my 500E to install JimF's cool harness, i looked at his pictures and could not locate the CTS. I tried looking for something with a blue bottom but couldn't find anything. If someone could get the picture of my engine bay from http://home.adelphia.net/~nychis/500E/ and then circle where it should be, or describe where it should be i'd greatly appreciate it, thanks!

Alright guys, after asking another car fan to help me find the CTS, we found it in the 500E! I'm just posting this with a pic incase anyone else with a 500E has trouble and does a search for help...they can find an answer. It was under the lower engine casing. I put a purple dot on a picture of my engine bay where the CTS is hiding. See ya :)

http://home.adelphia.net/~nychis/500E/500E-25-cts.jpg

CTS! Where are you???
 

It's under the front cover! But, you have figured that out already!

Here's a pic for the 'next' time. The air filter assy can be seen in the back of the picture:
http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/E500_cts.jpg

Yeah, i'm just bad with pictures :) Any normal person would be able to figure that out except me :P Thanks again Jim :)

What does the CTS stand for and what does it do?

CTS explained
 

The CTS (Coolant Temperature Sensor) measures the temperature of the coolant in the radiator and based on that, sends info (in the form of 'resistance') to control the auxiliary fans operation.

Some cars have only one (1) aux fan. Some, like my S500, have two (2). Merecdes has set that the low speed fan operation starts when the coolant temperature reaches 100C. But practically speaking, the fans usually come on between 102 -105C.

My Cool Harness changes the effective reading telling the controller that the temp is higher than it really is, thus starting the fans at a lower temperature. For example, the CH-92 model turns the fans on around 92C. Overall, this effect keeps the operating engine temperature about 8 degs C cooler.

This is not the four terminal ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature) sensor which controls the engines's fuel mixture, etc.. In the picture above, it's next to the blue circled CTS (round black connector).

For more info, check my page (www house below) and click on the MENU #17.

Where do you buy these 'Cool Harness's', and what are the advantages of having it kick on sooner, besides the obvious keeping the enging cooler.

I just got a CH-92, which means it will kick the fans on at 92 instead of around 100 because my 500E temp kept creeping up to 110. The CH-92 is absolutely awesome, it keeps the temp steady around 95. I always imagined an engine was alot like a CPU, keeping it cooler means it would run smoother, though I have no clue. It would just make sense, anyone know how an engine reacts at temps?

MB Specs!
 

Mercedes states that all specifications are met at an engine operating temperature of 80C! That means that at a temperature of 80C, it should meet all published specs.

The corallary question is: how much above 80C is 'good' or 'better'? I would guesstimate that an operating engine temperature of 80 to 95C is ok (and maybe 'good').

Operating at 110C (is said to be ok) but the engine must (is done automatically) be retarded. So for me, I would like to keep the car as close to 80 - 90C as possible.

In no case does the Cool Harness keep the car below 80C!