E320 Wiring Harness How-to
 

I wrote up the process for changing the wiring harness on my 1994 E320, complete with lots of pictures. Bill Wood just posted it under the DIY section. Thanks Bill!

I hope this is helpful to some forum members who are faced with the same repair (most or all with the defective wiring will eventually end up changing it).

Thanks,

Nice pics!
 

Thanks for taking the time to post your adventure; evetybody benefits.

Perfect timing!
 

I am about to do this job on my E280T-94 this weekend. Made a printout to prepare my self, love all the pictures! Thanks a lot for your help :)

Regards
Johan Lundberg
Sweden

Yes, my mechanic told me that he always replaces the actuators w/o removing the intake manifold.

I'm told they can do it in about 1.0 - 1.5 hours. I'd double that for a DIY'er.

Paul,

I removed the TA in less than 20 minutes. I went home at lunch and pulled it out so I could cut into it and verify the bad wires. I wanted to get one on order the same day. I had the new one two days later and installed it in another 20 minutes. No kidding - it is really that simple.

Don't forget to order the gasket that goes between the TA and the intake manifold. It's only 2 bucks.

did the harness few months ago- but left the TA alone. did you get a new TA are there rebuilt ones and what are the costs with ASR??? had no idea that all wires can go bad. also can you just change the poti and not the whole thing?? i am a little tired of all the mb problems- deteriorating cables after 8 years in a 124 its just insane and your friendly MB service manager has never heard of it or will find the defective part!!!

Unfortunately,

The throttle actuators cannot be rebuilt. The potentiometers, wiring harness, etc. cannot be fixed, either.

You are going to have to buy a new one if yours is bad.

Yeah, all of us are upset that have 1993-1995 W124's that have the deteriorating wiring harness troubles...:(

Changed the wiring harness yesterday
 

Got the new wiring harness yesterday and made the change in less then one hour. No real problems removing the old one, with the exception of a stuck battery.
Inspection of the old harness made it clear that a change were necessary, and the car definitely runs better now :)

I@$ WIRINGHarness
 

Anyone get help from MBUSA on this problem. Anyone ask MBUSA for help??

NH, If you read the archives you'll find that the only relief one can get is free parts or free labor negotiated from the dealer, and probably only if you give the dealer a lot of business. MBUSA will not admit to this problem.

I've urged people to file a complaint about this problem to the NHTSA. A high number of complaints may get some action from the governing agency. Here's the complaint form .

Remember that NHTSA is concerned only with safety. So it is the safety aspect (stalling in traffic) that should be mentioned in the complaint.

FILING A COMPLAINT
 

I just completed the complaint form and filed it.

Yeah, I read your string when I replaced my harness, Kestas. I also logged a formal complaint at the NHTSA site. Good advice. It's the best way that any of us have the possibility of getting some reimbursement. If there is eventually some action, then maybe throttle actuators can get some attention as well!

Wiring harness
 

Maybe we should collect them and deliver them to NHTSA in bulk with a little newspaper and television thrown in for good measure. Hmmmmmmm.