Easy Guide to Fixing Early ’90s Mercedes-Benz Wiring Harness Issue
The wiring harness issue that plagues early 1990s Benz models came from someone’s brilliant idea. “Let’s make it bio-degradable,” someone thought, while ignoring the heat it would have to soak up from the engine. While they worked fine when they left the factory, age would make them brittle. As you can see in the picture above, cracks in the insulation can cause all sorts of issues. Luckily there is a solution that bypasses the expensive repair that will be offered by a Mercedes dealer.
The issue of brittle wires only affected a few select years (1992-1996), so finding a used replacement is very easy if you know what to look for. Almost every harness will have its build date and part number sticker still intact, so aim for the newest one you can find. To stop another headache, check the part number on both harnesses to ensure they match. Once you have found the correct harness, installation is rather easy, as you can see in the video below. Even with a used harness, the replacement should last the rest of the vehicle’s life.
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