Bad Engine Harness
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Joined: Sep 2007
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2005 C230 Kompressor
Bad Engine Harness
If you have followed my Alternator Thread you will see I have had some pretty good drama with this problem. After messing with the alternator and that not resolving my charging issues, the dealer trouble shot it to a bad cam lobe sensor leaking oil and ruining my engine harness.
Of course the engine harness is the most time consuming and not covered under warrenty. Estimate of cost is $2000 to replace a $360 harness.
Luckily all the parts except that one are covered.
So my question would be how difficult would this harness be to replace. The car is back home in the driveway and I have nothing but time so if anyone has changed this harness out and can give any info I would appreciate it.
Apparently this harness connects to the Cam Lobes Sensors, The O2 Sensors, the ECU and Front Sam.
Thanks!
Dave
PS I have called MBUSA and filed a complaint and they refuse to cover the harness.
Of course the engine harness is the most time consuming and not covered under warrenty. Estimate of cost is $2000 to replace a $360 harness.
Luckily all the parts except that one are covered. So my question would be how difficult would this harness be to replace. The car is back home in the driveway and I have nothing but time so if anyone has changed this harness out and can give any info I would appreciate it.
Apparently this harness connects to the Cam Lobes Sensors, The O2 Sensors, the ECU and Front Sam.
Thanks!
Dave
PS I have called MBUSA and filed a complaint and they refuse to cover the harness.
Last edited by Djcoak; Dec 13, 2008 at 10:55 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
If you have followed my Alternator Thread you will see I have had some pretty good drama with this problem. After messing with the alternator and that not resolving my charging issues, the dealer trouble shot it to a bad cam lobe sensor leaking oil and ruining my engine harness.
Of course the engine harness is the most time consuming and not covered under warrenty. Estimate of cost is $2000 to replace a $360 harness. Luckily all the parts except that one are covered.
So my question would be how difficult would this harness be to replace. The car is back home in the driveway and I have nothing but time so if anyone has changed this harness out and can give any info I would appreciate it.
Apparently this harness connects to the Cam Lobes Sensors, The O2 Sensors, the ECU and Front Sam.
Thanks!
Dave
PS I have called MBUSA and filed a complaint and they refuse to cover the harness.
Of course the engine harness is the most time consuming and not covered under warrenty. Estimate of cost is $2000 to replace a $360 harness.
Luckily all the parts except that one are covered. So my question would be how difficult would this harness be to replace. The car is back home in the driveway and I have nothing but time so if anyone has changed this harness out and can give any info I would appreciate it.
Apparently this harness connects to the Cam Lobes Sensors, The O2 Sensors, the ECU and Front Sam.
Thanks!
Dave
PS I have called MBUSA and filed a complaint and they refuse to cover the harness.
That said - amanonfire & others have done the job - hopefully they will come to your assistance
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 13, 2008 at 05:25 PM.
Thread Starter
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2005 C230 Kompressor
Yeah I kinda feel the same ond once again this is why it will be my one and only MB. I see it that if a warrentied part fails and shells out a part that is not covered then it should be replaced under warrenty.
Thread Starter
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2005 C230 Kompressor
I suppose anything is possible but how do you know whats damaged and what isn't without looking at the whole thing? The part is only 300 bucks. If I am going to remove the whole thing to inspect it I may as well replace it
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W203
Its "6 hrs" to replace according to the dealer, once you start pulling the harness out you'll see it takes about 2 hours to get it out, more to get it back in properly, or just use a bunch of tie wraps!
The problem is the harness goes under the car (O2 sensors, oil sensor, CPS) and to the injectors, so its a bit of a pain.
More tedious than hard.
The problem is the harness goes under the car (O2 sensors, oil sensor, CPS) and to the injectors, so its a bit of a pain.
More tedious than hard.
Thread Starter
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2005 C230 Kompressor
Its "6 hrs" to replace according to the dealer, once you start pulling the harness out you'll see it takes about 2 hours to get it out, more to get it back in properly, or just use a bunch of tie wraps!
The problem is the harness goes under the car (O2 sensors, oil sensor, CPS) and to the injectors, so its a bit of a pain.
More tedious than hard.
The problem is the harness goes under the car (O2 sensors, oil sensor, CPS) and to the injectors, so its a bit of a pain.
More tedious than hard.
Thats funny my dealer is quoting 18 hours. If it were only 6 I would have had him do it LOL. Does anyone have a picture of where the harness starts and ends? Thanks!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Being an engine harness, one could assume that it starts at the ECU and ends somewhere down at the bottom of the car. You should report the problem on the NHTSA website as that prompts recalls. Also, the ECU is covered for 80K miles and you can probably argue that the harness is part of the ECU as that's how it communicates to all the sensors. Since this is a federal issue with the Clean Air act, you can probably complain to the federal trade comission. Also, if you do sue, it has to be MB, not the dealer, so start by talking to the MB zone rep.
6 hours labor seems fair, 18 hours sounds like they really like you. Heck, an engine swap probably doesn't even book at out at 18 hours.
6 hours labor seems fair, 18 hours sounds like they really like you. Heck, an engine swap probably doesn't even book at out at 18 hours.
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Thread Starter
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2005 C230 Kompressor
Don't know how you all continue to drive these overpriced pieces of ****. I am so fed up with this POS Mercedes I can't wait to dump it. I see them as nothing but an overpriced money pit.
Good luck for those of you that still drive them, you need it
Good luck for those of you that still drive them, you need it
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From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
And if you happen to live in the SF bay area, my mechanic is awsome.
Good luck!
Super Moderator
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
At least it is not an over compliant, dangerous, American piece of crap from a company that might not be in business after it's burned the next 17 billion US$ bailout.
Spend the $300 & do the job yourself. It's a bummer but had you bought a V6 you would not have these troubles.
If you want something boring but ultra reliable - buy a Toyota.
Spend the $300 & do the job yourself. It's a bummer but had you bought a V6 you would not have these troubles.
If you want something boring but ultra reliable - buy a Toyota.
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W203
Like buellwinkle said, sounds like they really "love" you. Go somewhere else.
Most likely your engine harness can be saved, once you have it out soak it in degreaser overnight, rinse, repeat. Any oil left after that will slowly seep out, yet not in a large enough quantity to do much harm.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I've posted this before but repeat:
"To clean the harness properly you really need to use a solvent like Hexane. The trouble is that Hexane is nasty stuff - If you go this route - ON NO ACCOUNT INHALE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF THE FUMES & WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA - excessive Hexane inhalation can lead to numbness & temporary paralysis of arms & legs.
It's a constituent of gasoline, glues etc."
Hexane will literally extract the oil from the harness due to it's chemical composition
"To clean the harness properly you really need to use a solvent like Hexane. The trouble is that Hexane is nasty stuff - If you go this route - ON NO ACCOUNT INHALE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF THE FUMES & WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA - excessive Hexane inhalation can lead to numbness & temporary paralysis of arms & legs.
It's a constituent of gasoline, glues etc."
Hexane will literally extract the oil from the harness due to it's chemical composition
Junior Member
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From: Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa
'04 C 200 Kompressor
The harness only cost about $360... not bad actually... might just replace mine but will get my buddy who is an auto electrician to do it than pay MB for it...
Thought the harness alone cost almost $1000
Thought the harness alone cost almost $1000
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I don't know the price in South Africa. The head failures were R30,000 a pop at the stealer.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 21, 2008 at 04:41 AM.
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From: Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa
'04 C 200 Kompressor
R30K for just a head... and here I thought R20K for a brand new Toyota 4AGE 20v motor is expensive...
For R30K I could probably get a M112 motor (recon), gearbox and have it fitted I'm sure...
Just crazy
and here I thought R20K for a brand new Toyota 4AGE 20v motor is expensive...For R30K I could probably get a M112 motor (recon), gearbox and have it fitted I'm sure...
Just crazy
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W203
I've posted this before but repeat:
"To clean the harness properly you really need to use a solvent like Hexane. The trouble is that Hexane is nasty stuff - If you go this route - ON NO ACCOUNT INHALE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF THE FUMES & WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA - excessive Hexane inhalation can lead to numbness & temporary paralysis of arms & legs.
It's a constituent of gasoline, glues etc."
Hexane will literally extract the oil from the harness due to it's chemical composition
"To clean the harness properly you really need to use a solvent like Hexane. The trouble is that Hexane is nasty stuff - If you go this route - ON NO ACCOUNT INHALE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF THE FUMES & WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA - excessive Hexane inhalation can lead to numbness & temporary paralysis of arms & legs.
It's a constituent of gasoline, glues etc."
Hexane will literally extract the oil from the harness due to it's chemical composition
Oil seeps through the harness and into every sensor connected to it. Replacing only the harness doesn't remove the oil from the sensors. Moreso, most people don't notice the affect of the oil in harness issue until 1L or more has leaked out, cause the ECU is more likely to complain about being a L low in oil before the O2 sensors get messed up enough to throw a CEL.
So the minuscule amount of oil still left in the harness is nothing compared to the > 1L that has already seeped into components. Cleaning it with some degreaser should be good enough, and some preventative maintenance to reclean the connectors 6 months later should suffice.
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W203
If its BS, and I was under warranty, I'd be demanding every single component attached to the harness be replaced too, since oil will have seeped everywhere. A new ECU, MAF, O2s, knock sensor, TB, injectors, coilpacks, ... would be great!
Super Moderator
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
What I'm saying is how can you do too good a job of cleaning the oil out of the harness & other components? Hexane is the ideal solvent.
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W203
What I'm saying is the dealership only replaces the harness and not all the electronics, which, to me, only fixes 1/2 the problem. The dealer is content with a little oil being left in all the electronics, so I doubt the little bit of oil left in the harness will be a problem either.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
What I'm saying is the dealership only replaces the harness and not all the electronics, which, to me, only fixes 1/2 the problem. The dealer is content with a little oil being left in all the electronics, so I doubt the little bit of oil left in the harness will be a problem either.
Quote
"First:
replace cam sensors
add isolation wires
clean all connectors with electrical contact cleaner
If problems persist:
replace O2 sensors
replace engine harness
If problems persist after that:
cry
replace MAF
replace ECU
unquote"
There are many others. Now you say it's OK to have a partially oily one????
How much oil causes an O2 sensor to misread ???
Then above you start talking about dealers replacing the harness & not the electronics??? - this is nonesense.
Under warrantee the dealer will replace all the elecronics & sensors FOC - what the dealer & MBUSA won't cover under warantee is the harness.
Wake up
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W203
There are many others. Now you say it's OK to have a partially oily one????
How much oil causes an O2 sensor to misread ???
Then above you start talking about dealers replacing the harness & not the electronics??? - this is nonesense.
Under warrantee the dealer will replace all the elecronics & sensors FOC - what the dealer & MBUSA won't cover under warantee is the harness.
Wake up
How much oil causes an O2 sensor to misread ???
Then above you start talking about dealers replacing the harness & not the electronics??? - this is nonesense.
Under warrantee the dealer will replace all the elecronics & sensors FOC - what the dealer & MBUSA won't cover under warantee is the harness.
Wake up
Non-sense, I listed many of the electronics that are connected to the harness - find me a repair sheet where the dealer replaced them all. You cannot. The dealer only replaces what is a problem, I spoke with my service manager about it and asked if I was under warranty about replacing everything, and he said it'd be a fight with MBCanada since that's not the procedure.
Now MBUSA may be different than MBCanada, yet I still doubt you can find one repair order where all the electronics I listed were replaced.
