Oil in harness- Which harness is it?
Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 152
Likes: 23
2011 C300 Sport 4matic, 2005 C240 4matic, 2003 C230K Sport, 1999 C230K Sport, 1969 220D (first car!)
I recently had similar issues on my daughter’s 2003 C230. Random misfires, lean error codes, occasional stumble at idle. Dealer wouldn’t help—they said the service campaign had been terminated.
I replaced the camshaft sensors, added the pigtails, and cleaned the connectors with CRC electronic cleaner. She drove about 1000 miles, the misfires occurred again. Re cleaned the connectors and no problems since then.
BTW, dealer quoted about $1300 for the same repair. $150 in parts and about an hour to replace and clean.
I replaced the camshaft sensors, added the pigtails, and cleaned the connectors with CRC electronic cleaner. She drove about 1000 miles, the misfires occurred again. Re cleaned the connectors and no problems since then.
BTW, dealer quoted about $1300 for the same repair. $150 in parts and about an hour to replace and clean.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 4
GL450
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,707
Likes: 4,599
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Cleaning the contacts with electrical cleaner is a good idea. The root cause, the cam solenoids and cam sensors, should be replaced for a longer term/permanent fix.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 4
GL450
I had those replaced at the last go around. Coming from somewhere else now, or residual left in the line that has made its way up now. Time will tell.
Newbie
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
C180K sports sedan 2006
C180K 2007 sports sedan oil in engine harness - any Australian campaigns recalls?
I have owned this C180K since 2011
It just went down with ECU and O2 errors due to oil in harness
Independnet mechanic fitted pigtails and cleaned but recurred.
MB very slow to respond and when pushed said unlikely to cover 15 year old car - despite fault being known since 2008-10.
Never notified
Now $300 fix is $3000
Was there ever a recall or notification issued in Australia?
Fair Trading may find this is not fit for purpose under Trade Practices Act
Very very annoyed.
kerbsne
It just went down with ECU and O2 errors due to oil in harness
Independnet mechanic fitted pigtails and cleaned but recurred.
MB very slow to respond and when pushed said unlikely to cover 15 year old car - despite fault being known since 2008-10.
Never notified
Now $300 fix is $3000
Was there ever a recall or notification issued in Australia?
Fair Trading may find this is not fit for purpose under Trade Practices Act
Very very annoyed.
kerbsne
Newbie
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Mercedes C180 Kompressor
Good advice, but one will never totally eradicate the oil from the wiring loom and it will just repeat the problem down the road, ultimately costing more time and money. Cleaning the ECU and all connector pins is just a short stop-gap and one risks bunging up O2 Oxygen sensors again when the problem reappears. Yes, the new sensors and sacrificial pigtails will solve the oil leak but the wiring harness needs replacing also for a fully confident and effective job.
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Newbie
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Mercedes C180 Kompressor
I feel for you, I have experienced the same problem much to my annoyance. It's fundamentally a bad and potentially very expensive design fault by Mercedes and is not uncommon. It appears to be quite prevalent in fact. All because of two ten-cent perished rubber O rings on the Cam sensors. A vehicle is often still drivable and performing well, (other than the ECU, which is scatterbrained and compensates by giving high fuel/oxygen ratios) due to capillary oil contamination from the wiring harness, but drinks fuel and fails emission test levels, therefore it's illegal to drive until rectified and passed.
