400E Wiring Harness Issue, please help
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
400E Wiring Harness Issue, please help
I started having trouble with hard starts on my 93 400E. My service shop saw richness on the plugs, caps were getting mucky (had them replaced recently) and no codes were showing up on the scanner -
They decided it was the wiring harness as Mercedes used some biodegradable plastic which breaks down causing a failure, and apparently had a recall campaign that the previous owner did not participate in and it ended in 2001.
The service guys also said not to use certain fuels (BP, Texaco, QT) but to use Chevron.
My car is running fine now but I am wondering if this is just a band aide to a future problem, and the repair was quite expensive @ $1100.
Please give thoughts if any of you can help, and thanks in advance for doing so.
They decided it was the wiring harness as Mercedes used some biodegradable plastic which breaks down causing a failure, and apparently had a recall campaign that the previous owner did not participate in and it ended in 2001.
The service guys also said not to use certain fuels (BP, Texaco, QT) but to use Chevron.
My car is running fine now but I am wondering if this is just a band aide to a future problem, and the repair was quite expensive @ $1100.
Please give thoughts if any of you can help, and thanks in advance for doing so.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
1992 400E
Don't know if I can be of any help, it sounds like your problem is fixed.
But maybe I can lend some comfort, at least. $1,100 is a pretty good price for a V-8 harness -- both upper and lower -- installed. As far as I know, there never was a recall of the (clearly defective) wiring harnesses M-B used on the E-series in the early 90's. If someone got theirs done under warranty, they were either very lucky or had one hell of a good relationship with their dealer.
The good news is that new (OEM) harnesses use a completely different insulation, and should last the remaining life of the car. Replacing it is certainly not a band-aid fix.
I have no idea how the brand of gasoline intersects with the insulation of the wiring harness, though...
But maybe I can lend some comfort, at least. $1,100 is a pretty good price for a V-8 harness -- both upper and lower -- installed. As far as I know, there never was a recall of the (clearly defective) wiring harnesses M-B used on the E-series in the early 90's. If someone got theirs done under warranty, they were either very lucky or had one hell of a good relationship with their dealer.
The good news is that new (OEM) harnesses use a completely different insulation, and should last the remaining life of the car. Replacing it is certainly not a band-aid fix.
I have no idea how the brand of gasoline intersects with the insulation of the wiring harness, though...
Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Murphy, Texas
1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E (W124-036), 2004 W211 E55
I paid $517 for my upper wiring harness(500E) two months ago from Fastlane. I installed it myself in about an hour. If they only replaced the upper, it sounds like they are really proud of their labor. If they changed both, I agree with 400E 's statement. I was shocked at the condition of the harness after only 59K miles.
Last edited by G Man; Jan 21, 2006 at 07:55 PM.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Thanks to all for your responses, I sure hope the harness fix works - this car has been awesome (I have owned it for almost 3 years) and have had very little trouble. My brother in law has a 92 and he put Bilstein Shocks on the car and says it makes a world of difference in the handling so if this wiring harness is the fix and I don't have to put more cash into the car I will opt for the Bilsteins.
Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Mercedes-Benz 400E
Originally Posted by jpganman
The service guys also said not to use certain fuels (BP, Texaco, QT) but to use Chevron.
By the way aren't Chevron and Texaco the same company and the same fuel, they both have Techron?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: west virginia
Originally Posted by 400E fan
Don't know if I can be of any help, it sounds like your problem is fixed.
But maybe I can lend some comfort, at least. $1,100 is a pretty good price for a V-8 harness -- both upper and lower -- installed. As far as I know, there never was a recall of the (clearly defective) wiring harnesses M-B used on the E-series in the early 90's. If someone got theirs done under warranty, they were either very lucky or had one hell of a good relationship with their dealer.
The good news is that new (OEM) harnesses use a completely different insulation, and should last the remaining life of the car. Replacing it is certainly not a band-aid fix.
I have no idea how the brand of gasoline intersects with the insulation of the wiring harness, though...
But maybe I can lend some comfort, at least. $1,100 is a pretty good price for a V-8 harness -- both upper and lower -- installed. As far as I know, there never was a recall of the (clearly defective) wiring harnesses M-B used on the E-series in the early 90's. If someone got theirs done under warranty, they were either very lucky or had one hell of a good relationship with their dealer.
The good news is that new (OEM) harnesses use a completely different insulation, and should last the remaining life of the car. Replacing it is certainly not a band-aid fix.
I have no idea how the brand of gasoline intersects with the insulation of the wiring harness, though...
i'm sorry, you're a little mistaken.
the goodwill harness recall was for the m-104 6 cylinder motors.
the BAD NEWS the wiring harness' for V-8's were NEVER upgraded. you get the same thing.
i hope '400efan' got both harness' changed for $1100, but i kind of doubt it.
i just had my lower harness changed last wednesday, 80.00 part, 110.00 labor at the stealer.
my tech [25 year mb master tech]said he thought i was crazy and no way these harness' [both of them] were bad. he told me i was absolutely correct.
he told me this saturday on a roadside call.
Last edited by ebennz; Jan 22, 2006 at 05:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Thanks for the insight. Why did you need the lower harness replaced, was it for the same plastic breakdown as the upper harness typical problem?
My main concern is that the $1100 repair (dealer quoted about $1800) is not the actual fix for my hard/no starts. Also, prior to the harness change I could smell very rich fuel after startup and the tech told me that if the harness is bad the computer can not send correct info and the car basically starts trying to compensate resulting in my fuel smell, richness on the plugs, and residue in the caps.
My main concern is that the $1100 repair (dealer quoted about $1800) is not the actual fix for my hard/no starts. Also, prior to the harness change I could smell very rich fuel after startup and the tech told me that if the harness is bad the computer can not send correct info and the car basically starts trying to compensate resulting in my fuel smell, richness on the plugs, and residue in the caps.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: west virginia
jpganman
i have read and researched the 400e trouble spots.
a lot of 500e guys mentioned the lower harness also defective because of substandard material-like the other one...my lower harness was toast.
it was also a lot cheaper than the main harness.
when was the last time you had a major tune with fuel filter replaced up by a qualified mb tech?
are your plug wires original?
how is your fuel pressure regulator?
have you ever replaced ALL of your fuses?
this is very cheap and great insurance
i have read and researched the 400e trouble spots.
a lot of 500e guys mentioned the lower harness also defective because of substandard material-like the other one...my lower harness was toast.
it was also a lot cheaper than the main harness.
when was the last time you had a major tune with fuel filter replaced up by a qualified mb tech?
are your plug wires original?
how is your fuel pressure regulator?
have you ever replaced ALL of your fuses?
this is very cheap and great insurance
