Diamondrichlb

After spending almost $3,000 for intake manifold and MAS replacement Fletcher has determined I have oil from the camshaft solenoids leaking into the wiring harness. The camshaft solenoids need replacing. And the fuel injectors need replacing.

I have a couple issues with all this. First they want to charge me over $3,000 for the wiring harness replacement. Uh, are the wires gold?

Secondly, I don’t see any indication in my records of SB 2012070002 having been done. Perhaps if the SB would have been done the oil would not be in the harness?

I’m not sure what I can do. Any suggestions?

chassis

Take it to an indy shop for a second opinion.

For a sanity check, let's say for a moment that in the $3,000 estimate, 50% is for parts and 50% is for labor. $1,500 in labor @ $200/hr is 7.5 hrs of labor, or one full day. 3.5 hours to bring the vehicle into the shop, remove the harness and related components, 3.5 hours to install the harness and related components, pull it out of the shop, and 0.5 hours to wash up and do paperwork. Seems in the ball park.

$1,500 for a wiring harness (parts)? Maybe.

A second opinion would probably help you. If the car is not drivable, there would be cost, time and effort involved to move it to the indy.

Or DIY.

Maj. Dundee

It seems that all 164.272 eng. MLs from 2006-2011 are included in this recall. Why are you not arguing with them that they are responsible for this repair, free of charge.

Diamondrichlb

Yes, I can see your point and already went there in my head, but do you know of an engine wiring harness that costs $1500? That’s one hell of a wiring harness and a lot of oil. The car is running fine.

Diamondrichlb

i intend to do that if anyone from Fletcher will talk to me. So far they are incommunicado. I intend to call the manager on Monday. I’m looking for input from someone who might have knowledge of the wiring in the meantime.

lkchris

Post deleted

Diamondrichlb

I understand the difference between a Recall and TSB, thank you.

So, basically if the dealer so chooses, they can just ignore the SB or whatever you called it, and charge for the repairs later. Great way to do business. The car was under their care during the period of the SB.

Maj. Dundee

The PDF that I posted is called a CAMPAIGN which in other words is a RECALL. The two words are synonymous.

Remove the top engine cover and look to see if the solenoids are leaking oil using the photos in the PDF.

lkchris

The terms are NOT synonymous because recalls are mandated by the Federal government and Campaigns are solely at Mercedes’ discretion.. Recalls cover only pollution or safety issues, Campaigns usually cover some embarrassing quality issue and there is little if any legal implication.

Diamondrichlb

Thanks for the clarification. With a Recall the government is involved and forces the Recall. Whose responsibility is it to make sure the Campaign is performed? And what if any consequences are there is nothing is done? I'm looking for the 'stick' in this argument I think I'm going to have with Fletcher. What can I do if they call back and say, 'Yup, we missed that. Sorry. It's going to cost $3,434 to repair the problem.'

Speaking of which, is there a wiring harness that should cost that much to repair? I can't find the part. I've seen used wiring harnesses on EBay with about 20 connection points. Even with that many connections, how can it cost over $3,000 to replace?

lkchris

Price quoted seems incorrect ...

https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/e...asis=16418663J

Diamondrichlb

Thank you. Yes, this is what I saw, although in not this neat form. So, around $500 for parts and $2,800 for labor if? Even at $150 an hour that's a lot of hours. Plus they want to replace the fuel injectors and camshaft solenoids while the car is in. Don't some of the actions overlap? There's got to be a couple hours involving removing and replacing that has to be done for all three actions? Or do they just want to rip me off for all of it if I'll pay it?

Recommended ServicesService DatePrice ("$")

CAMSHAFT MAGNET (SOLENOID) : ALL10/08/2019 $785

REPLACE WIRING HARNESS : INJECTOR HARNESS10/08/2019 $3,429.15

FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT : ALL10/08/2019 $1,305.75

Diamondrichlb

What does CEL DEC ME mean on page 5 of this?

chassis

Ask for a breakdown on the wiring harness job. Ask for parts cost, labor cost, and estimated hours of labor. Also call an indy, and another dealership for comparisons. It does seem high, but if you need it done, you need it done, assuming you want to keep the vehicle.

There was no page 5 on the link in your last post. CEL often means "check engine light" but there is no context in the information you provided.

Diamondrichlb

Sorry, it was this post with the PDF. There are some terms I don't know. CEL, check engine light. DTC? SDS?

I like the General Note. Yeah, too bad the dealership didn't install the harness. At least I don't think they did. I have not had a chance to confirm that by visual.

chassis

SDS = STAR Diagnostic System, the system used to read codes.

DTC = Diagnostic Trouble Code, which are read and cleared using SDS

Did/do you have a check engine light illuminated?

Diamondrichlb

Thank you.

I had a CEL which indicated intake manifold/other possibility. P0174 I think it was. I did not know anything about the oil in the harness issue until Fletcher did the work on the intake manifold. That's when the oil in the harness was found.

Diamondrichlb

I finally heard from Fletcher. The service writer says this TSB does not apply to my vehicle. I have a 2011 ML350 W-164. Can you tell me if Fletcher is correct?

Diamondrichlb

Got this breakdown for the wiring harness:

THE LABOR for wire harness is $2,628.72. Part $800.45.

Total: $3,429.15+tax/fees.

chassis

$2600 in labor is in the neighborhood of 13 hours. Seems high. The markup on the harness seems high. It's a M-B service shop.

The alternative is to call an indy for an estimate for labor, and buy the harness yourself and provide it to the indy, if they agree to that.

Or DIY.

Re: the dealer's claim the vehicle does not fit in the TSB, did they give a reason why the vehicle is not included?

Diamondrichlb

I just took it to an Indy shop. They are going to quote a price on changing the camshaft magnets and look at the harness when they do the work to see if the harness really needs to be changed. He looked and said I did not have the pigtails on the magnet wiring which should be there after the TSB.

He did say they just changed a harness on a 2016 that had oil in the harness, but it was unusual.

Diamondrichlb

I asked why my car was not included when it is a 164. No response to date.

Diamondrichlb

Received a response.

"can you tell me what model 164 TSB 2012070002 is talking about if not my model"

“this TSB is the recall for your model car but your car is not included it the vin range. Your car is excluded from the recall.”
Text STOP to opt-out.
Mercedes-Benz of Honolulu

Can someone verify this if I provide the vin?

Diamondrichlb

Had the camshaft magnets replaced by an Indy. Installed the pigtails. They inspected the wiring harness, no need to replace. Found a small amount of oil, but just starting. No need to change the fuel injectors either. ��

Maj. Dundee

I missed reading your earlier post, but please read the definition of synonymous. Whether it's mandated or at the discretion of MB to repair or replace, the word synonymous was properly used.

What difference is there if an owner has, his or her, vehicle repaired at no cost.