Jon2007E63P30

Somehow I think the only thing I will hear is crickets, but here goes...

All electronic systems in the trunk lid stop working as soon as it is a little past half closed. That includes:
3rd brake light
License plate lights
Auto Trunk opening - need to use the key

If the trunk is fully open, everything works fine.

My guesses:
1. A connector is loose in the wiring harness where is has slack to allow the trunk to open and close.
2. Washed the car with a pressure sprayer yesterday and got water into some module in the trunk lid. The water moves in the module and stops shorting thngs out when open.

Wisdom from my fellow AMG fanatics!! And help. I am not great with startech. Also, any advice on removing these panels. Links to any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jon

tri-star tech

The wiring harness breaks by the lower part of the hinge.

Jon2007E63P30

Given your name, and clarity of your statement, I will get back to you if it really was "nothing but net"

This also matches my spidey senses.

Jon2007E63P30

tri-star tech. Nothing but net. I totally need to eat my statement about "crickets"

Here are the pics. Now I know how to get to the top of the shock towers as well! First two pics are just to let everyone see what is in there and what we are talking about. The last is the actual break. In the first two pics, you can see a little slack in the harness as it goes along the trunk arm. I am going to remove the slack which will move the point where the harness needs to bend. I will also try to provide more relief in the bend.
For the repair, might have to add some wire, but no big deal. I do need to determine the potential of the wire. I am hoping it is the ground connection. I reason to believe this because one break is effecting 3 systems.

More pics when done. Oh yea, the wiring harness was dirty with black adhesive from the cloth electrical tape. This is after cleaning with goof-off and alcohol.

.trunzx

Exact same thing happened to me. Really annoying but at least it's an easy fix.

Jon2007E63P30

So fix finished. Went with a mechanical splice. You can argue that it is not as reliable as soldering, but it was quick and I had the proper size for the wire guage.

Used a lot of fiberglass tape to give the harness more stiffness resulting in a large diameter bend. Here is the result, including a video in operation. Yes, that is my head peaking in waiting for the camera timer to take the photo.

cahiil55k

Very poor design by MB but thanks for the fix and video.

Bellevue_E55

same happend to mine I spliced it too and it lasted another year and then failed again. THis time I remembered I had an extended warranty and they are covering it -- woo hoo

slownrusty

Great thread and reference for us.
Congrats on the fix.

realien

Had the same issue and just fixed it, broken ground wire.. Great thread, thanks!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantma...7632393860361/

ES EF ED

This is the same on all w211's? I'm having problems with my trunk it closes half way and pops back up.

BagMan

Yes. I had to fix this on my e500

WoodyBang

I also fixed this on the second day I owned the car. I had three wires broken, no lights on the switches. Not sure if my third brake light or license plate lights were out also.

typhoon43

Mine is some sort of "limbo". The trunk always "pops", but it doesn't always raise up. When that happens, sometimes I can raise the trunk manually to the top and the closer works, other times, it doesn't. I suppose I need to just inspect the harness and see if I have some sort of half-connection going on. It's become a point where every time I go to open it I'm like "Come on baby! You can do it!" lol.

coiministries

Greetings Everyone, I have the exact same problem, no third or number plate lights and trunk wont open. I have gone through the wireing but seem to not finding a broken wire? Frustrated beyond. Any other advise? Or should I start again and strip the covering off all the wiring? Would appreciate any advice. Please.
Charles

jefferson69

my clk top ineed too know how to synk so