Brittle wires??

[mercmadjim]

Hi guy's
My local indy has told me my wiring loom has become brittle with age, my car is a 1997 SLK230.
He said that the heat from the engine has made the wires brittle and they could short out, is this right?? he also reckons it will be about £600 to do.

Any advice greatfully received....

 

[jibcl500]

Common fault on the mid 90's mercedes and it can write the car off !!! but Ive never seen it or heard of the SLK's suffering with this problem.
The looms are expensive but it might be worth finding a good auto electrician and see what they can come up with, Ive had to patch areas on my loom due to the same fault on a 1993 220TE W124, make sure the battyer is disconnected before any work starts!!! all the plugs can be bought from mercedes if anything some connectors come apart so they are easy to solder new wire to.

jib

 

[television]

As Jib above, this has never come up before on a SLK. Any wire running near hot areas can crack, if pulled around too much, if the cracks are running round the diameter of the wire, then no problem, if running length ways then best to sleeve them.

As long as the insulation is not falling off, with a danger of any wires shorting, they could be bound up with self amalgamating tape very neatly

 

[mercmadjim]

Thank you gentlemen, you really are STARs...get it??

 

[popuptoaster]

always a problem on any car with age, having never owned a 90's merc i wasnt aware the problem could crop up so soon, are they really that bad?

 

[television]

always a problem on any car with age, having never owned a 90's merc i wasnt aware the problem could crop up so soon, are they really that bad?

No they are not, if you man handle to much any wires that get warm from the engine, then they will crack, as the plastic covering gets hard, a circular crack is ok, as long as the plastic is not falling off

 

[jibcl500]

Unlike mine the plastic coating was just a power!!!! with lots of green furry wires all shorting.
I must admit I did enjoy routing through it all and repairing the loom.
jib

 

[television]

Unlike mine the plastic coating was just a power!!!! with lots of green furry wires all shorting.
I must admit I did enjoy routing through it all and repairing the loom.
jib

Its what you call therapeutic, constructive and satisfying

 

[popuptoaster]

I've made a few looms for custom cars over the years, not sure i'd want to attempt to redo a standard one though especially these days.

 

[jibcl500]

Yes very much so, back hurt like hell afterwards but very rewarding knowing its a good job done. Some tasks are great others are plain horrid.

jib

 

[television]

I've made a few looms for custom cars over the years, not sure i'd want to attempt to redo a standard one though especially these days.

When dealing with multi plugs, one cuts off one wire at a time. Cut the wire about 25mm from the plug, solder on a new length or wire, slide some heat shrink over the join, and shrink. before you do the other end in the same way. take a length of heat shrink, big enough to accommodate all of the wires, and about 6"-8" long, and slide a few on these over the cable and leave for now. Do the other end of the first cable and complete that on, then do the rest. when all done, slide one piece of the large Diameter heat shrink tight up to the plug, shrink it, then do the other end, and shrink that, space the remaining ones out and shrink them and job done,all nice and neat looking


The wires in the photo are 4 core wires and only 1mm in diameter overall

 

[television]

Yes very much so, back hurt like hell afterwards but very rewarding knowing its a good job done. Some tasks are great others are plain horrid.

jib

I agree jib,,but better than sliding around in oil, on the ground on you back at minus 5c.

My theory is that your back will get better, but the car will get worse if you do not do it, and the joy of laying in bed knowing that the car is well, cannot be surpassed

 

[popuptoaster]

I know how to do car electrics, and i can cope with complicated stuff, but there is just so much of it in modern cars i tend to try and find good second hand stuff to plug in, while back in the good old days i would happily spend a day making a whole new loom up for a car.

 

[jibcl500]

I know how to do car electrics, and i can cope with complicated stuff, but there is just so much of it in modern cars i tend to try and find good second hand stuff to plug in, while back in the good old days i would happily spend a day making a whole new loom up for a car.

Makes me laugh when people say "when I was a lad I could fix that with a teaspoon and an ammer but this modern stuff you need to be a rocket scientist"

jib

 

[Helmet Vonthrob]

Suicide doors...

I can't work out what your tail lights remind me of... Vauxhall Cresta?

 

[popuptoaster]

Makes me laugh when people say "when I was a lad I could fix that with a teaspoon and an ammer but this modern stuff you need to be a rocket scientist"

jib

Its only the amount of wiring in em that puts me off, heres the dash wiring from my P100 which was pretty simillaly equiped to most older cars.

while heres the dash loom from my granny cossie i nicked the engine from.

none of it is beyond me, but i wouldnt bother making up a loom for a granny by hand.

 

[television]

OK popuptaoaster you do get stick in

 

[mercmadjim]

I have just been out and inspected the wires going to my coils (R170) SLK and all the insulation looks very good, yes they are stiff ( i did not bend any) but they look in good condition, surely if they are all bound up tight, the insulation cant fall off and cause a short, or could it ??
My MB main dealer has told me its not a problem with the SLK, what do you guys think??

 

[television]

The thing here is, the plastic gets hard from the engine heat, so do not move them more than you have to. When coils break down,this is internal windings that short together and not the same thing

 

[popuptoaster]

OK popuptaoaster you do get stick in

certainly do, i've been involved in lots of car modification, and not the "put some graphics on and a new bit of chrome trim type either.

Stripping a crashed mk1 for spares for my ex's car

2.9 V6 4x4 Sierra P100 conversion

Cosworth 24v 220bhp Cortina Q car.

I've done loads, not got pics of many though, took a while to get a digi cam and realise i' should be taking pics to look back on.