1994 Mercedes Benz C Class

1994 C280 WAS BEING DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR REQUIRED TOWING TO THE MB DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $1500.00. MB IS NOT ONLY BRUSHING ASIDE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT, THEY ARE MAKING MONEY ON THE REPAIRS, WHAT A SCAM. *AK

I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C280 VIN#[XXX] WITH ABOUT 84000 MILES ON IT AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING, WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON RANDOMLY AND OTHER ELECTRICAL GREMLINS. I WAS CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD GETTING READY TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS TO TRY TO MAKE IT RUN BETTER, WHEN I NOTICED SOME BARE WIRES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS TO A CONNECTOR NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I REACHED DOWN TO REMOVE THE CONNECTOR AND WHEN I DID THERE WAS A POP, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THAT AREA. THE HARNESS GOT VERY HOT, SO I IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. UPON CAREFUL INSPECTION I FOUND THAT ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THIS AND MOST ALL OF THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS HAD DISINTEGRATED, THE INSULATION ALMOST COMPLETELY AND THE COPPER WAS ALSO GREEN AND IN POOR CONDITION. UPON CHECKING THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT 1994 AND 1995 C280 MODELS HAVE THIS AS A CHRONIC COMPLAINT. I HAVE WRITTEN MERCEDES BENZ AND RECEIVED NO REPLY. I SPOKE WITH A BENZ MECHANIC I KNOW IN ANOTHER STATE AND HE SAID HE HAD REPLACED DOZENS OF THESE WIRE HARNESSES ON THIS MODEL . HE STATED THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD EXPERIMENTED WITH A BIODEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION AT THIS TIME AND THAT THEY FINALLY STOPPED IN LATE 1995 ON THIS MODEL. FURTHER THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE, BUT LEAVES IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEALERSHIP TO DECIDE IF THEY WILL REPAIR IT AS A GOODWILL REPAIR. HE SAID THEY CHARGE ABOUT $1500 FOR THIS REPAIR. THE CAR SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY INOPERABLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO REPLY. I NOTICED A COMPLAINT 10129347 WHICH SOUNDS ABOUT IDENTICAL. MERCEDES SHOULD OWN THIS DEFECT BEFORE SOME ONE BURNS UP ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE HARNESS IS STILL IN PLACE IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. I WILL TAKE A FEW PICTURES TO DOCUMENT IT. THIS NEED TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE WIRE HARNESS ON THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY STRIPPED OF INSULATION. THE BARE WIRES ARE HANGING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR RUNS POORLY AND SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DASH CONSTANTLY WHICH REQUIRES DIAGNOSIS. I HAVE DECIDES IT IS TOO COSTLY TO GET DIAGNOSIS DONE REGULARLY SO I JUST UNPLUG THE BATTERY TO RESET THE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION TO THE FIRE HAZARD, ACCIDENT HAZARD, NOW I AM COVERING UP OTHER POSSIBLE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS BY DISREGARDING CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON THE DASH. MERCEDES WILL NOT DO ONE THING TO ASSIST ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ OF HUNDREDS OF THESE PROBLEMS AND AM SURE MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MERCEDES WILL NOT NOTIFY ANYONE. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GET HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE!