NHTSA Complaint #10535552 — 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320

AFTER THE VEHICLE IS RESTORED, THE OWNER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL MISHAP. AT FIRST, THE OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION RELAY (OVP) SHORTED OUT AND THUS, THE CAR COULDN'T BE STARTED. AFTER REPLACING THE OVP, $100, THE CAR STARTED FINE AND ENDED UP BEING DRIVABLE BUT THE OWNER NOTICED A VERY SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS MISFIRE, IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE CYLINDERS LEADING FROM THE ECU TO THE DISTRIBUTOR. OWNER STILL ENDED UP GOING TO A VIRGINIA STATE LICENSED INSPECTION AND EMISSION. WHERE IT FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTIONS IN THE BRAKE LIGHT, AS IT APPEARS THAT THE REVERSE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS ALSO FAULTY AS IT WOULDN'T TURN ON. EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER FAILED INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN STILL PROCEEDED TO TEST THE EMISSIONS OF THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE EMISSIONS FAILED BECAUSE OF HC (HIGH CARBON) WHICH CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE MISFIRING OF MULTIPLE CYLINDERS, WHICH IS THEN ASSOCIATED TO THE LACK OF POWER THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING. AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE EMISSIONS, THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP HAVING A SMALL FIRE THAT WAS IGNITED IN THE EXPOSED WIRES OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT IS CLOSE TO THE BATTERY AREA. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THE CAR WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE STARTED, ASSUMING THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT FOR THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THE W124 CHASSIS, M104 ENGINE BASED E320. THERE APPARENTLY ISN'T ANY RECALL BUT ACTION FROM THE MERCEDES-BENZ USA SHOULD BE IMPERATIVE TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE PARTICULAR CAR. *TR