Hey You Electrical Specialists...

[mdsalemi]

Many of you have great knowledge of electrical systems in these 113's.  Here's a question for you.

I was cleaning the other day in the area by the relays (see attached photo)when I discovered some wires tucked away underneath these relays.  I'd never seen them before.  One of them is a clearly a 4-prong relay socket, and then there are 2 ground wires perhaps?  They are green with a black stripe.

Everything seems to be in order on my car, but I'm curious as to what these are for.  Things I don't have such as electric antenna or a/c?  Something else?

Download Attachment: 5 Cans Drivers Side.jpg
51.66 KB

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Tom]

Michael,

I did not notice your cross fire box last weekend-if you have converted to electronic ignition, it may be that these wires were previously connected to a ballast resistor or other electrical block that is no longer used with the electronic ignition.

Best,

Tom

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Tom

Michael,

I did notice your cross fire box last weekend-if you have converted to electronic ignition, it may be that these wires were previously connected to a ballast resistor or other electrical block that is no longer used with the electronic ignition.

Best,

Tom

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

Nope.  First you couldn't have noticed the Crane box (though it is in the photo) as it is now under the battery thanks to Dr. Benz...unless you looked there.  But ballast resistor wires are different and these don't stretch to where the ballast resistor mounts.  I'm certain that the plug is from a relay, but which one??

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[J. Huber]

Well, I am hardly an expert on this but could it be the plug/wires for the round 1 second starting relay? Mine is located just to the right (looking down) of your 3.

James
63 230SL

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by J. Huber

Well, I am hardly an expert on this but could it be the plug/wires for the round 1 second starting relay? Mine is located just to the right (looking down) of your 3.

James
63 230SL

I don't appear to have a round relay...maybe this is it?  Anybody else?

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[n/a]

by the way.

I have our crane box tucked nicely away under the battery, completely invisible...there is no reason to have such a modern black box so visible in such an otherwise correct engine compartment.

-Lewis

'66 230 sl 113042-10-016238
'67 Saab Sonett II #43 of 258
'69 Porsche 911S
'00 Saab 9-3 viggen conv
'02 Saab 9-5 aero

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by sonett43

by the way.

I have our crane box tucked nicely away under the battery, completely invisible...there is no reason to have such a modern black box so visible in such an otherwise correct engine compartment.

-Lewis

'66 230 sl 113042-10-016238
'67 Saab Sonett II #43 of 258
'69 Porsche 911S
'00 Saab 9-3 viggen conv
'02 Saab 9-5 aero

...which is why mine is located in the same place!  The photo is old; Dr. Benz did the relocation last year.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Tom]

My 1 second starting relay comes with a "piggy Back" bakelite connector that is used to neatly splice into another bakelite connector.  No loose wires with that relay.  That relay was an afterthought by MB-it would not be related to the loose wires coming from an established wiring harness that I saw on Michael's car.

I struggle to see how those wires relate to a relay, unless the bakelite connector and soldered ends are all missing as well.  Michael, that picture does not show the wires very well-can you take another shot holding the wires?

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[hands_aus]

I understood that the 280sl didn't have the 1 second relay as standard but it was available as an option.
It was standard on the early 230sl.

How many solenoids are on your Injection pump?
If the wiring harness is new, could it be pre-wired for the cut-off solenoid that was on some 280 SL Injection pumps?

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[isofast]

Mike my 69 had some extra wire under one of these relays that someone told me were for optional fog lamps. Ground wires are always brown on our cars. So you can count that out. I dont know where my copy is but I have a full color schematic somewhere.
Good luck
Ernie

First Place AACA Show Winner 350SL July 2003
I love low mile Mercedes.
First Place AACA Show winner for 2004 280SL
1969 280 4spd Papyrus White