Author Topic: Name this wire  (Read 4439 times)

avanwinkle

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Name this wire
« on: September 06, 2016, 00:54:28 »
 Owned the 1970  since 2012.  Great weekend driver. Just starting to get under the hood.  And have a lot of questions.  Here is a frayed wire that goes from area around radiator overflow to the interior of the car.  Let me know if you can identify the wire and also what should be done with wires showing and insulation missing.

Also, I have a Haynes Repair Manual.  Is there a better book for maintenance, repair, and overhaul for this vehicle.

Thank you.

AVW

hkollan

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2016, 11:41:13 »
Hi,

Looks like the red wire for the radio.  A bakelit fusebox and a bracket is needed to make this correct.

Hans
Hans K, Cuenca, Spain
1968 280 SL 387 Blue met., parchment leather
1971 280 SL 462 Beige met, Brown leather
1968 280 SL 180 Silver, Red leather
1964 300 SE Lang 040 Black w/Red leather
1985 500 SL 735 Astral Silver w/Black leather
1987 560 SEC 199 Black met., Black leather

georgem

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2016, 20:48:58 »
I`d name it as - dangerous - with what looks like decayed insulation and exposed core. It started out as black and appears to be joined. If its live, I`d replace it asap.
George McDonald
Brisbane
230 Sl
1973 VW Kombi Single Cab Ute
2022 Volvo XC 40 Pure (100% electric)

ja17

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2016, 13:05:02 »
Looks like an  add-on for some type of accessory. The hole and rubber grommet, it passes through, is not factory either.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Tyler S

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2016, 15:22:45 »
That is the same place the wire passed through the firewall for my dealer installed Blaupunkt. It was a perfect place for a water leak into the dash. I have since relocated it to the other rubber plug/grommet on the firewall just aft of the coolant reservoir.
1968 (67) 250sl. 4 speed manual. DB180 Silver
1955 220 Cabriolet A. White Grey
2019 E450 Wagon. Majestic Blue
1936 Ford PU Flathead V8. Creme on tan interior.
1989 Volkswagen T3 Westfailia Campmobile. Dove Grey (blue)

hkollan

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2016, 07:09:10 »
Hi,

This red wire for the radio is AFAIK present in all the wiring harnesses, at least on the 280's, possibly also on the 230 and 250's.
If the car came with a factory radio(Becker) option it was used in conjunction with the bracket and fusebox on the right inner fender.
 In other cases it was taped down and hidden in the harness, but still present to be retrieved when needed.

Hans
« Last Edit: September 08, 2016, 07:14:22 by hkollan »
Hans K, Cuenca, Spain
1968 280 SL 387 Blue met., parchment leather
1971 280 SL 462 Beige met, Brown leather
1968 280 SL 180 Silver, Red leather
1964 300 SE Lang 040 Black w/Red leather
1985 500 SL 735 Astral Silver w/Black leather
1987 560 SEC 199 Black met., Black leather

cfm65@me.com

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2016, 15:43:59 »
Hi Guys,
My 250SL has the same hole in exactly the same spot as Alex car.
28 Ford Model A Pickup
29 Chevy Phaeton
67 E Type FHC
67 250SL 5 speed
83 911SC
2015 VW T5 California Pop Top

Tyler S

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2016, 17:09:56 »
My 250sl has the hole as well. It is a drain hole for when the body was dipped in anticorrosive bath. That area is like a bowl and a hole was needed to drain off the excess. A rubber plug was then placed there to seal the hole. Dealers often used this hole to run the power feed for a radio install since it is easily accessable under the dash.
1968 (67) 250sl. 4 speed manual. DB180 Silver
1955 220 Cabriolet A. White Grey
2019 E450 Wagon. Majestic Blue
1936 Ford PU Flathead V8. Creme on tan interior.
1989 Volkswagen T3 Westfailia Campmobile. Dove Grey (blue)

Jonny B

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2016, 17:17:20 »
Ya made me look. My 250 SL (early) has the hole and plug. The 280 SL (12730) also has the hole and plug. The 280 SL has a radio, and the wire is not routed as the picture. There is a red with green strip wire coming out of the wiring harness, just under the voltage regulator that goes to the small brown fuse box in the right inner fender. The wire coming out the other side of the small fuse box runs to a grommet on the fire wall below the coolant tank.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

Tyler S

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Re: Name this wire
« Reply #9 on: September 08, 2016, 19:19:29 »
Quote
The wire coming out the other side of the small fuse box runs to a grommet on the fire wall below the coolant tank.
Yep, Thats where I re-routed mine to.
« Last Edit: September 12, 2016, 09:29:27 by Peter van Es »
1968 (67) 250sl. 4 speed manual. DB180 Silver
1955 220 Cabriolet A. White Grey
2019 E450 Wagon. Majestic Blue
1936 Ford PU Flathead V8. Creme on tan interior.
1989 Volkswagen T3 Westfailia Campmobile. Dove Grey (blue)