This beauty won't start now!! - Benzworld.org

yosemite SEC · 02-09-2003, 05:36 PM

Any ideas on this problem would be GREATLY appreciated - my story goes like this . . . bought a beauty, '84 AMG 500 SEC, drove like a dream. After having it tuned and checked out (it had been sitting in storage before I bought it), I was in 7th heaven behind the wheel. Then horn, dome, light, seat belt presenters went out. I checked the fuses and sure enough, the one for these items was bad. About 5 days later and five days of not drivng the car, I changed out the fuse, and I noticed a green wire kind of 'piggy-backing' a fuse, which came unattached while I was doing my thing. Anyway, after the fuse change, I went to start the car and although all my accessories were working correctly, the car won't start! Now I have several thoughts: 1. the green wire that is not attached to any fuse, 2. something else that is just as simple (ha), or 3. towing it to the mechanic! Does an ignition switch or starter go out just like that? Any suggestions would be welcomed - my car looks great parked in my driveway, but would look so much better driving down the road . . . Thanks a million, Lisa

janos_z · 02-09-2003, 09:02 PM

can you describe exactly what happens? does it turn over? do you hear any sounds at all coming from the engine compartment?

spanners · 02-10-2003, 03:03 PM

yosemite SEC

Sounds like this wire could be part of a rather cheaply fitted engine imobilizer.
As per Janos 7s comment, it would help to know more details as to what " won't start " actualy means.

yosemite SEC · 02-10-2003, 05:55 PM

Hi Janos and Spanners- thanks for your time . . . When I put the key in and turn it, there is no engine sound at all. No clicking or chugging - nothing. The radio, antenna, and seat belt presenters all do their thing, but nothing is happening under the hood. Does this help? If you need more info, just ask . . . I'd be more than happy to discuss!

graymarket500SEL · 02-10-2003, 06:05 PM

Your starter motor isn't getting juice.

janos_z · 02-10-2003, 06:07 PM

i was also wondering what you meant by "piggy-backing" on the fuse. was the green wire soldered to the fuse? was this the fuse you had to replace, or a different fuse (and if it was a different fuse, which one was it)? i was working on my 560's fuses a little while ago and i don't remember seeing any green wires poking out...

which leads me to suspect that this could indeed be some kind of aftermarket mod, like an engine immobilizer as spanners said. if you could describe the wire some more, it may help. like, where else it's connected to, if there is any writing on it, if there seems to be any evidence of an electrical burn, etc. if you have a digital camera, maybe you could post a picture of the fusebox with the wire showing?

another alternative, of course, is to try to re-attach the green wire to where it slipped off of, or to just take the car to your mechanic..... depends on how patient you are. if i had a gorgeous car like that sitting on my driveway, i'd be dying to get it running again SOON [:D]

MasHiMarO · 02-13-2003, 10:40 AM

This is a wild guess but did you change the battery? I changed my battery a week ago. I figuerd out that I thinking place a small black wire to the positive end to the battery...

yosemite SEC · 02-15-2003, 12:33 PM

Hi all - Here is a picture of the green wire I am talking about. It is coming out of the dash-area and into the fuse box along with a red wire. Each of these has a fuse sectioned into it, protected with a black plastic case, and connected to a fuse in the fuse box. You can see how the red one is connected. I think the green one was next to the red one, but when I removed the blown fuse, the green wire moved and the end was loose, so I'm really not positive where it was to begin with! Any ideas of where it goes, and what it does? Thanks a million for your help.

xsohaib · 02-15-2003, 04:00 PM

Seems like an alarm type of a thingy (someone confirm please). If it is indeed an immobilizer of some sort then I think the red one should be the live (12V constant) and then the green should be a ground. Perhaps if the green wire is connected to a chasis ground it may start up. But I would let the other org members provide insight into this problem in the light of this new picture.

Sohaib

Thguns · 02-15-2003, 04:12 PM

As suggested b4, looks like it goes to some sort of accessory, maybe an engine cut out??, alarm??
Its in the fuse box so it is probably a positive connection, plus its fused, your don't fuse negative connections. There are 2 types of connections to the fuses, ones that has power continually, Battery,or continual power, (the red wire is probably this type) and the type that is switched, power only when the keys is on or a switch is activated. Can't tell what the green wire is for.(It may be switched or unswitched)you said you replaced a blown fuse? which one? and what was it for?
But connect it to positive and see what happens. They are both fused so you S/B OK.
Personally, I'd do what's written below first if you are not comfortable connecting.
Your other choice is to find the previous owner and give them a call, or trace the wires and find what they go to and what they are for.
Let me know?