[DrewPT]

Yesterday I went to do some cleaning/lubrication maintenance on the SEC where it resides with the engine rebuild. I noticed a couple of things:

Is this orangey cross-hatch pattern hose a vaccum line, that runs up under the hood sheetmetal? Also, the

In the second photo, you may notice cracks in the thin-edged sheetmetal where the fender bolts on to the unibody. Is this plain normal after thirty-plus years?

Lastly, is the wrinkled metallic foil/fabric heat insulation or fire retardant? Any reason to replace after all these years, or leave well enough alone? I don't know if it loses it's properties over the years.

 

[hugo2648]

That cross hatched hose carries the windshield washer fluid to the nozzles. I want to say that the cracks are fatigue failure but mine does not have it. It just bolts the fender and there are other fasteners so I would not be too concerned. The wrinkled foil functions as a heat shield and it does not lose its properties. You only need to make sure it is laid out as close to possible to the way it was installed at the factory.

 

[DrewPT]

Thanks Hugo, any idea what the fiberglass fabric-looking stuff is that appears to be coming out of the heat shield foil?

Also, would fatigue failure mean collision? The front end of the car's paint is clearly a repaint (and was very good quality) vs original from doors back.

 

[isthenew]

I have those same “fatigue” cracks, except much more-so. We looked hard at my car and can’t see any signs of damage. We chalked it up to age.

 

[isthenew]

And I have the heat shielding. Including shielding on my engine mounts. I do not, however have that fiberglass. That stuff, I have no idea.

 

[jsebastian]

May I know who is rebuilding your engine?

 

[DrewPT]

May I know who is rebuilding your engine?

MAC (Mercedes Auto Care) Auto Care in Creedmoor, NC.

 

[MBL87560SEC]

Those cracks you pictured, could that be just cracked paint on the metal? It's hard to really see from the pic.

M.

 

[John350]

I agree: the cracks look to be in the paint, not the metal. There's a little rust there which will accelerate the paint failure.

That WW hose has (had?) wires in it for the heated windshield washer nozzles...

 

[hugo2648]

Drew, Fatigue failure is not a result of a collision. That is a "fracture" or a "shear" failure. If you take a piece of thin sheetmetal and keep bending it in and out at the same crease line - that is fatigue failure.

 

[DrewPT]

Thanks guys, I'm pretty sure when I saw it in person it was the actual metal that was cracked, but in the photo it shows up looking like it's not totally through the metal.

John, maybe the wires are hanging down near the pre-cat, as it looks like they got a cable out of the way that also goes to the wipers in the first picture.

 

[John350]

The heating wires are part of (embedded in) the hose.

 

[isthenew]

Here’s my car. No collision damage that we could find