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Wiring Issues 200 89

posted by  someone claiming to be Jeff Sipes on  Mon Nov 27 17:25 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I have an '89 240 GL with 50k miles that is driven every day in Houston. I have had the car 18 months. I love the car but have had several electrical problems this year that include continual problems with the brake lights and a recurring problem with the switch that keeps the engine from starting if the car is in park.

The latest iteration of the brake light problem is that the outboard brake lights light up when I step on the brakes but only the low filament. When I have the running lights on the outboard lights burn the high filament(s) with no change if I step on the brake. The inboard lights are out. Fuses appear to be fine but I have not removed and cleaned each one individually.

As a new owner of a 240, I have read alot about wiring harness problems with the 1980s cars. Would I be ahead to remove and replace the wiring harness? I would be interested in other's experience with systematic electrical problems and potential fixes.

Thanks, Jeff







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    Re: Wiring Issues 200 89

    posted by  someone claiming to be Tony H on  Tue Nov 28 02:18 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    The brake lights: sounds as though the last guy that replaced them forced them in incorrectly. Lights are Bright when driving lights are on, low light when braking. That's ass backwards. I can't see wireing doing that.

    I just ran into about with my brake lights. None of them came on AND the dashboard indicator never popped on. It turned out that the large round red bulb failure sensor indicator was no good for that function....I jumped the wires from the brake switch directly to the brake lights. My garage wall tells me I have brake lights every morning when I pull out.

    I have a manual trany but I would guess that you can adjust that 'neutral safety switch" so it switches sooner. can you remove the cover and see it?







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    Re: Wiring Issues 200 89

    posted by  someone claiming to be Walt on  Mon Nov 27 18:31 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    Jeff- I think your problem with the car not starting in park may be with

    the inhibitor switch. It's under the plastic cover that surrounds the gear shift, just remove 2 screws and lift off the cover to gain access to the switch. You'll see it on the metal guide the lever slides along. Get a new one or adjust that one.The taillights are usually a contact problem with the socket or the PC-like board around the light.Sometimes cargo can shift and bump into those and you just need to tweak them or clean the contacts.







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    Re: Wiring Issues 200 89

    posted by  someone claiming to be Michael on  Mon Nov 27 18:16 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    1987 was the last year that had the wiring harness problem, AFAIK (I have an '87 that had the wiring harness replaced), so I don't think you should have the problem with a low mileage '89 240. I don't know how to fix your brake light problem, but somewhere along the line there's probably a wire that isn't connected correctly or completely.

    Good luck.







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    Re: Wiring Issues 200 89

    posted by  someone claiming to be Dean Prodromos on  Mon Nov 27 18:09 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    Jeff

    Do not dispair! With lighting problems the usual culprit is a bad ground return or a corroded socket. I replaced the wiring harness to the engine because there were open splices that had been exposed to the weather and the resulting shorts took out the F.I. computer. The only other ones worth replacing are the short harnesses that go through the hatch hinges to power the tail gate lights and rear window heater. Everything else I repair myself.

    Dean







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      Re: Wiring Issues 200 89

      posted by  someone claiming to be Jeff Sipes on  Tue Nov 28 01:26 CST 2000 [RELATED]

      I lost the FI computer not soon after I purchased the car. I bought it from a dealer and they replaced it but I still fear the root cause of the problem has not been addressed.

      My first step will be to look at the sockets and grounds and see if there is any obvious problem. More soon.

      Thanks for all your help.






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