A picture of a car which I will look at next weekend (mailed by the owner). We see a Stromdieb (even the dictionary don’t know the translation. Some kind of cutting connector, the blue thing with the cables). Some advise:

• Do not use these things. They either don’t cut the insulation propably or the cut most of the copper inside. In either way that makes them a very reliable source for connection problems which (especially with 12V) have a tendency to produce fire. Especially especially if they are used very close to the alternator (on top of it to be precise) which maybe means there is no fuse…
• Engines tend to get hot. Do use components which are heat resistant. (These things aren’t)
• Do not connect red and blue wires. Red is commonly used for + and blue for -. First of all it looks stupid and it secondly it will confuse and annoy anyone who will ever work on the car.

I returned to the workshop to charge the battery  of the station wagon because it had startup problems. The battery was full, the (refurbished) generator works perfectly and the startup & idling problems remain. Fuck. After cleaning and a quick checkup (see other post) I decided to drive home. Then it came to me: The battery was dead a couple of days ago and the Merc has PMS. Not premenstrual syndrome but some kind of pressure motor control. And this computer has no hard drive so it looses it’s memory every time the battery is disconnected. After that you have to teach in the accelerator pedal. Turn on ignition, slowly push down the pedal for two (?) times and then start the engine. Problem solved. I should remember this stuff…

I have to face the facts. It’s a nice car but i have too many projects going on. It has to go. I have to find a decent new owner. With some love its ready to go at least another couple of 100000km… I’m not good in parting company. It’s a good car.