I have 2 odd wires from the parking brake that don't look factory fit

[Horrgakx]

I had the under-dash cover off today and found these 2 brown wires running from the parking brake to the centre console. They aren't part of the loom and don't look factory fit. But they run to the switch on the parking brake and seem to have "proper" connectors on the end (clearly seen in the pic below).

Any ideas? I thought that maybe a wire had split in the past and so the wires may have been bypassed. But ... could be something else?

 

[richard]

Possibly alarm fitted by dealer (I seem to recall in 1999 all MB's got alarms, but different to the factory fit version thus dealer fitted)

R

 

[Horrgakx]

AFAIK it's just got the standard MB security fitted (MB Security stickers) and it does everything the book says it does (same number of indicator flashes etc). It's silent too.

 

[Dec]

The parking break wouldn’t be used in an alarm circuit, the wires could be something to do with the parking brake reminder buzzer or the parking brake warning light in the cluster, disconnect the wires and see what happens when you apply the brake and drive a bit forward.

Dec

 

[Horrgakx]

It does have an alarm that pops up in the display for the brake being left on, I'd have thought that would be built in though instead of needing wires

 

[mr. shr]

Where do the other ends go to?
Could the car have had an aftermarket DVD player or TV added that needed a signal from the parking brake in order to display images?

 

[Horrgakx]

Unfortunately just the Audio 10 cassette system no sign of anything being fitted but removed.

I'll have to check where it goes but it heads towards the centre console switch panel (nothing unusual there either).

 

[npuk]

Most likely had an aftermarket headunit fitted previosuly. Even single din uints that play video require a connection to the handbrake. It is easy to bypass but the unit may have been installed professionally. It would have been a straight swap in your car no fascia adapter etc needed. Owner must have removed it when selling and there wouldnt really be any signs it was changed.

 

[Horrgakx]

Good idea but not so sure. It doesn't go anywhere near the head unit. I'll need to pull the centre console out and see where it goes, there's no other way.

 

[SAFC]

I would get a meter on both leads (looking towards the other end, not the parking break end of the circuits) with the alien leads disconnected from the parking break connections.
Test for a battery (-12v) presence (with/without engine running) and also an earth presence on either and both wires.
If there's no voltage at any point on either wire (apart from 0v earth) then disconnect the leads permanently from the parking brake, tape up the connectors to be doubly sure and hide them safely out of sight.
Better than pulling out the bl***y console ... !

 

[andy27168]

Good idea but not so sure. It doesn't go anywhere near the head unit. I'll need to pull the centre console out and see where it goes, there's no other way.

Hi,
Why bother if you haven,t got an Issue, IIRC my C43 looks exactly the same as yours, regarding the two brown wires on the hand/foot brake switch.
If I get time tonight when I get home from work i,ll drop the lower panel off of it and look.

 

[mattc]

the wires seem a bit heath robinson. Not sheathed and could easily contact each other. Does not seem "factory fit" does it?