fuel, oil, temp, clock, hazards, radio don't work!?! NOT FUSES.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Mercedes 190e
fuel, oil, temp, clock, hazards, radio don't work!?! NOT FUSES.
My 1993 190e 2.6L radiator sprung a leak and temp started going up. Parked it. Got a gallon of water. Started the car to make my way to the radiator shop and the fuel, oil, and temp guages, clock, hazards, and radio stopped working.
All fuses check out with my Volt/Ohm meter. Looking for a common denominator to know where to start.
Wires going to fuse box look okay too. Wiggling them while car running produces no results.
Banged the dash top and sides with no result. Any suggestions before I attempt to pull out the entire dash?
I pulled the radio but didn't see anything back in there.
All fuses check out with my Volt/Ohm meter. Looking for a common denominator to know where to start.
Wires going to fuse box look okay too. Wiggling them while car running produces no results.
Banged the dash top and sides with no result. Any suggestions before I attempt to pull out the entire dash?
I pulled the radio but didn't see anything back in there.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 624
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From: Las Vegas
1987 190E 2.3
How did you check all the fuses, if they were still in the box, you could get incorrect readings.
Strange that the two would happen at the same time, but I would think they are two different issues.
I would start by just pulling the instrument cluster.
Strange that the two would happen at the same time, but I would think they are two different issues.
I would start by just pulling the instrument cluster.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Scottsdale, Arizonai
'85 190E 2.3-16 '99 C280 '11 GLK350
If the VOM confirmed the continuity of the fuses, then the next culprit is a broken ground point.
There is a large grounding strip in the driver's footwell, beneath the carpet, behind the pedals. You'll recognize it by the mass of brown wires on the long strip. Check for any fallen ones.
There is a large grounding strip in the driver's footwell, beneath the carpet, behind the pedals. You'll recognize it by the mass of brown wires on the long strip. Check for any fallen ones.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 76
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From: San Francisco, California
1993 190E 2.6
Check what MTI said. If its not that then take out the bottom part of your dash and look around upside down while you are laying on your back. It is going to be a tight fit. See if any plugs are loose from the other side of the fuse box. I had my alarm installed at Fry's electronics and the installer yanked out some plugs and we couldnt figure out why the horn and wiper did not work but only the first setting of the wiper. It was strange. Took it to a indy shop and it cost me $183 bucks to find out it was a loose plug under the dash. They plugged it back in and everything worked. I sent the bill to Fry's of course. Dummy blamed my old car for the problems while I blamed him. It was him.
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Mercedes 190e
Thanks Gullwing, MTI, & Runninrebel211.
I did pull the fuses and used a digital volt ohmeter. They sure are odd things those fuses. And, indeed, if measured in the circuit and the fuse was open, could still look short depending on the rest of the circuit that is connected.
I know what I'll be doing this weekend, though - pulling the carpet back to check all of the brown wires and probably following that up with seeing if I can get the bottom of the dash pulled to start checking connectors. I didn't know the grounds run behind the carpet. Thanks for the tip. At least now I have a starting point.
I will post back my results. Sorry to hear about your "Fry"ed plugs Rr!
I did pull the fuses and used a digital volt ohmeter. They sure are odd things those fuses. And, indeed, if measured in the circuit and the fuse was open, could still look short depending on the rest of the circuit that is connected.
I know what I'll be doing this weekend, though - pulling the carpet back to check all of the brown wires and probably following that up with seeing if I can get the bottom of the dash pulled to start checking connectors. I didn't know the grounds run behind the carpet. Thanks for the tip. At least now I have a starting point.
I will post back my results. Sorry to hear about your "Fry"ed plugs Rr!
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Mercedes 190e
No loose connectors, no brown wires, what next? See Photos.
Well, I pulled the carpet back behind the pedals and I didn't see "a large grounding strip in the driver's footwell, beneath the carpet, behind the pedals" (photo of that area below). I am not sure which of these areas it would be:
I pulled up the carpet on the floor in front of the driver's seat and there appeared to be some sort of a flat plastic channel with wires beneath it. Could this be the "grounding strip" that was referred to? (white x on channel)?
I pulled the underside of the dash out and "anti crash" tube. Pulled on and pushed in every connector tightly (none were loose) under dash under fusebox:
I pulled one connector from the connector box to take a photo of it since the wires looked "ripply". None of the other wires looked like this. Could the wires be bad inside the insulation?
I was looking at wires in the engine compartment going to the fuse box when I leaned on a silver relay which was extremely hot. It only energizes when the door is open:
I don't know where to look next. Pull the dash out?!?
Thanks all!!! Your help is greatly appreciated.
Last edited by EngineerBill; Aug 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM. Reason: Post updated photos
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 76
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From: San Francisco, California
1993 190E 2.6
Damn this one is tricky. There are a few ground points all over the car with brown wires attached to it. One main is where the negative terminal of the battery is against the fire wall. Some other ones are under both the front headlights. The radio antenna on the left side of the trunk wall - after you remove plastic piece- you will see the grounding point. On the right side of the trunk behind the plastic is the factory amplifier if you have one. Check that grounding point. Same side by towards the rear by the tail lights in the deep pocket of the ride side of trunk is another grounding point for tailights with a bunch of brown wires going to it. Check clean tighten.
