unctarheels01

Hello all, 97 C280 Sport.

I am having an issue with my gauges. The Speedometer, Fuel Indicator, Tachometer, and Temperature Guage are not working. Everything else seems to be working. The fuel guage stays at the bottom but clicks like it is trying to move up. It almost looks like a clock ticking. Otherwise, it is not working. Does anybody know what this might be? I am stumped. The fuses are good, the connections look good. Is there a control module that I might be able to replace? Thanks for your help, I appreciate it...

Jeff

Sicilian C200

Jeff,
I had a similar problem with my 94 C200 (Euro) gauges. It happened mostly in cold weather, but after the car warmed up (sometimes 20-30 km) the gauges would spring to life, one by one. The gas gauge was always the last to work. The only thing I have done to the car is add about 1 cup of water to the battery cells. Strangely, the gauges are working fine now, but of course, the weather here is warmer now also. I also had a problem with various warning lights (ABS,SRS, oil) coming on intermittently. This too seems to be cured by distilled water! My battery is over 4 years old but the voltage at rest and while charging seems to be normal. Possibly the MB 202 electrical system is very sensitive. Check your battery/charging system before pulling the cluster, maybe you'll be as lucky as I was. Terry in Sicily

unctarheels01

It's kind of funny. I have replaced a lot of the lights on the cluster lately. Plus, I just had to buy a new battery from the dealer. The problem just recently started. However, the guages do start to work about 1 in every 5 to 7 times I start the car. That is why I wonder if it is a connection or something. Hard to tell. I need to chase some wiring.

cil254

That's not an electrical problem.
The hands just "stick" to the little pegs where they rest (especially in cold weather). The fix is to clean the pegs, somehow the coating gets sticky.

unctarheels01

Is there a procedure to get this done? Can you tell me how? Where are the pegs? I cannot see them on the dash... Thanks!

unctarheels01

So, does anybody know how to take apart the cluster to clean the pegs???
Thanks,
Jeff

unctarheels01

Does anyone know how to take apart the cluster to clean the pegs, and where am I looking for the pegs at?

grkpmpn69

You have to pull the cluster from the dash board, there is a special tool for that but many people use a bent hanger havn't tried that yet, the pegs are the little pole sticking out where the rpm, mph, gas, and temperature needles rest on when the car is off, or on empty, j/k, hope this helps!

unctarheels01

How do you take the cluster apart? Plus, I don't see the pegs. I did not see them at the tip of the needles, are they at the turning end. Or, am I just blind?

grkpmpn69

lol, you may not be blind but i know for a fact that you have some...as far as the instrument panel goes, you have to bend 2 hangers to a right angle like this
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make sure that the part that is going to be inserted is no longer than 1/2" in length...take each hanger and insert it in the crack where the cluster meets the dashboard on the left and right side, after getting it in twist the hanger and try to grab ahold of one of the many notches that are built into the cluster...at this time not visible...you should only have to insert the hangers 2"-3" into the crack, after you get the feeling that you have a good grip on the cluster with the hangers pull it out evenly making sure not to pull out one side farther then the other cuz your cluster face may crack, i hope this helps ya

unctarheels01

I know how to remove the cluster, I have had it out several times... So, thank you to all of you who have explained how to pull it out. That is the easy part.


My question is, how do you take the cluster apart to get to the pegs so they can be cleaned??

Does anyone know this?

Again, thank you for your help, I appreciate it.

unctarheels01

Apparently, my posts are not showing up on my PC, however I do know how to remove the cluster from the pod. What I do not know is how to take it apart. How do you disassemble the guage cluster? I need to get the cluster apart, not remove it from the car, I can do that already. Thanks again for your help here.

cil254

Here's a link that might help you:
http://www.geocities.com/ronaldnjoy/index.html

grkpmpn69

there are clips that are all around the cluster itself when you unhook these clips the cluster comes right apart, be careful not to beak anyof them though...that would suck

Afmoose

On the w202 how do u get the cluster out? Not out or the hole I know that but out of the Dash/stering wheel area after u already have removed it from the insert area? I have owned a few benz b4 and they came out easy 129, 124, 190, 126 all so wasy. It seems im going to have 2 remove the wheel? I hope not pls help..lol
J watson303

shandy2550

No need to remove the wheel to get the cluster out , just pull it from the dash ;you say you already know how to get this far; then tilt the cluster so you can reach behind one side with your hand and release the cam clip which holds the wiring connector ,do the same at the other side , then slide the instrument cluster out towards the centre of the car from behind the steering wheel.
It's a good idea to disconnect the car battery before starting ( check you have the radio code ) as if the ignition is turned on with the cluster disconnected it will activate the SRS warning light which will need to be reset using a code reader.
Geo.

michakaveli

I'm in the process od trying to remove the cluster to replace all of the bulbs as they are out. I have the removal tool to pull out the clsuter, was able to get it completely dislodged from the dash but the steering wheel is blocking it's removal path. It doesn't appear that I will be able to remove the cluster w/o removing the steering wheel. On my w210 at least I was able to move the wheel out of the way.... Please help, what I am missing or skipping?

Educaid

I read in the Mercedes CD repair manual that if you have a fixed steering wheel, then you have to remove the airbag and steering wheel.