2002 C320 Speedometer needle
12-18-2008, 12:06 AM
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2002 c320
2002 C320 Speedometer needle
Help.
Its is quite cold outside -27-30 degrees C. The c320 has been parked in a garage. When I start it, the speedometer needle seems to rattle or bounce, not bounce from 0 to 50 or anything eratic like that, but lightly bounce from 0 km to maybe 5km.
The rattle continues for a few seconds, maybe 8 or so and then it stopped. Automatically the tachometer needle goes to normal and the gasoline guage / needle also goes to normal. When the speedometer was bouncing the gasoline needle didn't move nor did the tachometer needle. Seems like initally the car isn't getting enough power as dash lights seem a bit dim too, but once the needle stops bouncing after 8 seconds the lights seem brighter and everything seems ok. Battery has been checked and it is still very good, battery only about 2 years old.
I also notice this when the vehicle has been sitting outside parked for a period of time and then I start it the speedometer acts up again. It is happening more frequently now, which is troubling me.
Any suggestions?
Its is quite cold outside -27-30 degrees C. The c320 has been parked in a garage. When I start it, the speedometer needle seems to rattle or bounce, not bounce from 0 to 50 or anything eratic like that, but lightly bounce from 0 km to maybe 5km.
The rattle continues for a few seconds, maybe 8 or so and then it stopped. Automatically the tachometer needle goes to normal and the gasoline guage / needle also goes to normal. When the speedometer was bouncing the gasoline needle didn't move nor did the tachometer needle. Seems like initally the car isn't getting enough power as dash lights seem a bit dim too, but once the needle stops bouncing after 8 seconds the lights seem brighter and everything seems ok. Battery has been checked and it is still very good, battery only about 2 years old.
I also notice this when the vehicle has been sitting outside parked for a period of time and then I start it the speedometer acts up again. It is happening more frequently now, which is troubling me.
Any suggestions?
12-18-2008, 05:53 PM
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need to elaborate
Could it be a charging system flaw? Is there any such thing? It just seems that when the weather is cold or in our case very cold outside there is a signficiant drain in power.
seems the problem acts up more when the weather gets cold.
When the car has been warmed up and I stop for a 30 min then start the car again, the problem does not show up. When the car has been parked for longer such as over night and I start up in the morning the needle will 'bounce' for a few seconds then stops, futhermore, the tachometer needle does not move to the 5200 rpm nor does the gas guage needle move to indicate the gas level during the bounce. Once the speedometer needle stops bouncing, both the tach and gas level needle automatically go to where they should be.
Seems like there is a signficiant shortage of power at first, until the car is 'charged up' which is usually 7-8 seconds. Cant figure it out. Battery has been tested and is only 1.5 yrs old. It is still a good battery.
Any suggestions?
seems the problem acts up more when the weather gets cold.
When the car has been warmed up and I stop for a 30 min then start the car again, the problem does not show up. When the car has been parked for longer such as over night and I start up in the morning the needle will 'bounce' for a few seconds then stops, futhermore, the tachometer needle does not move to the 5200 rpm nor does the gas guage needle move to indicate the gas level during the bounce. Once the speedometer needle stops bouncing, both the tach and gas level needle automatically go to where they should be.
Seems like there is a signficiant shortage of power at first, until the car is 'charged up' which is usually 7-8 seconds. Cant figure it out. Battery has been tested and is only 1.5 yrs old. It is still a good battery.
Any suggestions?
12-21-2008, 01:39 PM
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Update: speedometer needle 2002 C320
The battery has been changed only about 1.5 years old, I had the battery tested and it is still good.
I took the vehicle out last night for a short drive, under 8 min door to door. when i started it the speedometer needle did jump for about 8 sec then stoped . When I got to the desination (again short drive), I took the key out of ignition and the needle started to jump again for a few 8 or so seconds and then stopped, which is weird because once key is out of ignition there should be no power, but seems there is still some residual power for a few seconds while things are shutting down.
With the very cold weather could it be that the battery, or alternator or something else isn't fully charged yet with the short drive or when it has been sitting for a while and then started? Or the car isn't warmed up yet? I don't know it doesn't make sense. Seems only to do it when its cold out and when the car isn't warmed up. When the car is warmed from driving it for a while the speedometer needle doesn't act up.
Again these are the symptoms:
-Only in Cold weather and when car is cold or hasn't been warmed up
-speedometer needle jumps/rattles between the 0 - aprox 5 kms/hr and lasts 8 seconds
-tachometer and gas guage needles don't work while speedometer needle is jumping, once speedometer needle stops, tach and gas guage needles go to normal positions
-in situations where the car is only driven for short distance (under 10 min) and car is not warmed up and weather is cold when I remove key from ignition, speedometer needle will jump again for 8 or so seconds then stop.
Maybe I'll take a short video clip of it and post it on youtube.
Any suggestions?
I took the vehicle out last night for a short drive, under 8 min door to door. when i started it the speedometer needle did jump for about 8 sec then stoped . When I got to the desination (again short drive), I took the key out of ignition and the needle started to jump again for a few 8 or so seconds and then stopped, which is weird because once key is out of ignition there should be no power, but seems there is still some residual power for a few seconds while things are shutting down.
With the very cold weather could it be that the battery, or alternator or something else isn't fully charged yet with the short drive or when it has been sitting for a while and then started? Or the car isn't warmed up yet? I don't know it doesn't make sense. Seems only to do it when its cold out and when the car isn't warmed up. When the car is warmed from driving it for a while the speedometer needle doesn't act up.
Again these are the symptoms:
-Only in Cold weather and when car is cold or hasn't been warmed up
-speedometer needle jumps/rattles between the 0 - aprox 5 kms/hr and lasts 8 seconds
-tachometer and gas guage needles don't work while speedometer needle is jumping, once speedometer needle stops, tach and gas guage needles go to normal positions
-in situations where the car is only driven for short distance (under 10 min) and car is not warmed up and weather is cold when I remove key from ignition, speedometer needle will jump again for 8 or so seconds then stop.
Maybe I'll take a short video clip of it and post it on youtube.
Any suggestions?
12-21-2008, 04:40 PM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
A buddy of mine was a Honda motorcycle mechanic.
He used to love to **** and moan about owners that came in saying,
'this or that happens when the engine is cold'.
His response, invariably was,
"What does it do when it's warm?".
"well it goes away"...
thats why it's good to warm up the engine etc.
In other words, it's like if only does it when it's freakin' colder than a witches you know what in a brass bra, likely it's not worth worrying about.
Warm you car up before driving it in such exteme temps...where is this anyway? I've been in -40 before, but damn....that was in NE Canada, and once again in Fairbanks in Dec.
He used to love to **** and moan about owners that came in saying,
'this or that happens when the engine is cold'.
His response, invariably was,
"What does it do when it's warm?".
"well it goes away"...
thats why it's good to warm up the engine etc.
In other words, it's like if only does it when it's freakin' colder than a witches you know what in a brass bra, likely it's not worth worrying about.
Warm you car up before driving it in such exteme temps...where is this anyway? I've been in -40 before, but damn....that was in NE Canada, and once again in Fairbanks in Dec.
