Instrument Cluster Dead intermittently - Car wont start

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Nov 14, 2010 | 11:34 AM

ammar_rage

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Joined: May 2007

Posts: 125

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From: TORONTO

C230 KOMPRESSOR (2003)

Instrument Cluster Dead intermittently - Car wont start

Hey all,

For the last month or so i would get the "Battery/Alternator Visit Workshop" msg in the mornings, i would turn the car off and the start it again and it would be gone , so i thought its probably my aging 7 year old battery.

Yesterday, i got back from work and parked the car for a few hrs and later in the evening as i i was leaving to go out here is what happened and its very strange....

I put the key in and started the car...the car started but the instrument cluster was frozen on the main screen and no gauges were working including the gas and rpm gauge as well as the daytime running lights didnot come on but the car started fine and the radio was working. I turned the car off and didnot remove the key and tried to start it again but the wudnot turn this time as if it was being blocked by something. I removed the key and put it back in and tried again this time key turned but the car didnot start. I removed the key and put it back in again and car started this time but the instrument cluster was frozen on the main screen as previoiusly and the screen went dark after a couple of minutes... anyhow i let it sit for a mins and started it again and now this time eveything was fine...! I didnot wanna take any chances and didnot use the vehicle...

did anybody have this happened to them...any idea what this is...if battery/alternator had anything to do with it. PLEASE HELP!!

Nov 14, 2010 | 12:13 PM

contact148

Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 456

Likes: 4

From: Canada

2003 c240 4matic wagon

get the battery load tested mine went this year to. 7 years

Nov 14, 2010 | 02:53 PM

XsuperbeeX

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 1,119

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From: SF Bay Area, San Diego

C320 coupe

change your batt???

Nov 14, 2010 | 03:03 PM

ammar_rage

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 125

Likes: 1

From: TORONTO

C230 KOMPRESSOR (2003)

you guys think its battery...? I had checked the battery voltage and it was 13 V..plus everything else was ok..like windows , radio etc..

Nov 14, 2010 | 10:00 PM

contact148

Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 456

Likes: 4

From: Canada

2003 c240 4matic wagon

you need to LOAD test the battery MB will charge .5 to do this and the battery here in rip off canada is like $374.00

Nov 15, 2010 | 04:17 AM

Glyn M Ruck

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Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 19,942

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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa

late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires

+1 load test the battery at any good shop!

Sounds like battery

Nov 17, 2010 | 08:42 PM

ammar_rage

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 125

Likes: 1

From: TORONTO

C230 KOMPRESSOR (2003)

Sounds good guys, i will take the battery for the load test over the weekend, in the meanwhile i have been driving the car with the same battery/alt msg but nothing like that happened again except for sometimes right after i would start the car after a long down time the power to electronics like radio and srs and other things would loose momentarily and then restore. Does it still sound like battery or some flaky power cct.