Instrument cluster failure
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: Granada Hills, California
1987 190e 2.3--1989 300E--1995 C220--2004 clk500--2005 E320
Instrument cluster failure
Hello everyone. I woke up to find that my instrument cluster has gone blank. It's almost like the back light is faulty because if i look at the cluster from a side angle i can see the the letter and numbers but they are very dim..it's been this way for 3 days and even went back to normal for a little while but then when i turned the car off and restarted it again the problem was back...
Has anyone has this problem before?..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
Has anyone has this problem before?..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
Last edited by wace818; Jan 27, 2017 at 01:17 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 279
Likes: 36
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You may have a light out or you may have a case of "VDO are cheap pieces of carp" (that's the reason why the little displays in virtually all 208s/210s have failed).
Search around, you'll surely find another sorry soul with similar problem. If not - instrument clusters are dead easy to pull out and open.
Search around, you'll surely find another sorry soul with similar problem. If not - instrument clusters are dead easy to pull out and open.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2006 W219 CLS 500
Instrument cluster backlight fix
Hello everyone. I woke up to find that my instrument cluster has gone blank. It's almost like the back light is faulty because if i look at the cluster from a side angle i can see the the letter and numbers but they are very dim..it's been this way for 3 days and even went back to normal for a little while but then when i turned the car off and restarted it again the problem was back...
Has anyone has this problem before?..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
Has anyone has this problem before?..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
SL63
did you find the problem causing this?
Hello everyone. I woke up to find that my instrument cluster has gone blank. It's almost like the back light is faulty because if i look at the cluster from a side angle i can see the the letter and numbers but they are very dim..it's been this way for 3 days and even went back to normal for a little while but then when i turned the car off and restarted it again the problem was back...
Has anyone has this problem before?..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
Has anyone has this problem before?..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: South Central, PA and SE Florida
04 M-B CLK500 Convertible, '13 Cooper and 22 Mazda CX30
You may have a light out or you may have a case of "VDO are cheap pieces of carp" (that's the reason why the little displays in virtually all 208s/210s have failed).
Search around, you'll surely find another sorry soul with similar problem. If not - instrument clusters are dead easy to pull out and open.
Search around, you'll surely find another sorry soul with similar problem. If not - instrument clusters are dead easy to pull out and open.
This may be a stretch, but looks like you have experience with pulling instrument panels on MB. I have a 2004 W209, CLK Cab with a dead instrument panel. I found an indie who claims ability to fix, so I'd like to pull it and give them a shot. There are 2 horizontal slots left and right on the lower part of the panel. I fashioned two "tools" that I can insert, and actually feel the detents moving, I just can't extricate the panel. Any thoughts or assistance? Sending same info plus contact info in PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 313
CLK55 W209, CL63 W216
This may be a stretch, but looks like you have experience with pulling instrument panels on MB. I have a 2004 W209, CLK Cab with a dead instrument panel. I found an indie who claims ability to fix, so I'd like to pull it and give them a shot. There are 2 horizontal slots left and right on the lower part of the panel. I fashioned two "tools" that I can insert, and actually feel the detents moving, I just can't extricate the panel. Any thoughts or assistance? Sending same info plus contact info in PM.
Just get the Mercedes tools. They're cheap. Or you can fashion something yourself that looks just like the tools...but it will be hard to get such a small bend into a material hard enough to pull the cluster out.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: South Central, PA and SE Florida
04 M-B CLK500 Convertible, '13 Cooper and 22 Mazda CX30
@megacrazy - thanks a bunch for the response and info. Looks like I have something to do this afternoon. I'll let you know my level of success!
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: South Central, PA and SE Florida
04 M-B CLK500 Convertible, '13 Cooper and 22 Mazda CX30
@megacrazy SUCCESS. Thanks a bunch for hooking me up! Now, if only the team at Atlanta Speedometer can resolve the issue! If you're close to Fort Pierce, FL, I owe you a drink!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 313
CLK55 W209, CL63 W216
@megacrazy SUCCESS. Thanks a bunch for hooking me up! Now, if only the team at Atlanta Speedometer can resolve the issue! If you're close to Fort Pierce, FL, I owe you a drink!
Negative on the drink unfortunately. I’m in the NY/NJ area so it would be quite the drive.
