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Bad instrument cluster?

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Old Feb 26, 2004 | 04:20 PM
  #1  
jclemen's Avatar
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From: Delano MN
2003 e320
Bad instrument cluster?

I brought my 97 e420 in to my independent service guy to change the oil. Since my dash bulbs are out, I had him prepare a quote to do the work for me. I understand its a 15 minute job, and I told them that, so they were going to charge me on the bulbs plus $30 to do it. Fine, I can handle that. So they just called and said the bulbs blew out right away and that I have a bad circuit on the instrument cluster. $1400 to replace.
Sound right? How frustrating...
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Old Feb 26, 2004 | 04:41 PM
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'07 R350. '05 C230. '93 454SS Truck. '71 Chevelle SS.
I don't know. I guess it would be hard to say because we don't know the reputation of this service shop. $1,400 is a pretty steep price for blown bulbs??? If it's a blown circuit on the cluster, I would get a second opinion on that one before you shell out that kind of dough. It could easily be a short elsewhere.
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Old Feb 26, 2004 | 04:48 PM
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From: Delano MN
2003 e320
It's going to the dealer on Monday, so I'll get my 2nd opinion then. They're saying it's the circuit board and that I need a new cluster. My question is: When did it go bad? The lights on the dash were fine, then they went out, now I need a new cluster?
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Old Feb 26, 2004 | 06:32 PM
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Defenatly the best idea.
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Old Feb 27, 2004 | 11:59 AM
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Ask the dealer if they can reset the original miles for you and then buy a cluster from ebay for around a hundred bucks. I always see them on there for pretty cheap. You can also probably check with a junkyard to see if they have any. $1400 is waaaaaaaaaay too much IMO...
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Old Feb 27, 2004 | 05:06 PM
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1996 E320
Had ALL the lights in the cluster blown before taking it to that local shop?
IF so, blowing again again would indicate a short.
If the shop was only going to replace a couple, and now they are all blown, I'd say the shop messed it up.
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Old Feb 27, 2004 | 10:33 PM
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From: Delano MN
2003 e320
All the lights had gone except the tach. They replaced all the bulbs, and still, only the tach lights up. I contacted a guy who has a cluster for $75. I'm going to go that route I think, glad to hear they can reset the millage. True?
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Old Feb 28, 2004 | 01:20 AM
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No, the dealer can not reset the mile on a cluster. When there ordered, you have to tell the factory how many mile are on the car so they can program for the correct miles.
But on some newer car you can only raise the mileage not lower it.
Try to find one with close to the some miel as your car has on it.

Brian
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Old Feb 29, 2004 | 05:20 PM
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Originally posted by redcoupe
No, the dealer can not reset the mile on a cluster. When there ordered, you have to tell the factory how many mile are on the car so they can program for the correct miles.
But on some newer car you can only raise the mileage not lower it.
Try to find one with close to the some miel as your car has on it.

Brian
Well if the dealer cannot and you can find one with less miles than yours, maybe someone can just raise the miles to match your then. Good luck...
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