Strange Speedo behavior - '05 E500
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 303
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
Strange Speedo behavior - '05 E500
G'day all, new owner of a recently purchased '05 E500.
I am still getting to know the vehicle - what is normal and what is not. Trying to get accustomed to the various sounds it makes - like the gronning from the SBC system from time to time. So far, with the exception of what I think is the power steering pump making undue noise, everything seems to be in order.
Except one thing - the speedometer. In the name of testing I took it out last night to, um, stretch it's legs. On the highway I spured it to 65 and set the cruise. Speedo needle showed 65, as did the momentary readout for cruise, and the cruise ring displayed it's bars from 65 to 160. Fingering the lever increased and decreased speed correctly and both readouts appeared correct. Tapped the brakes to disengage cruise (BTW, no Distronic on this car) and wicked it to overtake a slower moving vehicle (yeah, that's the story I'm sticking with).
Although the car was still accelerating, the speedo needle seemed to stop - maybe even quivered just a bit. I backed out of it and levered resume. Now, although the cruise MPH display indicated 65, the speedo needle was reading less. And, if I remember correctly, the cruise bars actually displayed from 0 to 65. Cruise still worked correctly with each tap of the lever, but the speedo consistantly read lower than actual speed.
Anyone hear of such a thing?
Thanks,
Dan
I am still getting to know the vehicle - what is normal and what is not. Trying to get accustomed to the various sounds it makes - like the gronning from the SBC system from time to time. So far, with the exception of what I think is the power steering pump making undue noise, everything seems to be in order.
Except one thing - the speedometer. In the name of testing I took it out last night to, um, stretch it's legs. On the highway I spured it to 65 and set the cruise. Speedo needle showed 65, as did the momentary readout for cruise, and the cruise ring displayed it's bars from 65 to 160. Fingering the lever increased and decreased speed correctly and both readouts appeared correct. Tapped the brakes to disengage cruise (BTW, no Distronic on this car) and wicked it to overtake a slower moving vehicle (yeah, that's the story I'm sticking with).
Although the car was still accelerating, the speedo needle seemed to stop - maybe even quivered just a bit. I backed out of it and levered resume. Now, although the cruise MPH display indicated 65, the speedo needle was reading less. And, if I remember correctly, the cruise bars actually displayed from 0 to 65. Cruise still worked correctly with each tap of the lever, but the speedo consistantly read lower than actual speed.
Anyone hear of such a thing?
Thanks,
Dan
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,636
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 303
Likes: 15
2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
Thanks konigstiger.
Yes, I do plan to take it in before the factory warrenty expires. Car has almost 46K on it.
Regarding S-B-46.30/21a & S-B-46.00/49a for the power steering issue, may I trouble you to brief me on those? I imagine they are service bulletins for known problems but I'd like to know the details of the SB's prior to taking it to the dealer.
Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Thanks,
Dan
Yes, I do plan to take it in before the factory warrenty expires. Car has almost 46K on it.
Regarding S-B-46.30/21a & S-B-46.00/49a for the power steering issue, may I trouble you to brief me on those? I imagine they are service bulletins for known problems but I'd like to know the details of the SB's prior to taking it to the dealer.
Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Thanks,
Dan
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,636
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Thanks konigstiger.
Yes, I do plan to take it in before the factory warrenty expires. Car has almost 46K on it.
Regarding S-B-46.30/21a & S-B-46.00/49a for the power steering issue, may I trouble you to brief me on those? I imagine they are service bulletins for known problems but I'd like to know the details of the SB's prior to taking it to the dealer.
Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Thanks,
Dan
Yes, I do plan to take it in before the factory warrenty expires. Car has almost 46K on it.
Regarding S-B-46.30/21a & S-B-46.00/49a for the power steering issue, may I trouble you to brief me on those? I imagine they are service bulletins for known problems but I'd like to know the details of the SB's prior to taking it to the dealer.
Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Thanks,
Dan
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 303
Likes: 15
2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
Just a bit of additional information.
I was able to confirm that the speedo needle is reading incorrectly by using my DW's Garmin Navi 660.
Everything is fine, speedo is accurate, right up to when a certain speed is reached. When that speed is reached the needle stops and goes no higher. Then, after slowing the car, the speedo indicates a slower speed than the car is actually traveling - confirmed by the 660. For instance, the speedo shows an indicated 60, but the 660 reads 68. If I engage cruise the momentary digital readout also says 68. The speedo consistently reads lower than actual vehicle speed, although the slower I go the less the difference. Finally, if I turn the ignition off and then restart, the speedo "resets" itself and reads correctly again - until I hit that magical speed where it just stops.
I wonder what the odds are that the dealer will be able to reproduce this failure, and therefore fix it under warranty? Not high, I reasoned, so I brought a passenger along with me to capture the details, using the miracle that is digital photography.
Dan
I was able to confirm that the speedo needle is reading incorrectly by using my DW's Garmin Navi 660.
Everything is fine, speedo is accurate, right up to when a certain speed is reached. When that speed is reached the needle stops and goes no higher. Then, after slowing the car, the speedo indicates a slower speed than the car is actually traveling - confirmed by the 660. For instance, the speedo shows an indicated 60, but the 660 reads 68. If I engage cruise the momentary digital readout also says 68. The speedo consistently reads lower than actual vehicle speed, although the slower I go the less the difference. Finally, if I turn the ignition off and then restart, the speedo "resets" itself and reads correctly again - until I hit that magical speed where it just stops.
I wonder what the odds are that the dealer will be able to reproduce this failure, and therefore fix it under warranty? Not high, I reasoned, so I brought a passenger along with me to capture the details, using the miracle that is digital photography.
Dan
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,636
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
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