2011 E350 Wagon Instrument Cluster and Steering Wheel Function Buttons Dead
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
2011 E350 Wagon Instrument Cluster and Steering Wheel Function Buttons Dead
2011 E350 4matic Wagon, 115k miles
Yesterday morning after starting the car, going into reverse and looking back up at the cluster... all the lights/indicators are were out and the gauge needles were "frozen" in the positions. Running late, so on we went to our appointment. Everything seemingly worked, beside steering wheel multi-functions buttons. Park car, lock it and come back... cluster still dead.
Pulled codes, pretty much every module is complaining of lack of communication with cluster.
It really seems like its the cluster and searching I'm not finding any issues like this for the W212... whereas the W211 had plenty of cluster issues.
Yesterday morning after starting the car, going into reverse and looking back up at the cluster... all the lights/indicators are were out and the gauge needles were "frozen" in the positions. Running late, so on we went to our appointment. Everything seemingly worked, beside steering wheel multi-functions buttons. Park car, lock it and come back... cluster still dead.
Pulled codes, pretty much every module is complaining of lack of communication with cluster.
- Checked main battery (~4 yrs old), 12.3V key ON, charged it with CTEK anyway
- Pulled fuses 5 & 28 for cluster for 5-10 minutes, no change
- Removed cluster and checked vehicle harness
- No damage, rubbing, mice
- Power (constant and switched) and Ground present
- Can B & E Hi/Lo measure 60 ohm across (Hi/Lo)
- Disconnect cluster for 5-10 minutes and reconnect, no change
- Checked Can E "buss" bar under drivers kickpanel/carpet
- CAN E connection to cluster plug is good, no shorts or breaks
It really seems like its the cluster and searching I'm not finding any issues like this for the W212... whereas the W211 had plenty of cluster issues.
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2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
2011 E350 4matic Wagon, 115k miles
Yesterday morning after starting the car, going into reverse and looking back up at the cluster... all the lights/indicators are were out and the gauge needles were "frozen" in the positions. Running late, so on we went to our appointment. Everything seemingly worked, beside steering wheel multi-functions buttons. Park car, lock it and come back... cluster still dead.
Pulled codes, pretty much every module is complaining of lack of communication with cluster.
It really seems like its the cluster and searching I'm not finding any issues like this for the W212... whereas the W211 had plenty of cluster issues.
Yesterday morning after starting the car, going into reverse and looking back up at the cluster... all the lights/indicators are were out and the gauge needles were "frozen" in the positions. Running late, so on we went to our appointment. Everything seemingly worked, beside steering wheel multi-functions buttons. Park car, lock it and come back... cluster still dead.
Pulled codes, pretty much every module is complaining of lack of communication with cluster.
- Checked main battery (~4 yrs old), 12.3V key ON, charged it with CTEK anyway
- Pulled fuses 5 & 28 for cluster for 5-10 minutes, no change
- Removed cluster and checked vehicle harness
- No damage, rubbing, mice
- Power (constant and switched) and Ground present
- Can B & E Hi/Lo measure 60 ohm across (Hi/Lo)
- Disconnect cluster for 5-10 minutes and reconnect, no change
- Checked Can E "buss" bar under drivers kickpanel/carpet
- CAN E connection to cluster plug is good, no shorts or breaks
It really seems like its the cluster and searching I'm not finding any issues like this for the W212... whereas the W211 had plenty of cluster issues.
My friend S. Prihadi had posted this awhile back on networks:
LIN signaling: used for alternator control and main battery sensing
CAN-A: Telematics (mBrace ...)
CAN-B: Interior (Doors ...)
CAN-C: Drive train (only Motor & Gearbox)
CAN-E1/E2: Chassis (Camera, blind spot... )
CAN-F: Central (Command ...)
CAN- H: ...
CGW: Central Gateway by Bosch
FWGW: Chassis Gateway by Lear
I listed his info as you had mentioned that there's additional networks connected thru the cluster. You've done a ton of diagnostics that initially are pointing to the cluster itself, but I think a communication check in and out of the cluster will verify if it's the root cause. From your description the different modules are talking with each other but all are complaining about the cluster.
Also, I assumed when you pulled fuses, you verified power to the feed side of each fuse. I read you did check powers and grounds which is smart, grounds especially are overlooked.
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
Yes, @Mud I verified the power feeding the cluster at the front SAM (fuses 5 & 28) and the cluster plug. Even checked with a 55W bulb, because sometimes a DMM or test light will show okay, but those draw very little current.
I feel like Eric O from SMA (those that watch his YT), when he talks about diagnostic methods and sticking to a plan.... the problem appears to be fixed now, simply after unplugging the main battery for ~10 minutes. Something I planned doing early on and then abandoned.
In researching this problem, I found posts (mostly W211) regarding unplugging the battery, unplugging cluster or replacement of battery having solved issue sometimes. I never disconnected the battery because I truly believed the issue was the cluster and unplugging IT didn't solve the issue. Prior to disconnecting the battery I called a friend, a MB tech and very knowledge on the newer cars (couldn't help you with a W124 though
). Said he's seen this before a few times, recommended pulling a fuse in the front SAM (didn't work), disconnecting the main battery (which worked) or the cluster could be dead.
So there you go... I'll definitely remember this going forward with possible CAN issues. The only thing that's not comforting is what actually was the "issue" and will it come back. Maybe not, just a glitch in the "Matrix" lol
I feel like Eric O from SMA (those that watch his YT), when he talks about diagnostic methods and sticking to a plan.... the problem appears to be fixed now, simply after unplugging the main battery for ~10 minutes. Something I planned doing early on and then abandoned.
In researching this problem, I found posts (mostly W211) regarding unplugging the battery, unplugging cluster or replacement of battery having solved issue sometimes. I never disconnected the battery because I truly believed the issue was the cluster and unplugging IT didn't solve the issue. Prior to disconnecting the battery I called a friend, a MB tech and very knowledge on the newer cars (couldn't help you with a W124 though
). Said he's seen this before a few times, recommended pulling a fuse in the front SAM (didn't work), disconnecting the main battery (which worked) or the cluster could be dead.So there you go... I'll definitely remember this going forward with possible CAN issues. The only thing that's not comforting is what actually was the "issue" and will it come back. Maybe not, just a glitch in the "Matrix" lol
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2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
Lol I've spent hours watching SMA, DiagnoseDan, Pine Hollow, The Trainer, Watch Wes, and a few others. IMO one of the best ways to learn about diag and putting the parts cannon away.
Something you mentioned about the battery disconnect caught my attention. I don't have any hard evidence but just a thought... have you checked battery terminal/cable connectors and main ground connector? You've seen it too - a connector issue that causes weird glitches or a main or aux ground that has similar strange impact.
Also, it may be worth looking at the front SAM closely to also ensure all fuses and connections are 100%.
From your comments it seems that the cluster and related modules may be ok but that maybe there's an intermittent power or ground issue. I'd think if the cluster was dead or there was a complete CAN breakdown it would stay that way regardless what you did. Yet the power/ground/CAN networks all came back online after battery reconnect.
I've got same year/engine so this topic is of interest. Intermittent stuff can make you crazy.
Something you mentioned about the battery disconnect caught my attention. I don't have any hard evidence but just a thought... have you checked battery terminal/cable connectors and main ground connector? You've seen it too - a connector issue that causes weird glitches or a main or aux ground that has similar strange impact.
Also, it may be worth looking at the front SAM closely to also ensure all fuses and connections are 100%.
From your comments it seems that the cluster and related modules may be ok but that maybe there's an intermittent power or ground issue. I'd think if the cluster was dead or there was a complete CAN breakdown it would stay that way regardless what you did. Yet the power/ground/CAN networks all came back online after battery reconnect.
I've got same year/engine so this topic is of interest. Intermittent stuff can make you crazy.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 1,012
'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
Lol I've spent hours watching SMA, DiagnoseDan, Pine Hollow, The Trainer, Watch Wes, and a few others. IMO one of the best ways to learn about diag and putting the parts cannon away.
Something you mentioned about the battery disconnect caught my attention. I don't have any hard evidence but just a thought... have you checked battery terminal/cable connectors and main ground connector? You've seen it too - a connector issue that causes weird glitches or a main or aux ground that has similar strange impact.
Also, it may be worth looking at the front SAM closely to also ensure all fuses and connections are 100%.
From your comments it seems that the cluster and related modules may be ok but that maybe there's an intermittent power or ground issue. I'd think if the cluster was dead or there was a complete CAN breakdown it would stay that way regardless what you did. Yet the power/ground/CAN networks all came back online after battery reconnect.
I've got same year/engine so this topic is of interest. Intermittent stuff can make you crazy.
Something you mentioned about the battery disconnect caught my attention. I don't have any hard evidence but just a thought... have you checked battery terminal/cable connectors and main ground connector? You've seen it too - a connector issue that causes weird glitches or a main or aux ground that has similar strange impact.
Also, it may be worth looking at the front SAM closely to also ensure all fuses and connections are 100%.
From your comments it seems that the cluster and related modules may be ok but that maybe there's an intermittent power or ground issue. I'd think if the cluster was dead or there was a complete CAN breakdown it would stay that way regardless what you did. Yet the power/ground/CAN networks all came back online after battery reconnect.
I've got same year/engine so this topic is of interest. Intermittent stuff can make you crazy.
I'm thinking the battery disconnect was more about "resetting" various modules, than the physical connection to the battery haven been the issue.
