2004 G500 Instrument Cluster Lights all over the place
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C300
2004 G500 Instrument Cluster Lights all over the place
Hey Guys!
Picked up my G about a year ago and finally had the time to put the money to give the off-road look and I’ve been wanting. Anyway, now after a year with no problem my instrument clusters begins to light up all these errors. (SRS, Visit workshop for Restraint System, ABS, high beams flashing Bulb, etc) for a few seconds then goes back to normal.
what is the issue here? CAM system? Is there a ground short somewhere? Instrument cluster old?
i would appreciate all the advise here. Not everyone knows what to do even car specialists that I even know.
PS. Attached a quick recording of it here.
thank you guys!!!
Picked up my G about a year ago and finally had the time to put the money to give the off-road look and I’ve been wanting. Anyway, now after a year with no problem my instrument clusters begins to light up all these errors. (SRS, Visit workshop for Restraint System, ABS, high beams flashing Bulb, etc) for a few seconds then goes back to normal.
what is the issue here? CAM system? Is there a ground short somewhere? Instrument cluster old?
i would appreciate all the advise here. Not everyone knows what to do even car specialists that I even know.
PS. Attached a quick recording of it here.
thank you guys!!!
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From: Colorado
G550
An OBDII scanner costing less than $100 will pay for itself many times over, especially on an older model vehicle. Check all your fuses too - some can create holiday lighting displays when they pop.
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C300
I have done that and no errors coded. Professional shop actually did the scan. They were even confused and no real faults going. Drove the car yesterday and filled up gas, no errors at all. Seems when I my near empty and the gas lamp turns on....then the party starts. It’s driving me crazy to figure it out.
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2018 GLE350, 2014 G550, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
I have seen postings about this issue before. Suggestions:
Check you battery voltage - it should be ~12.6 volts, engine off and ~13.6 - 14.6 engine one. The G is especially sensitive to low system voltage.
Instrument cluster malfunction / bad connection. Pull the cluster and check the connections. Cluster failure has been described in other threads; they were able to get the cluster repaired (the usual issue is that the electrolytic capacitors dry out and fail).
CAN bus issues. A bad transceiver on the CAN bus can cause the types of errors. If things like power windows and exterior lights are working properly, the CAN bus is probably fine.
Check you battery voltage - it should be ~12.6 volts, engine off and ~13.6 - 14.6 engine one. The G is especially sensitive to low system voltage.
Instrument cluster malfunction / bad connection. Pull the cluster and check the connections. Cluster failure has been described in other threads; they were able to get the cluster repaired (the usual issue is that the electrolytic capacitors dry out and fail).
CAN bus issues. A bad transceiver on the CAN bus can cause the types of errors. If things like power windows and exterior lights are working properly, the CAN bus is probably fine.
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Checked the voltage of battery by tech and all perfect. It’s a brand new battery so no issues there. Could be the cluster being old? Right now drive the car 8 miles no issues what so ever again. The gas is still good not near empty. Windows work and the buttons work. I problems.
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Checked the voltage of battery by tech and all perfect. It’s a brand new battery so no issues there. Could be the cluster being old? Right now drive the car 8 miles no issues what so ever again. The gas is still good not near empty. Windows work and the buttons work. I problems.
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2018 GLE350, 2014 G550, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
With battery voltage okay and other CAN bus B driven items are working, it smells like a failing cluster to me. I would still check the mechanical connections in case they have come loose, but search the forum to see if you can find previous threads for a repair shop. I believe the repair shop was in southern California (as are all things good for cars).
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I was just told that since the lights start going off when the gas is near empty that it could be a wire of some kind in the gas area when you open the rear carpet. Since the car might have come from East coast it could have rust. Thoughts on that?
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From: Massachusetts
2018 GLE350, 2014 G550, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
Possible, but I don't think it's likely. The instrument cluster (IC) uses the tank status to inform other systems via the CAN bus as to the fill status of the tank. For example, the evap system is tested by the ECU only when the tank is between 2/3 and 1/3 full. There may be some sort of communication issue that occurs when a low tank fill message is sent.
You really need a deep scanner like the Foxwell tools scanner or a true Star/Xentry system to look for underlying causes with communications between systems (OBDII scanners won't tell you squat)
You really need a deep scanner like the Foxwell tools scanner or a true Star/Xentry system to look for underlying causes with communications between systems (OBDII scanners won't tell you squat)
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Then I would check the mechanical connections and if the issue returns, find a shop that can repair the IC. They are a PITA to replace with a new/used one.
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2012 Land Rover LR4 5.0L V8 LUX HD
In the early years the alternator output quality was bad on some of them and would occasionally send the electrical system into a futz. I'd swap it out with a known good one.
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You should be able to have the alternator checked without having to yank it out. I think Floobydu has the more probable diagnosis. Check the wiring harnesses and connectors.
Find a nicely washboarded gravel road and drive 20+ mph and see if this has any affect.
Find a nicely washboarded gravel road and drive 20+ mph and see if this has any affect.
Last edited by streborx; Mar 24, 2021 at 06:25 AM.
