arneseka

Hi,

I'm still experiencing issues with my instrument cluster on an 01 S430.

I just got my cluster back from BBA-Remanufacturing, but when I plugged it in I still don't get any lights or movement on the gauges. I've checked the fuses and they all look good. Anyone got a suggestion about what steps I should take next?

arneseka

The car also doesn't automatically lock anymore while driving, and the lighting on the dash buttons/AC/GPS/seats etc are not working.

artificer

I know nothing about your car or model but definitely sounds like you have not connected a ground [earth] connection when re-fitting what ever you had fixed.

arneseka

All I took out was the instrument cluster. It only had one connection. It randomly died while driving a few weeks ago. At first a fuse had blown, which I replaced. It then worked for about two weeks, before it died again (no blown fuse this time). I sent the instrument cluster in for remanufacturing and received it back today. When I plugged it in, it still wasn't working.

Could it be a CAN bus issue I'm looking at here?

http://static.ibsrv.net/mbworld/Can%...2010-28-02.pdf

vmystikilv

I would be more concerned that they took your money and prob plugged it in , said it worked, then charged you for a fix they didn't do

tusabes

Yep

arneseka

I actually took it out myself and sent it in to BBA-reman, which I heard is a fairly decent company. They said that they replaced some capacitors or transformers that had blown in the cluster.

corkshoppe

disconnect battery and reconnect, then reset by turning steering wheel left then right, if not then i might be a sam unit.

arneseka

Just tried it, didn't work. Likely a SAM issue then?

la22bay

You have to go thru menu on steering wheel scroll to setting for locks press arrow on or off, same with delay lights, etc

arneseka

The problem is that the instrument cluster isn't working as well. I'm also talking about all the lighting in the cabin, not headlights. All illumination for buttons, switches etc. do not work.

ibeforreal

Were all the other lights working before you had the problem with the instrument cluster? For some reason I thought the instrument cluster had to be reprogrammed by the dealer or Star diagnostics when it was replaced/repaired.

corkshoppe

it does have to be programed!

wallyp

If the cluster is the same one that was programmed for the car, and has only had the electrical repairs made - would it still need to be reprogrammed?

arneseka

Yeah everything was working fine before I had the problem with the instrument cluster. I assumed that these functions were controlled by the cluster, but now that I know the cluster has been repaired I find that unlikely.

It is also the same cluster that the car came with, so I don't think it would have to be reprogrammed? The cluster is also not showing any sign of life in my car.

I was looking at this PDF of the CAN system, and was wondering if I may have a problem with CAN B or C

http://static.ibsrv.net/mbworld/Can%...2010-28-02.pdf

ibeforreal

Perhaps the cluster was never repaired properly.

arneseka

I heard BBA is pretty reliable, but I've never dealt with them before. I'll give them a call tomorrow and ask just to be sure. I dropped the car off today at a shop to make sure it's diagnosed correctly. Is a SAM replacement a possible diy job?