Nobody else has mentioned it. So--since we are talking about instrument cluster problems, I thought it best to point out the "Self-Test" capability that the instrument cluster has.

The following assumes that you have a digital display for odometer, trip meter, and outside temperature. There's a similar process for the analog displays but it may differ slightly:

1. Start the engine
2. On the RH twist knob (i.e. the one that you use to set the clock, press on the very center of that knob for five seconds (with the end of a paper clip or a stiff wire).
3. The odometer display will then show "-----"
4. Then pull out on the RH knob and turn it to the right. Each time you do this, the cluster will cycle through a sequence of 9 test modes, as follows:

Test mode 1: Shows fuel tank contents in liters on odometer display (e.g. 1 80 indicates test mode 1 and 80 liters); shows "SE" on trip odometer for standard fuel tank.

Test mode 2: Shows momentary fuel consumption in liters/hour (e.g. 2 3_4 indicates test mode 2 and 3.4 liters/hour).

Test mode 3: Shows engine oil pressure in bars (e.g. 3 2_0 indicates test mode 3 and 2.0 bars of oil pressure).

Test mode 4: Shows engine RPM (e.g. 4 600 indicates test mode 4 and 600 RPM).

Test mode 5: Shows engine oil level (e.g. 0 indicates OK and 1 indicates Not OK).

Test mode 6: Oil pressure, fuel consumption, fuel tank, speedometer, and tachometer all go to 1/4 guage positions.

Test mode 7: Oil pressure, fuel consumption, fuel tank, speedometer, and tachometer all go to 2/4 guage positions.

Test mode 8: Fuel consumption, fuel tank, speedometer, and tachometer all go to 3/4 guage positions. Oil pressure remains at 2/4 guage position.

Test mode 9: Fuel tank, speedometer, and tachometer all go to 4/4 guage positions. Oil pressure remains in 2/4 guages position. Fuel consumption remains in 3/4 guage position.

The cluster will exit from test mode when the car is restarted.

Ed


1992 400SE; 119,000 miles
1971 220D (Sold)
1970 220D (Sold)