How difficult is it to change the dash light rheostat (dimmer switch) on an '83 240D? Mine was getting a little flaky-- I had to turn it back and forth a bunch just to get the dash lights to come on very low, but now that doesn't even work. No dash lights at night is BAD!

-nate

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'83 MB 240D....mmm french fries
'86 VW QSW....snowmobile

Solder a jumper wire in between the two contact strips in the back. One screw in the middle of it to get it out. Remove cluster first of course.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Try taking the rheostat apart and cleaning the corrosion. I did that to mine and now it works fine.

John

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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion
1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold
2006 E320 CDI

Some have bypassed the rheostat by soldering a jumper wire as has been suggested. I have read here that this procedure may brighten up the cluster. Have not tried that yet.
But in answer to your origonal question: pull the instrument cluster out.
Disconnect all the wires and speedo cable from the cluster because you have to look at it from behind. Unscrew the one screw that holds the rheostat to the cluster. Reverse procedure to put it all back together again.

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Selling used Mercedes parts on Ebay...always changing...
cdplayer51 take a look!
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Before you do anything too invasive, you might want to try slowly moving the rheostat for the dimmer left and right and see if you find a spot where it comes on. This works in my '83, and although it's frustrating it's one less thing that HAS to be fixed. It will continue to work until I make the mistake of pushing the trip odometer.
You definitely want to do this in the dark, as it's almost impossible to tell if the light is on in the daylight.
Good Luck!

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Pure Vermont Maple Syrup
http://www.squaredealfarm.org

1982 300D Turbo
1983 300D Turbo

Did the jumper work? I have the same problem...but am too chicken to do any electrical stuff myself. Waiting for someone else to attempt the jumper on the their cluster so they can write a step-by-step if it does work.

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Anthony
'76 W115 240D
'67 IH Scout 800
'61 IH Scout 80

If you don't know how to solder, you could probably go to Radio Shack with your circuit board and they could rig or find some connections for you.

John

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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion
1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold
2006 E320 CDI