W124 87 300DT issue: is there a bulb for the climate control unit? my light is out. the row of light switches in line w/ the hazard are all just fine. the radio is fine. just the CCU's light is out. i have everything out, including the instrument cluster. all fuses were checked and they are all fine. any helpful advice would be appreciated

thanks,
bob

When I took my console apart I found the sockets that hold the tiny bulbs that illuminate the manual controls in my 240 were broken and so no contact. I figured an old wiring harness would provide replacement sockets and bulbs but I have not got one yet.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

There are two harnesses that plug into the top of the CCU, so mine is a little different. i have yet to open it, but i'd like to see if anyone else has gone through this before opening up.

also, i was scouring the instrument cluster area for any stray, unplugged harnesses. the only one i found was a single pole plug off the back of the headlight/dimmer switch, but theres nothing for it to mate to. its not a very long cable either. this could be it, but im stump'd because theres nothing to plug into

The older ones have 4 separate bulbs that light the CCU, perhaps the later ones are different.....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

if it's anything like my 190's... when you pull the ccu out of the dash you'll find a small plastic strip along the top. GENTLY remove this black plastic strip and you'll find the bulbs underneath that.

Rick

guys,

thanks i'm gonna take a look inside tonight or tomorrow morning. if i find out anything, i'll post with pics

bob

ok, i know what you guys are all gonna say after i ask this question, but man, how in the heck do you get this bulb out? The hole size is about 2mm wider/ around the bulb, so there's barely enough room to get a jeweler's screwdriver in there. I removed the bottom, but all it is is circuit board. You can see one of the bulbs. I tried to flip the bulb forward, but you really need to get and grab all sides of the bulb to pull it out.

any guesses on how the dealership pulls these two bulbs out?

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i knew my cheapy harbor freight pick set would come in handy!

i was pulling out my hair about how frustrating this thing was to pull out, so i decided to clear my head and clean up my tools in the garage. lo and behold, there was the pick set. so I picked the one i thought would work. after a few tries, it worked. I had to bend the angle of the pick a little, but basically i stuck the tip in, angled the pick upwards, and got under the teeeny lip of the bulb. it popped right out. did the other one just the same. curiously, both bulbs are out. 2 weeks ago, they weren't.

bulb placement: you would think its easy too, but not really. on the right bulb, you can drop it in but if it misaligns, use the pick to make it line up w/ the light socket. the one on the left....well if you dont line it up perfectly, it'll fall right into the entire unit! so you have to remove the 4 screws on the bottom and take the plastic bottom off. you MUST remove the 4 screws first. then shake the bulb out and try again.

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Sorry I didn't log on sooner.

The two bulbs are behind the two pieces of tape on the face of the unit. Remove the two screws above the ashtray, swing the zebrano panel up and out to see it.

Bulbs can be removed and installed using rubber vacuum-hose or shrink-tubing.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Mine broke the glass, so I had to make a small hole on top to remove it.

I work in controls and have used the rubber hose trick for years to change pilot light bulbs.

There is also a vintage Bell System lamp extractor tool if you can find one on ebay. This has two metal half circles and a lever to grasp the bulb and carefully pull it out.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech