240D Instrument Cluster/Switch lights issue - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Sam82MB240D · #1 05-06-2009, 08:58 PM

I swapped dashes today in a 83 240D and for some reason now my instrument cluster and all switch lights wont light up when the lights are turned on. Everything functions fine (all switches work, blower turns on) but they just wont light up. All fuses looked intact. Any ideas?

Diesel911 · #2 05-06-2009, 09:13 PM

Ground wires somewhere near the gauges?

toomany MBZ · #3 05-07-2009, 07:44 AM

Your new cluster may have a failed rheostat.

#4 05-07-2009, 08:47 AM

Yep. Either the rheostat or the wire trace in the cluster itself is fried.

Sam82MB240D · #5 05-07-2009, 08:34 PM

Thanks for the replies. Turns out it was a bad rheostat in the new cluster. Put a jumper across and now they are lit up.

Only problem I'm having now is getting the dash switches (dome, antenna, sunroof, defroster) to light when the lights are on. But they were like that when I bought the car. Not after I put a new cluster in.

#6 05-07-2009, 09:10 PM

The light bulb in the fiber optic spider is probably burnt out. Remove the climate control button unit and you'll see it.

Sam82MB240D · #7 05-07-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

The light bulb in the fiber optic spider is probably burnt out. Remove the climate control button unit and you'll see it.

I saw that and wondered if that might be it. Thats the thing that has a bulb sticking inside a small unit with the 3 wires coming out of it and has a couple of bulbs wired to them? Couple bulbs did look foggy and possibly blown. Those bulbs attached should insert into the climate panel correct? They were just tucked back into console and I didn't see the purpose of just having bulbs that light up for no reason?

Sam82MB240D · #8 05-07-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam82MB240D

I saw that and wondered if that might be it. Thats the thing that has a bulb sticking inside a small unit with the 3 wires coming out of it and has a couple of bulbs wired to them? Couple bulbs did look foggy and possibly blown. Those bulbs attached should insert into the climate panel correct? They were just tucked back into console and I didn't see the purpose of just having bulbs that light up for no reason?

Did a search on the fiber optic spider-looks like that's my problem. Ill get the bulbs replaced and hope that fixes my problem!