w126 clock repair: Anyone used North Hollywood Speedometer & Clock Co.? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chrisbus · #1 05-22-2010, 01:46 PM

The clock in my 84 300SD has been dead since the day I bought it. I pondered trying to self-diagnose, but thought the better of it. I found N. Hollywood Speedometer & Clock on Google when I did a search for VDO repair facilities in Los Angeles.

Anyone ever used them or have any other recommendations for SoCal shops that do this type of work? I think I'd like to have the cluster pulled, tested, rebuilt (if necessary) and cleaned up...

warmblood58 · #2 05-22-2010, 01:52 PM

Used them years ago, great attention to detail -Palo Alto Speedometer great too! Strangely, my clock started working again after I pulled my panel a few months ago to replace bulbs. An indy once checked this for me several years ago and could not get my clock to work . . . makes me wonder if I had a weak ground . . . good luck!

NoSparkNeeded · #3 05-22-2010, 05:40 PM

The clock can be fixed by replacing the two capacitors. I've done 4 now. Mine my wife's, a friends, and a friend of hers :>). Search here on this board.

diametricalbenz · #4 05-23-2010, 12:19 AM

I have used NH Speedometer. It was the first thing I fixed on my 6.9 back in 2004. They did a good job and the speed is spot on. They have a dyno-ish looking thing in the back to verify the indicated speed. The shop is around back so you will miss the driveway entrance in a heartbeat.

rhodes2010 · #5 05-23-2010, 12:56 AM

Chrisbus, get a quote from the folks you found. Let us al know what they say.

This is an easy repair if you have ever used a soldering iron.

I am not too far from you. If the price of having it done is ridiculous.
Or if the thought of doing it yourself seems interesting, let's talk.

The capacitors required are sold at Radio Shack and Fry's.
100 uf if I remember correctly, two required.

Easiest thing I have ever done. And the 84 300SD have an all electronic dash
that is super easy to remove.

Sorry I cannot say that I know the folks you speak of.

Pretty cool that you use the 84 as a daily driver.

cirrusman · #6 05-23-2010, 02:11 AM

Or, here's how to do it yourself:
http://boostnbenz.1baddsm.com/DIY/easley/clock.htm
Just be careful with that soldering gun...

chrisbus · #7 05-23-2010, 11:38 AM

Thanks guys! I'll talk to NH Speedometer and let you know what they say. One of the appeals of using them is that they can clean up the existing cluster and replace anything that might be worn out or wearing out.

I'll keep you posted!

chrisbus · #8 05-24-2010, 10:12 PM

Update: I called and ended up going up to NH Speedometer this afternoon. They quoted me $120 to repair the clock, plus $100 to remove the cluster. I thought about it briefly and then decided that I'd rather pay the $220 and have everything tested and cleaned by someone who was very familiar with these clusters. They did the job in a little over an hour and tested everything, both before/after it was removed/installed. The clock was fixed, everything was cleaned up and it works perfectly now.

I know I could have done it for MUCH cheaper on my own. I just didn't feel like messing with it, and having an actual VDO service tech clean and do the repair for me gave me enough piece of mind to justify the cost.

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback and advice!

diametricalbenz · #9 05-24-2010, 10:16 PM

I am glad they have kept up the level of service. The cluster removal price still seems like a lot but I got the same service 6 years ago and it's still good!

charmalu · #10 05-25-2010, 10:50 AM

It`s great to get advice from the forum on what/how to fix the various things on our MB`s, then we have to weigh out what we are comfortable with doing.
Been there, done that and still doing, read some more, can I do it?

read some more, the do it, and find out it really was a simple fix.

I have had the spedo fixed 2 times on the 85 300D. last time the cable snapped off at the spedo connection and the spedo was locked up. we were 1700 miles from home. then used the tach for speed control, didn`t go over 3000k.
that fix cost me $265. the indy sent it in to be fixed.

now with all my knowledge gained here on "MB Shop 101" it ain`t gona happn again. DIM next time. (Do it myself)

there are a ton of good W126 instrument clusters being crushed at PNP every day. they can be picked up for about $35. just check the diff gear ratio to get the right one. I usually write the ratio on the back of the spedo when I pull one.

Iam happy to hear you got the clock back up and running. You must have a JOB. You know when you are retired, you don`t need no stinkin clock

.

Charlie

cirrusman · #11 05-25-2010, 11:14 AM

I know the feeling of having something fixed and working in your car

With time, like Charlie, you'll find more confidence to tackle these kind of repairs yourself. Then you can add up all the savings and show that to your wife, who will find you oh so handy and quite irresistible...

I think it was a bit too much $$ to pay for removing the cluster, for example. I wish I got paid $100 for removing old Mercedes' clusters! Let's see... Taking out a cluster takes about... hm... 30 seconds; maybe a minute if there's something broken inside that you want to be careful with... I'd do 60 per hour, 480 in a day, times 100 equals, lessee... hm.. the zero goes here, add that zero there... yep, $48000 per day. I'm gonna start me some real lucrative business here!

CamelotShadow · #12 03-02-2016, 08:32 PM

Glad N Holly Speedometer is still in business & local.
Right now I have 2 problems & only a one day moving permit so can't do both.

History: Haven't used my car in over a year. Now its idling higher & failed smog.
Having trouble finding a smog repair shop local that can deal with a
old euro 500 SEC.

To make things worse I just noticed my trip odometer & main odometer are not working.

My car is not registered & all I can get from DMV is a ONE day operating permit so
its making repairs almost impossible.

Guess I'd like to get smog repairs & car registered before I deal with odometer but will a smog station run a smog if they find out my odometer is not working? I'm trying to get the car fixed at the repair station that I failed the smog test in but for sure they will or any smog station re likely to notice that mileage is same as the day I failed the smog.

Sorry if I cross threaded info here. I'll start a new thread.