On my 79 SD the Odometer doesn't work and the speedometer is innaccurate. Where do I start?

Plastic gears are probably shot on odometer and you might have a calibration problem on the speedometer. Best bet is probably to pull it out of the dash and send it away to a shop that specializes in this type of repair---there are several of them around. Probably will take two to three weeks. One I'm aware of is Overseas Speedometer in Austin, TX---web site is www.speedometer.com. You might start there.

can offer no advice on inaccurate speedometer comment other than to say if it is inaccurate and constantly so, just make the mental adjustment. as for the odometer condition. i just completed a search on 'odometer' at this site. ( i have the odometer problem). in summary the instrument panel is easy to remove. and there are posts describing a home 'actual' repair of the odometer. you can check. something like 400 odd topics. one additional comment. alabamastretch at the yahoo/mercedes benz site, if memory serves me correctly, advises that the odometer problem can be cured by removing the gear that drives the trip odometer. yes, that is correct. no trip odometer as a result. thus not an 'actual' repair. but good enough for me. for what it is worth.

mr. bill, you left us hanging a bit. the oil was coming from where? what caused the leak? what did you do to remedy same?

I'm not too keen on driving about without a dash. Paying loads for shipping and repairs on same isn't too exciting either. I'll give a try at switching over the trip and odometer workings.

Someone recently on a thread had some good comments on how to repair the odometer gear by drilling and super glue.
Just a comment on how it breaks, I think mine broke by resetting the odometer when moving , now I only reset when stopped.
Yes watch the oil line it does make a big mess

__________________
Ricali

03 C240 4matic wagon
95 300E 234,000
7 prior 240;s 5 still going
81 300sd gone
65 230sl gone
49 Studebaker Champion
90BMW convert.167,000
60 Dodge D-100

If you want to get a pro to fix or get an exchange - I used this place.

http://www.benz-store.com/speedometer_repairs.html

They sent me a rebuilt speedo and they even set it to the correct milage. When it came in I shipped them the broken one back in the same box. Final cost was about $75.

Good luck!

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1976 240D
1987 560SL
2007 E320 Bluetec
1998 C280 (now son’s car)
1982 240D Manual - Sold

Thanks, FS. I think I'll give them a try.