I have an 87 300D, and I took the Cluster out to replace some bulbs.
When I put it back in, I noticed some problems.

1. The radio (and SRS light) come on when I open the front door (left or right).
2. The glow plug indicator light does not come on.
3. The turns signal indicator light dont work.
4. The brake indicator lamp does not work.

I have rechecked all the bulbs, and they are fine.
I made an external ground from the cluster to the body, but that didn't help.
I 'think' that this is one problem that is causing all these symptoms.
Anyone have any ideas??

Thanks, in advance

the round plug, on the left hand side of the cluster (if facing from inside the car)

is off by a plug, or 2.

it can be plugged in any way, 360 degrees. so you need to get it lined up correctly

__________________
87' 300DT (Grey w/ red leather)
87' 300TDT (silver w/ palamino tex) SOLD

2012 VW JSW TDI (on tdiclub.com all the time "btcost")

it should NOT be able to plug in "any" way... it should have a D shaped alignment key in the center of the socket that forces it to plug in ONLY in the correct orientation...

I fail to see how that socket would light up ANY lights in the cluster just from opening a door though. it sounds more like one of the dash light bulbs are in the wrong location...
still, I can't think of how it would occur...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

on mine, the center post of that connector is shaped like a "D".
It will only allow me to connect it one way.
I tried to spin the connector, but it wont allow me to plug it in the wrong way.

The wires for the bulbs are labeled. 1,3,4,5,6. (there is not a number 2).
I verified that all these are plugged in correctly.

If I disconnect the glow plug, and pull the bulb out, I can put a test light into the connector, turn on the key. The test light lights up, for a few moments, just like the bulb would if it is plugged in. I took a ground wire and connected to the body, and also to the ground tab on the connector, (thinking it was a bad ground), but it still doesn't work.
I reconnected, everything back up, and still doesn't work.

... radio and SRS light on dash powers up with the front doors open...


the door should only power the dome light, and the seatbelt/warning buzzer IF the key is in... does the dome light come on? does the seatbelt warning light below the dome blink?
it's the only thing I can think of... pull the cluster back out, and see if any wires lead up into the a pillar from there...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Mine does the EXACT same thing (#1)....This happened after my indy removed the cluster.

My SRS light will come on when I open the door and doesn't turn off until I start the car. Also, the radio will come on when the door is open (even without the key in the ignition)...As soon as I close the driver's door it will go off (unless the key is turned on of course). My car has so many electrics wrong with it though. My trip meter and odometer also stopped working. I need to have it looked at again but there's just never any time! I just learn to deal with it for now.

__________________
*1985 300CD, 214K miles, Pearl Black/Palomino MB Tex-Stuck in FL
*1985 300D, Smoke Silver/Palomino MB Tex, 280K miles--Dad's car--Sold May 2015
*2014 VW Jetta SportWagen TDI Premium Pkg, Platnium Grey w/Black VW Tex- Dad's new car- 55k
*2017 Chevy Cruze LT Diesel, Silver w/Black leather, 26k miles, brother's new car
*2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 Crew Cab, Pepperdust w/Black leather, 15k miles, my new ride

The dome light comes on, and the Seat Belt light comes on when I open the door, This is true with the key in the ignition, or with the key out of the ignition.

Did you unscrew or remove anything in the cluster? There's a wire that runs across the middle that connects the left and right side gauges... maybe it got dislodged and is making contact elsewhere... I do not remember if its positive or ground though

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

locry
Yes-I did take the screws out of the cluster.
After your Post, I took the cluster apart again. The only wires I saw that go across are the ones on top, that go to the Turn signals. One other wire goes across the back of the speedometer.
I also took apart a cluster out of a 87 300E (I know there are differences, but I thought it would help me some. It has the same wires as I described in this Post.
I took an external ground wire, and went from one side to the other side, but that didnt help.