I bought the 190D in Virginia and drove it home to Idaho. The odometer has never worked since I got it. It shows 133,xxx and the PO said he thought he put another 75k on the car.

On the 2nd day of the long drive a sudden, loud screeching started, I thought there was some kind of major mechanical malfunction and began to slow down. The tone of the screech changed, so I pressed the odometer reset button and it was obvious that the odo was the source of the noise.

It was way too annoying to continue driving another 1800 miles, so I pulled over at the next exit. The noise stopped when I got below 30 mph. I stopped and then backed up for about 100 feet. Then got going again. The noise was stopped. I guess driving backwards a short distance disengaged the stripped gears that were grinding away.

It happened 3 more times on the trip home, the last time was fairly quiet, compared to the others.

I found an '88 190E in the Pick 'n Pull, with the instrument cluster on the floorboards. Should I buy the whole cluster, or just remove the speedo and/or the odo parts?

How do I remove my instrument cluster? Thanks in advance.

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1st MBz: 1982 300SD
2nd MBz: 1987 300SDL
3rd MBz: 1995 S420
4th MBz: 1987 190DT
5th MBz: 1984 300SD w/1983 300DT engine
6th MBz: 1999 C230k I'm 3rd owner, got it w/57,235 miles.
and manages Mom's 2007 R320 CDI

If that year has a cable the cable going bad will often screetch. If it is an electronic speedo well, never mind.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Yes, it does have the cable. My guess at this point is the cable core is spinning and the gears in the dash odo are stripped.

However, the PO said the odo hasn't worked in many years, so it is strange that all of a sudden, it started grinding gears.

Maybe he never drove it 85 mph?

__________________
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1st MBz: 1982 300SD
2nd MBz: 1987 300SDL
3rd MBz: 1995 S420
4th MBz: 1987 190DT
5th MBz: 1984 300SD w/1983 300DT engine
6th MBz: 1999 C230k I'm 3rd owner, got it w/57,235 miles.
and manages Mom's 2007 R320 CDI

Get used Instrument cluster,and speedo cable try and lube the newer one. Take coat hanger bend into little hook (two of them) insert between dash and instruments.Instrusments will pop out

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

On most benzes you can also remove the lower panel and push the cluster out from behind. You might not need any instruments if the cable is broken.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I'm guessing the speedo cable drives the speedometer and the odometer?

The speedometer apparently works correctly, while the odo is non-functional.

Does that mean the cable is not broken?

__________________
.
1st MBz: 1982 300SD
2nd MBz: 1987 300SDL
3rd MBz: 1995 S420
4th MBz: 1987 190DT
5th MBz: 1984 300SD w/1983 300DT engine
6th MBz: 1999 C230k I'm 3rd owner, got it w/57,235 miles.
and manages Mom's 2007 R320 CDI

Yes to all your questions.

If you want to replace, I have a spare working instrument, speedometer and odometer.

If the speedo shows the correct speed then the cable is not snapped or stripped. The end of the cable is square shape and fits into the odo assembly. If you are on the road and you cannot stand the noise then I would recommend you to undo the cable and use GPS as your speed indication and drive home. Sort it out in Idaho. It probably just need some lubrication.

The odo stoppage probably is caused by a gear not binding to the shaft properly. I fixed my 190D by crimping the shaft a bit ( made it oval shape ) and pushed the gear back in with a drop of super-glue.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.