No dashboard lights, but problem now found
 

Original question below, but now an answer has been found........

1) 3 days ago, I had an after market stereo put in. The guy used my Crutchfield harness, and I guess hardwired the other wires, and kept the fader working on the Mercedes console panel by the shifter, which I think a lot of people bypass.

So that might be the cause, maybe he messed something up? I didn't check the dash lights, didn't know there was a problem til this morning, and I'm on a 12 hour trip today.

2) Yesterday, I installed new front dash speakers. Maybe that caused the problem?

I checked the fuses, all is well. The light for the temp readout is working. The tail lights, blinkers, etc. which I think are on the same fuse, are all working.

Any suggestions?

jeff 1991 300d 175k

twist the knob? Mine went out a couple days ago...i guess i twisted the knob when doing trip odometer reset.....dooh....

You'll need to pull the cluster and use your multimeter to see where you're not getting voltage, i.e. go to where the problem is and move backwards.

It would also be OK to check where things are OK (e.g. fuse box) and then move forward. In any event, you've got a break somewhere, and you need to find it, and the way I recommend is to trace wires with your multimeter. Be very careful around live circuits.

Sincerely,

Packman

Problem found
 

I found the problem.

Someone asked me if the new radio had a dimmer option within the menu, and it does. Just yesterday afternoon, I turned that option from off to "on". What the dimmer option on the radio is supposed to do, is dim the radio lights when the headlights are turned on.

I called the radio installer, he said he did not hook the dimmer switch to the other dashboard lights up. So with that option "off", my dash lights work as normal.

All is well!