How big a deal to remove the instrument cluster on '83 240D? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 02-05-2003, 04:01 PM

...clock has always run slow (if at all), would like to swap it out or have it cleaned.

Thanks

#2 02-05-2003, 04:06 PM

I can't imagine anything easier.

Remove the kick panel below the steering wheel. Reach up from the bottom and push the instrument cluster toward the steering wheel. Once it is forward some, reach behind and remove the speedo cable thumbnut, the large connector on the left side, a few bulbs on the right side(note their positions so they go back correctly) then using a 10mm wrench and I think a 12MM for backup, loosen and remove the connector to the oil pressure gauge. The instrument cluster will then be in your lap.

Lay out a towel on the workbench and lay the cluster face down. There are a few phillips screws that will free the clock.

Good luck,

surfblau · #3 02-05-2003, 06:10 PM

which was to start the car with the instrument cluster removed.

I sorta forgot about the oil pressure sensor and caught a little bit of a black shower as it discharged oil into the footwell and behind the instrument cluster.

Heavy gauge wire (coat hanger) bent into a hook may be helpfull to pull the right side out if you can only reach it from behind at the left. The factory CD and Haynes explain this.

alec

Stevo · #4 02-06-2003, 12:16 AM

One thing I might add would be to slack the spedo cable in the engine compartment. follow it down from where it comes through the fire wall and you will see where to slack it. That will give you a tast more room.

Jason Beal · #5 02-06-2003, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LarryBible
I can't imagine anything easier.

Remove the kick panel below the steering wheel. Reach up from the bottom and push the instrument cluster toward the steering wheel. Once it is forward some, reach behind and remove the speedo cable thumbnut, the large connector on the left side, a few bulbs on the right side(note their positions so they go back correctly) then using a 10mm wrench and I think a 12MM for backup, loosen and remove the connector to the oil pressure gauge. The instrument cluster will then be in your lap.

Lay out a towel on the workbench and lay the cluster face down. There are a few phillips screws that will free the clock.

Good luck,

Is this setup the same on a 1981 240d? I have to take my cluster out. Thanks.

NC240D76 · #6 02-06-2003, 07:10 AM

Hey Larry,
I know the 81 and 83 are the same but do you know if the 76 w115 comes out the same way?
I copied this off another thread;
"Place a towel over the wood trim to prevent it from getting scratched.... squirt some grease down the speedo cable while its unattached..... gently clean the contacts on instrument cluster light dimming switch with small brass brush or steel wool"

Is there anything else you would do while it was out?
Thanks

#7 02-06-2003, 07:22 AM

All 123 instrument clusters are the same, '77 to '85.

The 114/115 cars are similar. The cluster on those cars are mounted in rubber and just push out.

Good luck,

Jason Beal · #8 02-06-2003, 10:55 AM

Thankyou.

mplafleur · #9 02-06-2003, 12:34 PM

I'd always been able to take them out by hand. You can with your fingertips, alternately pull out one side enough to get a good grip. This works on w115, w123, and w201.

NC240D76 · #10 02-10-2003, 09:15 AM

Hey Jim,
Did you have any luck with your clock?
Mine had worked off and on (if I let the car sit for more than three days the clock quit) until I replaced my battery and then it worked great for 6 months.
Well during the last cold snap it quit completely and has not shown any interest in starting back even when driven daily.
I pulled the instrument cluster yesterday and replaced it with the one from the donor car and the clock from it makes a loud humming noise but doesn't work either.
I pulled the clock out and it seems to be a sealed unit in my car with no way to clean or service it.
Any leads on repair or a replacement or do I need to hit the junk yard?
Thanks,
Brian

Fisherman · #11 02-10-2003, 07:35 PM

If you're talking about the clock in your 115 it is probably a bad pin on one of the gears. this will cause it to mesh with the other gears but not quite right so you get teh slow clock or intermittent clock. It is sometimes possible to fix but taking the clock apart is a real and I mean real pain!
if you really want to go ahead and pull it apart I can explain how to do it but have a low wattage soldering iron handy and lots of patience...

NC240D76 · #12 02-10-2003, 11:03 PM

You sure make digging in the junk yard sound good.
A friend has several 115's in his junk yard and it only takes a few minutes to grab the instrument clusters so I think I will give them a shot.
I may give a yell later just to see how much fun it is but you can never have too many parts.

Thanks for the help,
Brian

Any idea how to correct the speedometer, mine seems to display 4-5 mph high?

Fisherman · #13 02-11-2003, 09:01 AM

I need one for my 115 as the one I have finally died and is now irreparable.

As to the speedo I do not know of any adjustments that can be made. Unless you count putting in the wrong gear in the tranny. i think I have this on my 300 as it reads really slow on the 1980 85 MPH speedo. But when I comare teh needle location to a 120 MPH speedo it looks pretty darn accurate...
Are your tires a different size from the stock tires?

NC240D76 · #14 02-11-2003, 10:33 AM

Give me time to find another clock to go in the dash and I will send you 2 or 3 in hopes that you can fix one for each of us.

I bought tires in the original size but in reading a thread somewhere on here apparantly I should have bought 205/70 or 215/75 because this car was sized for tires before radials were being used and the radial's profile is smaller for the same size tire.
Next time anybody in the family needs tires near this size I am going to make them a deal and buy larger, probobly in a Michelin.

You can email me direct with an address if you wish to work on the clocks at cofish@newrivernets.com .
Thanks,
Brian

The only speedo's I have are for 240's but if I see a 300 speedo in the junk yard I will grab it.

TwitchKitty · #15 03-21-2005, 11:02 AM

Link to another thread on How to Remove the Instrument Cluster.

How to remove instrument cluster.