Erratic gauges in 83 280 SL

[KirkVining]

I posted something about this a couple of weeks ago - I was sitting at a light and all of a sudden my guages in the left cluster started going wacko, the needles jumping around, I drove the car a little ways and they stopped. Well, I have figured out a litle more about it - they occassionally go wacko when I put the left directional on. Now the left turn light as quit as well. Any insight? Should I replace the fuel/oil/gas cluster or is it something else?

[c107]

I had something similar happen to me while I was cleaning up (disassemble, simple green, reassemble) a 116 ('79 300SD) instrument panel, which is exactly the same as the 107's.

I had cleaned and reassembled everything but (of course, not until after the fact) did I realize that some of the bulbs (in my case, the right directional and the glow plug light) were not working - they were in but not making contact, and then as a result, (if I remember correctly) the fuel gauge needle would slightly move in perfect time with the clicking of the directional relay when I selected a right turn signal.

The right set of bulbs (as you're looking at it from the driver's seat) "attach" directly to the instrument panel by friction,and I suppose are grounded this way... this is where I was having contact problems. The problem varied depending on which bulbs were in and which were not. For example, the "Fasten Seat Belt" light would start blinking if the directional bulb was not in correctly.

The left set of bulbs are plastic twist-on modules and are held to the panel by a little spring.

After I finally had all the bulbs in and making good contact, all of the problems went away.

There are a bunch of tips on removing the cluster here should you want to attempt a rehab. My biggest problem is that I was dealing with a mechanical speedo, on yours it's electric I believe.

Steve

[KirkVining]

That's exactly what it does, clicks in perfect time with the directional. So may not need to buy anything, just dissemble and clean contacts?

[el Miguel]

On my trip back form purchasing my 84 500SL in Miami, the fuel/ temp gauges started jumping and acting weird. Needless to say that being 1000 miles from home in a strange vehicle with a fuel and temp guage acting haywire was unnerving. I would stop and fill up with gas even though I was sure I must have had at least 1/4 tank left. I bet I looked at the temp guage 500 times to try and anticipate an overheating problem. I made it home with no problems and strangely enough, the guages have not behaved that way since. I thought it must be a faulty ground but I'm not sure.
Mike

[KirkVining]

It scared the crap out of me too, because on first glance it looked like my oil pressure had dropped to 0. What's weird is I did a U turn to get it back to the house, and it quit. Now I know why - it killed my turn single when I made the U-ee.

[KirkVining]

El Miguel, did you ever link to my server? The pics are still there. How's the car working out?

[c107]

You did mention the left turn signal bulb was out. It might even be as simple as just changing that bulb (or jiggling it so it makes contact if it's not blown). I doubt it would involve replacing that left set of gauges.

When I redid the instrument panel on my SLC I wound up just replacing all the bulbs since I had the thing out anyway.

[KirkVining]

Thanks. You probably saved me a bunch of money. I appreciate it.