Instrument panel dead '94 SL500 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jcciem · #1 01-22-2005, 06:30 PM

My instrument panel just went dead, no gas gage, tachometer, speedometer etc. Is it as easy as just replacing a fuse?

'94 SL500 23,000
91 560SEL 88,000
'87 300SDL 202,000
'87 560SEL 145,000 sold

leejxxxxx · #2 01-22-2005, 06:41 PM

Mine did the same thing. I believe it is #10, a 15 amp fuse. Don't know if 95 is the same. I lost everything except the radio and the clock. New fuse, gauges work.

jcciem · #3 01-23-2005, 06:04 PM

not the fuse? any other possibilities?

Kyle Blackmore · #4 01-23-2005, 06:08 PM

Check your ground. Not sure where it is on your car but the cluster ground should be right behind it.Good luck

leejxxxxx · #5 01-24-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcciem

not the fuse? any other possibilities?

Did you check all the fuses? On a 97 it's the #10 one, your year is most likely different. Is your clock still working? When my fuse blew, the clock was the only gauge that worked. Like a previous poster said, check the grounds and all the connectors.

tec01 · #6 01-24-2005, 11:22 PM

I hope it's something as simple as a fuse but my 1990 500SL had the same symptoms and it was a fried instrument cluster. I picked up a new cluster from the dealer and all was well. Good Luck

leejxxxxx · #7 01-25-2005, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tec01

I hope it's something as simple as a fuse but my 1990 500SL had the same symptoms and it was a fried instrument cluster. I picked up a new cluster from the dealer and all was well. Good Luck

OUCH, I bet that was expensive. Did you get any warnings or did it just die? Mine's blown the fuse three times which makes me a little worried. Of course I could just put in an infinite amp tin-foil fuse.

tec01 · #8 01-25-2005, 11:29 PM

It didn't give me any warning but it happened the same time as my drivers side power window motor failed so I suspect the two failures might be related. There was an up side to this repair, since I bought this car last March there was a constant electrical draw that would kill the battery in 2-3 days. I had it diagnosed to a problem in the instrument cluster that was providing constant power to the light in the odometer which stayed on all the time. With the new cluster the light went out and no more draw. The cost for the new cluster was $1011 CDN dollars. My experience has been because of the complex electrical systems on these cars they are a challenge keeping everything working when they get 10 to 15 years old.

jcciem · #9 02-09-2005, 09:34 AM

I sent it out to www.instrumentclusters.com and for $595 it came back in 4 days all repaired. Very good people to work with, they even give you detailed instructions on how to remove the cluster. Local dealer price for a new one $1,400, if the dealer sends it out for repair it's $900 removed and re-installed.

JerryWagner · #10 02-09-2005, 09:38 AM

DO NOT USE A TINFOIL FUSE, this will re-direct the current to the wiring harness and FRY out your electrical

leejxxxxx · #11 02-09-2005, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryWagner

DO NOT USE A TINFOIL FUSE, this will re-direct the current to the wiring harness and FRY out your electrical

That was a joke.

Gilly · #12 02-09-2005, 10:40 PM

Check the fuses in the Base Module too!

Gilly

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