Tonight, my gauges quit on my 95 C280...the speedometer and tachometer just quit out of the blue....then while driving about a block down the road it started working again...it's like it's sticking....I can be doing 40, it will say 0, then it will jump up to the correct speed...loose connection or wire?

Is there anything I can do to check them at home...or do I have to go to the stealership?

My understanding is this can be a common problem on these cars.
The needles of the tachometer & speedometer are physically sticking to the " stops ".
This is reportedly caused by dirt/dust/scum build-up over the last 10 years.
The cure is to remove the instrument cluster & clean the " stops ".

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Would electronic contact cleaner work?

I would be very surprised if both stuck and unstuck simultaneously. There is, however, a TSB regarding intermittent operation of speedo and/or tach. The cause is listed as "Vehicle speed signal or RPM signal affected by dampness or corrosion inside kickdown cutout relay module due to water entry"
This relay is listed as 'N15' on all electrical diagrams, but darned if I can find a drawing to show me exactly where it is.

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'96 C280 (gone)
'97 C36
'05 C230k

today, they were stuck again....I tapped the top of the dash cluster and they started working..the speedo first and a second later the tach....stop at a light and sometimes they would stick again...tap tap...work again.

Now it's sounding like an electrical connection to the cluster itself.

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'96 C280 (gone)
'97 C36
'05 C230k

Any resolution to this problem, GreggyC?
Mine's been doing the same thing since I bought it in August. I'd like to find a cure.

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Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.

Nein, I have not done anything else to them yet. I've been looking around the country for a used cluster just to see how much it would be....from MB they want $1000 for a new one and $700-800 for a rebuilt one. My clear lens is cracked by the PO trying to pull it out with a screwdriver...a new housing is $178 for a piece of plastic from MB...I can get a complete used one with a gaurantee for $140-185

I continued my search through the archives after posting my question to you. Some have diagnosed the problem as the paint on the needles getting a bit gummy and sticking to the pin. They say the problem is worse in cold weather - something I've noticed myself. Tried banging on the dash today and the needles came un-stuck. So I think I'll pull the cluster and see if I can clean the paint at the point of contact. But, I don't think I'll do it this weekend...

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Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.

I don't have tilt wheel so I'm not sure I can get the cluster out far enough...and I don't want to have to remove the wheel...I'll pay my local mercedes shop to do that (not the dealer)

My TD didn't have a tilt wheel and the cluster came out of that easily. Plus, I don't think dropping the column a bit is a big deal...

I'll let you know how it goes for me (but I've got tilt wheel), whenever I get around to it.

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Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.

I think I'll be able to get it out without removing the wheel. I tried it one night just to see, and if I kind of pull, move, and turn the wheel toward the passenger side while pulling down and out on the cluster I think it will slip right out with a little manipulation. I'm going to try it probably today. I have a new housing to replace my broken one, new bulbs and I'll clean those pins...I can see some kind of sticky gunk on all of them.

They were just gummed up!!! There was something sticky on the little resting pins, I took Qtip and WD40 and cleaned the black gummy junk off. They were stuck. It wasn't hard to get the cluster out...I just pulled it out into the wheel, wiggled it a little and did just what i said in the previous post...pull out, down, and turn the wheel to the right at the same time and it will just slide right out. No trouble getting back in either. I also had a broken "glass" on the front...I bought a Canadian cluster on Ebay for much less than just a housing from the dealer and swapped them out...good as new!!! Anyone need a Canadian KM cluster? I'll sell cheap

I can't see WD-40 being a good thing to clean electrical connectors. And if you use it be sure to wipe the connectors off really well with a cloth afterwards. From what i gather rubbing alcohol is much better.