Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-04-2001, 05:17 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 51
I do not have any instruments or console lights in my 88 560SEL. Fuses are all fine. There are no other electrical problems. I did have the wiring plug on the back of the instruments replaced just after buying the car six months ago. The lights did not work before that and still do not. Where should I check next?

My oil and high beam dash lights always glow unless I turn on the high beams. That could be related.

Thanks
David
88 560SEL
67 European Beetle
69 Conv. Beetle
00 Dodge Durango


__________________
David
1988 560SEL, Green, Chrome wheels.
2000 Suburban, 20" wheels, DVD, wood grain dash (wife's car).
67 Beetle euro, Lots of Empi parts.
69 Beetle conv, 1980s cal look.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-04-2001, 05:47 PM
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Tucker, Ga USA
Posts: 12,153
All of the dash lights operate thru the varible potentiometer in the inst cluster except the radio & gear shift indicator.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-04-2001, 06:17 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 51
Potentiometer

Does the potentiometer connect to the small knob protruding from the gauges? If so there is a good chance that the plug into the potentiometer has come off during work on the dash. Or the potentiometer has failed. The latter seems unlikely. On second thought if the potentiometer is not solid state it could have corrosion. The gear selection light does not work either. However, they could have separate problems. Thanks for you help.
David
__________________
David
1988 560SEL, Green, Chrome wheels.
2000 Suburban, 20" wheels, DVD, wood grain dash (wife's car).
67 Beetle euro, Lots of Empi parts.
69 Beetle conv, 1980s cal look.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-04-2001, 07:13 PM
IMUL's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 52
The potentiometer (dimmer) is the probable cause. My 240's dash lights stopped working shortly after I purchased it. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that the tripometer doubled as a dimmer. In eliminating what seemed obvious, I replaced all of the bulbs, and the headlight switch (twice). In trying to find answers to solve this problem, I ran into this website (why didn't I find this site first ). Anyway, I tapped it with a rubber hammer a few times & twisted it bit, & it's worked ever since. The oil & highbeam indicators seem like a separate issue. Hope this helps.
__________________
1980 Mercedes 240D
1982 Mercedes 300SD
1985 Mercedes 300D
1993 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-05-2001, 10:54 AM
MBenzNL's Avatar
MBenzNL
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: the Netherlands
Posts: 1,417
Some of the mercedes models have a separate fuse in the back of the dash cluster (like 190D's with the same modelyear). This fuse (if present) can be blown after an electrical short in the dash lightsystem occurred.
I have seen dash clusters with damaged "prints" (I do not know whether this is the proper word for the plate on which all dash components are soldered to)as well.
The potentiometer does connect to the small knob protruding from the gauges, corrosion however is unlikely.
The gear selection light is easy to replace...just to know for sure if this is the same or another (worn bulb) problem.

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D
with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com
(the Netherlands)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-22-2001, 06:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 51
I pulled my instrument cluster out for inspection. Previously I said the plug in back had been replaced. I rotated the plug one pin CCW and plugged it back in. The gas, oil and water temp gauges stopped working. However, the dash lights started glowing and the low fuel warning light came on. This had never worked before. I think the MB shop that put the new plug in may have mixed a couple wires.

Does anyone have a schematic of the plug cluster? If I knew what each pin was for I could fix it myself.

Thanks,
__________________
David
1988 560SEL, Green, Chrome wheels.
2000 Suburban, 20" wheels, DVD, wood grain dash (wife's car).
67 Beetle euro, Lots of Empi parts.
69 Beetle conv, 1980s cal look.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-05-2001, 06:23 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 51
My local shop made the repair for me. It was a circuit board behind the dash. The instument lights work fine now.

__________________
David
1988 560SEL, Green, Chrome wheels.
2000 Suburban, 20" wheels, DVD, wood grain dash (wife's car).
67 Beetle euro, Lots of Empi parts.
69 Beetle conv, 1980s cal look.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
1998 ML 320..Lights on dash stay on with key off? supermech2001 Tech Help 1 09-02-2004 08:42 PM
1990 190E Climate Control Dash lights not working JDUB Tech Help 1 02-16-2003 11:39 AM
The Fonz.. lights come on when I hit the dash on my '88 300E john90290 Tech Help 1 09-23-2002 05:58 PM
newbie conquers tailgate struts and dash lights! details...(long but helpful?) shawnster Diesel Discussion 0 05-19-2002 04:15 PM
190e Dash lights L Rowe Tech Help 0 04-12-2001 10:50 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page