Another interior light problem..300e
 

I've fixed the console illumination, shifter illumination, and window switch illumination for the rear - a blown fuse in the cluster was the culprit.

My next task in fixing this; the light bulb in the glove compartment, the door lights which are below the lights, plus the rear dome light. All of these have no current, I've used a multimeter to check. The fuses in the fuse box are all okay, i've checked the fuses, replaced the old ones, plus checked for any corrosion on the connections.

So who has had this problem? and what might be the possible solution?

Hmmm... We seem to have the opposite problem. My window switches and shifter are out but my glove light works. When you say a blown fuse in the cluster, what fuse/cluster are you referring to?

As for one of your problems, have you used your Cigar Lighter recently? Turned out my glove light was out because the connections to the lighter had cracked off. Take a look as they crack easily with age, especially if you've removed the ashtray recently. As for the other lights out, I wish I could be more help.

Good luck, electrical problems on this car can be a real PITA.

I am pretty sure this will fix your problem. You will need to make hooks or buy hooks from the dealership to remove the cluster. There is a red bulb that looks like any other black bulb holder. Twist and pull out and u see this small rectangular fuse.

Picture of the back of the cluster, I have circled where the fuse is.
http://img55.echo.cx/my.php?image=redfuse7fn.gif

Pictures of Fuse
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/3053/dsc054699xp.jpg

Part number is 201-546-00-25 - "Fuse Element - Instrument Cluster"

It's like 4 dollars cdn at the dealership here.

dont bother with hooks, easier with fingers
 

to get cluster out its easier to remove lower dash panels and put your fingers up behind the cluster and push it forward. Its only held in by friction. The hooks are very difficult to use in my experience

Keith

Keith- do you need to loosen the speedo cable to get it out enough to change a bulb? I have a tempremental bulb on the clock/rev counter side.

Hooks from the dealership are not hard to use at all. The width of the hooks from MB are much smaller than what u can make from a coat hanger.

chazola,
You need to unhook the speedo cable from the clip thats behind the break pedal area to be able to pull the cluster out far enough to unscrew the speedo cable from the cluster.

I'm not sure if the speedo cable gets routed the same way near the brake cable on RHD cars- I *think* it goes a different way but I may be completely wrong?

Thanks for the help I'll look at it this weekend and post my results.

Oasis, did you check the wiring to your cigar lighter to verify that all 4 connections are intact? This thread after all is for you, don't want to steal all the attention....

BTW, today I'll be looking at getting another W124, a 1992 300E, 168K, original owner. Should be real nice, gonna meet her today.

yes just unhook by the pedals
 

yes you do need to slack the speedo cable, just unhook it off the aluminium hook above the pedals. that should give enough slack to change the bulb on that side. In any case detaching from the back of the instruments is easy peasy . The ribbed nut is only finger tight so not a problem.

there are pictures on my dash removal photo shoot here

http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/1259925

K

That may be the problem probably. When I was installing a aftermarket deck, I found out there was no power coming from the radio wires (I tested the wires with a multimeter). So I then used the wires that went into the cigar lighter to power up my aftermarket deck. So I guess doin this really messed up other things in the car.

oasis,
do you know which dash lights are controlled by the fuse in the red holder? thanks.

A/c control, shifter, rear window switches, vents and headlight switch as far as i know.

thanks.