Instrament Cluster....dead or fixable?
 

Hey guys,

Just need some help. My C220 has a digital dash cluster, and yesterday my light blew for the clock. Although the clock works and it very hard to see, it doesn't light up anymore...but the milege clock and the temp digital reading all show up perfectly fine. Is this problem as simple as a blown bulb or is this a major job? any do it you're self ideas? Thanks in advance to those who help.

IT a defective speedo unit. A very common problem on those cars. Not a bulb.

Don't want to step on any toes, but the previous poster is absolutely incorrect, the problem is just a bad bulb behind that section, as long as you can get the cluster out it is very easy to replace, although you probably won't find the bulb at a big box auto store, will need a dealer or MB parts specialist to find one. I would recommend replacing the bulbs for these displays all at once (clock/thermometer/odometer (aka "mileage clock", I like that))]
Gilly

I thought he was referring to the bad LCD problem which is plagued over all the 210, 208 clusters.

Nope, when you can look closely and see that the display is actually operative (can vaguely see the time or temp for example), just not lit, it's just a blown bulb, really really common.
Gilly

Change all the bulbs when you have the cluster out to save doing the job again.

Thanks for the info guys. I was wondering how hard is it to rip out and does anyone know of a Do it you're self section for this with perhaps some pics? I don't even know where to start opening from to get at the cluster. Seems like its the whole dashboard first?

Thanks.

If your steering wheel is adjustable, you probably don't need to remove anything at all. If the steering wheel is fixed, you may have to remove it to get the room you need.

Instrument panel is just a snug fit into the hole in the dash. Problem mentioned earlier about the non-adjustable wheel is there is no room to slip the cluster out with the fixed position steering wheel. If you have adjustable wheel, you can lower it (or is it move it away from the dash; whichever) and come up with enough clearance to get it out. Here is one link I found, probably better one out there somewhere:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/32102-how-remove-instrument-cluster-post176202.html
This is electronic speedo, so no speedo cable to worry about. Need to obtain or make the tools to remove it, usually a coat hangar will be OK to make the tool from.
I wouldn't replace ALL the bulbs, but the ones I mentioned and also the regular illumination bulbs might be a good idea, there are only 2 or 3 of those. I wouldn't bother with replacing all the little warning light bulbs though.
Gilly

You will find the instructions for W202 dash removal on this link ;http://202tech.mkosonen.com/howtos.html. Not necessary to remove the steering wheel ,fixed or adjustable, if you are careful.
Just remember to keep ignition off or disconnect the car battery before you remove the instrument panel or you will show an SRS fault light which will cost you to have cleared.

THanks Gilly and Shandy. I'm gonna trying doing this tommorow night. I'll keep you posted. Shandy thanks for the battery disconnect warning also! also my sterring is fixed :( i hope i don't pop no cables.

p.s. Maybe I should get rid of the check engine light bulb while i'm in there!! Problems solved forever!..lol...this must be every shady car dealers dream to figure out how...

I made the hooks, but no luck. The cluster moves around, up and down, but i can't get it to pull out. I made the hooks out of coat hangers, and no luck. I acutally ended up doing alot of surface damage to both the cluster's edges and the dash area. If anyone has anymore ideas to help me remove this unit, let me know. Thanks.

Remove the underdash panel , reach up behind and push the instrument panel out from the back, it may be tight but it will come, push a little at each side until you can pull it from the front.

Hey thanks for the response. I tried again today with the old meathod and was unsuccesful.
For the new meathod I was wondering, is it easy to remove the underdash panel and reach up behind the clock? Is it just the panel or more to it that I have to remove? If you know of any pic's, that would be helpful.
Thanks

It's pretty easy to remove the underdash panel, but then do what shandy recommends, push the cluster out fron behind. If you are suggesting just replacing the bulb with the dash in place, no that won't work, not enough room to do that.
Gilly