I have an 83' 500sl (euro). Runs and drives fine but we don't drive it much. I took to work yesterday and everything was fine. I had to run to a client and I put the passenger side window down on the way. When I got to the client I couldn't put the window back up. The power window will work if I open the driver door but not if it is closed, car running or not. Later on the way home I noticed that the speedo, tach, just about all the guages are dead also. The mileage guage works and I understand why but, it looks like the clock works and this doesn't jive with a fuse. I made a cursory check of the fuses with a flashlight (front passenger kickpanel) and they look OK. I will test them with a continuity tester unless there is some obvious problem I am missing. I did a search on the messages and saw a similar situation on a 90' sl but there was no solution.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

marc

Even if the fuses show OK, they can be faulty because of the way they contact the block. I always replace the fuses wtih the updated copper ones....

Whooa Benzmac
 

Brother of The Benz, benzmac
Updated copper?
Are you referencing the european ceramic tin/lead fuses?
These were put in service by Uncle Adolph(f ?).
This would be the best thing since water cooled engines!Let us all in on this!
Or am I the only one in the dark?
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

Benzmac:

Shortly after I wrote the original message I went down to give the fuses a more thorough examination. What I ended up doing was rotating each one to get a good look at it. After I did this everything is working fine.

I'm in the computer business and know that electronic devices rarely get better on their own so, I was concerned that this problem may reappear at an inopportune time.

So, to be clear, are you suggesting (since I don't know the history of the fuses in this car) that I replace all of the fuses? Has the design of the fuses been updated in general, so that they are readily available or would I have to specify an updated product?

Bare with me this is the only car I've had with this type of fuse.

Thanks again

Marc

There are two basic problems with the fuses MBs use; they can lose conductivity with the fuse panel contacts, and they can fail without causing a visible gap in the contact material. I believe the advise is to replace all fuses periodically (every 5 years?). You probably spent more scratching your head on this problem than you'll spend replacing all the fuses.

I don't know that there are better or worse fuses of the type MBs use. I got a pack of spare fuses from an auto parts store. The one fuse I replaced has lasted about a year so far.

I'd like to know about fuses that are of better design/quality/longevity than the original fuses.

Sixto
91 300SE