Car ran fine all day, but when I started the car later that day, all guages (except the speedo) stopped working. Heard a rapid clicking sound (I determined this to be the combo relay, as the clicking reverted to the rhythmic click when I switched on the turn signals or hazard relay).

Got car home and back into the garage. Turned key without starting and rapid clicking resumed. THIS time, car would not turn over...not even a "click" by the starter. Battery and ABS indicator light came on.

Ran trickle charger on battery but still no start. Instrument cluster fuse looked ok. I did a search and although there were clues to the failed cluster, no explanation as to why the car suddenly failed to turn over.

Any ideas?

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Just a start, I know it is basic, but just in case...
Give the terminals a good cleaning.

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

Have a look @ all the fuse's and also how old is the battery? It might need to be load tested @ a battery store...

-GH

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For Now:
1992 Mercedes Benz 500SL
1998 BMW 528i
2003 Honda Element
2002 CBR600F4i
1977 Coachmen Motor Home

Went back and rechecked fuse #5...upon removal, the metal portion disentigrated onto the palm of my hand!

I remembered that years past when doing some diagnostics, the starter solenoid has a lead that goes through the same circuit...hence the "no-start" condition.

Replaced fuse with a spare and voila! All is well!

Do auto stores still carry these fuse types? Considering the condition of said fuse, I apparently need to go ahead and do them all!

Whew!!! Dodged yet another potential expensive repair! Sorry for wasting bandwidth here!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Places like Autozone have them.

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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I get mine at Autozone, O'Riley's and online shops.
Bu enough for all and make sure that once they are removed that you do a good brushing and cleaning of the contacts, they seem to oxidize over time and you get intermittent connections. I do it once a year to eliminate electrical gremilns

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Good points all!

I went to O'Reilly's yesterday and cleaned out their entire stock of fuses (LOL)...this will be a weekend project!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car