95 E320 turn indicator problem - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cphilip · #1 09-05-2009, 10:44 AM

Need to know the ins and outs of the turn indicator flasher system in a 1995 E320 wagon. Where things are located and how they work.

History is that, twice now, the turn indicators just are not functioning. At all, None of them. The first time it happened the wife was going to work and says they failed to work after the first time she used them that morning. I arrive to find them fully working. And so now about three weeks later, they refuse to work again. This time she doesn't get out the drive way and apparently my mojo is gone this time so I find them, indeed, not functioning.

Sympoms: The main lights work when turned on. Headlamps etc. Other things in that stalk work such as wipers and washer fluid pump. There is NO flashers in the emergency flasher either. All flashing of any kind is dead. Fuse for turn indicators in regular fuse box is fine (iirc it is B-6)

So my first guess is Flasher but I have no idea where it is nor what it looks like. A search turned up some talk about a relay in the inside that is large and white and expensive. Not sure exactly where that fuse/relay box is inside though. Those posts talk about it making noise when it goes out but I hear no noise.

Please advise. Thanks in advance

cphilip · #2 09-05-2009, 12:25 PM

New developments... Possibly even related to this gremlin and one previous one.

In attempting to poke around under the drivers side interior firewall area to locate this possible fuse box I discovered that the underside of the floor mat was soaked. The foam was just over completely saturated and the floor area wet. No evidence it has been doing this a long long time, but still not right and possibly been going on for months.

So I went outside to investigate where it might be coming from and low and behold an area of the lowest most windshield rubber is puckered up like a water scoop! About four or five inches across and pulled back from the edge where it meets the roof channel too.

This car remains under a car port except when driven. But has not always been so. But has been for the last three months. Was last driven on Sunday in which is did get rained on. However even if it had not, I see no real way for that area to dry out between exposures.

Checked the other side and and its dry and a bone. Now attempting to reseal that bottom gasket with RTV after a good cleaning. put a bead down in the groove that attaches it and one above it on the windshield and have it taped down to try and hold it in contact until the RTV reacts and sets up. And have the Floor mat out laying in the Sun and the car doors open to help dry things out and circulate air.

I had a previous gremlin with the Courtesy lamps sometimes coming on and staying on. I never solved that one but simply took the bulbs out.

This all could be related. The water coming down there has to go past all that stuff to get to the floor. So it passes wiring of importance back there. And I imagine it will form a moist condensation when the car is sitting in the heat too. And I expect it never quite dries out either.

We shall see.... It should not be too hard to seal up that leak now that I know about it and it's cause was clear and obvious. But will it solve the gremlins? Hopefully!

cphilip · #3 09-05-2009, 01:59 PM

... after a couple hours of leaving open and drying everything out, turns and emergency flashers are working again.

However it did that once before without such intervention. Stop and start working I mean.

The only thing I can think of is that the first time it did this, the running of it with AC on, then the sitting in the Sunshine, got it dried out enough to work until the next time a situation occurred that put more water in, and sat through some heat a cool cycles to cause it to evaporate and then condense out.

I guess time will tell. All I can do is wait now.

I still have not located where the flasher is so would be welcome to some more specifics on the location

cphilip · #4 09-06-2009, 09:50 PM

Ok after a good drying out. Checked and did not work... then later checked and they worked. So... I do not think water intrusion was the culprit.

And I am no closer to locating that Flasher relay. Anyone got the scoop on where that thing is hiding?

babymog · #5 09-07-2009, 01:12 PM

IIRC the flasher is behind the instrument cluster.

cphilip · #6 09-07-2009, 08:44 PM

Hmm... can it be reached without pulling the cluster or do I need to pull the cluster?

babymog · #7 09-07-2009, 09:12 PM

I would verify it's location first, but pulling the cluster is a <5minute job on a 124.

cphilip · #8 09-08-2009, 07:36 PM

I found another reference that indicates there is a relay involving the Turns, Hazards but also has some relationship to the Windshield Wipers... a large relay at that. located in the Main Relay box under the primary fuse box under the hood.

This is indicated on a MB CD manual that someone has placed on the net and indicates from 93 on up to 95.

babymog · #9 09-08-2009, 08:14 PM

If you're looking for the convenience module (I think it's called), which I've replaced in one of my cars when the rear-defog timer part failed, it is the large aluminum-box relay-type module in the center of the relay box, which is behind/rearward of the fuses (separate cover, six phillips screws). I used one from a 201, I believe that the 201, 124, and 126 (possibly others) use the same module.

cphilip · #10 09-09-2009, 08:09 AM

I don't actually know what I am looking for really.

I am looking for whatever makes the flashers flash. The Turn indicators and the emergency flashers flash. Thats what is not working. However I am told it is a Relay. But when I got look a the CD of locations of all relays there is only one listed as related to those two things ( and some others) and that one we are now talking about is it.

The CD manual showing Relay locations specifically list this one as being for turn indicators and emergency flasher. And it shows its location in the middle of the Relay box towards the front of the car. Rather large one.

If there is something else related to flashing, in this alternate place behind the gauge pods inside, it is not listed on the CD as a relay showing its location.

cphilip · #11 09-10-2009, 11:06 AM

If you go here and click on the "Relay's and Controls" option you can download the lists and locations of the various relays for the 93-95 E320.

http://mb.auto.pl/index.php/Dok.-serwisowa-CD1.html

Once you find the one listed as "N10 Combination relay (turn/hazard signal,
heated rear window, wiper motor) B.2/1"

Then when you go to figure on page B.2/1 (actually Pg 3) and look for the location of it the designation is H.

"H" (on the diagram on pg 3) happens to be one of the main large Relays in the main Relay box under the hood. The one under the regular fuses.

Interestingly enough I was not aware it also had anything to do with the Windshield Wiper. Once I read this I decided to, when the flashers were malfunctioning, try the wiper. And they indeed did not function, but only on intermittent. They did work on the "full on" setting. Which makes sense in that it must be that this relay only sends impulses like Flashing. However I don't quite understand its role in controlling the rear window defrost. Not even going to try.

So I am going to put in a new relay today and see what happens. Had my Indy pick one up yesterday.

I found no evidence there is anything on the firewall or behind the Speedo and Guage pod so far. Will report results.

cphilip · #12 09-10-2009, 05:34 PM

it now functions normally with new relay in that location. Give it a few days to be sure though. Will report if something changes but it does appear fixed. I have the old relay here and might decide to take it apart and see how they tick.

73Elsinore · #13 09-11-2009, 11:57 AM

Great write-up; thanks for that. This type of running thread is how we all learn. Do keep us posted.

vanwiek · #14 09-13-2009, 05:21 AM

Check this thread out for more info. I've had this issue.

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w124/273097-blinkers-temp-gauge-wipers.html