W210 E420 lighting troubles, and tranny woes - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ckNSX · #1 01-21-2003, 07:05 PM

My 1998 E430 Sport is having problems with lights in the dash. First of all, the lighting in the climate control unit is not working. I recently had an aftermarket in-dash cd player installed and think it may be related. Any ideas? My old deck didn't have any lights working on it except for the "ON" button.

Second, I was wondering if anyone has advice on how to remove the gauge cluster to change bulbs on that. I bought the hooks from Benz and am trying to figure out how to yank it out without breaking the cluster. Any pics would be helpful.

Third, I almost forgot. I'm having upshift trouble from 1st to second intermittently. Any ideas? car has 68k, does it need a tranny service? MBZ Dealer says its the tranny control module, $1400!?

aTOMic · #2 01-22-2003, 03:50 AM

Use the SEARCH button at the upper right of your screen for instant answers.

Here is a link to the instrument cluster removal.

Good luck (it's easy).

-Tom

ckNSX · #3 01-22-2003, 12:09 PM

Hi,

thansk for the link. I always try searching first, but didn't come across that particular thread. Is the procedure the same on the W210? I tried, but seemed like it needs a lot of pressure to remove. I got worried that somethingwas going to break. Is it that hard to pull out?
Thanks,
Chris

aTOMic · #4 01-22-2003, 02:53 PM

Chris,
Yes it does take more force than one would think to get it out. I would guess it is like lifting a 10 lb weight (anybody with a large fish scale and some extra time on their hands please measure it for us). It does seem easier to give it a quick jerking tug than try to pull it out smoothly.
My car is a W210 and I cannot see any difference between them.

ckNSX · #5 01-22-2003, 03:29 PM

I can't seem to find anything to hook onto. Are you inserting the hooks by the top or bottom of the wood strip? Also, do you remember how far in you nned to reach to hook onto it?

aTOMic · #6 01-22-2003, 04:17 PM

You put the hooks in (at the nine o'clock position and three o'clock position) just outside the black plastic which is the outer edge of the instrument cluster. From memory, you go in about one to two inches past the edge of the cluster. Look at this picture:

You do NOT pull any wood out; the picture shows where you go in right next to the perimeter of the cluster. The serrations that you hook into are quite shallow - I used a coat hanger bent up into the special tool and my biggest mistake was making the hooks too big past the right angle bend on the business end. (clear as mud, right?

)

goodboytony · #7 08-01-2011, 03:46 PM

Atomic give you a pretty good picture, since the hook is long enough try catching the dash on the very back : less chance of damage,2 place hook way lower then atom shows like on the most vertical part of it nd do it from the right side mush loser than this side and maybe about 15 pound of pulling.