Looks like I will mail him my SDL c-amp too. :)

How much would you charge to repair an amp?

I charge $50 for the actual repair work. Shipping is done via usps flat rate boxes, its only $5.35 each way.

I've started keeping a spreadsheet of what I've repaired. So far I've done about 5 of the newer 005 545 models with success and one of the 002 models (79Mercy's) with success.

Thanks....PMs sent.

The comment about coding plugs failing prior to the amp surprised me.

Me too. I read it on Auto Haus AZ's website. I've yet to see a failed plug. I test them to make sure they're good too.

I asked Peter at GDL about it. He said that, in 25 years of repairing MB cruise amps, he's never seen a bad plug.

So I was in the garage today looking for my MityVac to test some vacuum pods and I stumbled across a cruise control amplifier. I thought it was from my gold 300SD as its and early model and I've only ever removed one (first gens were a pain to remove).

Evidently its from a first gen v8. Part number 001 545 76 32. EPC crosses to 380 and 500 SE/SEL/SEC's.

I decided to replace the capacitors and go over it like I've done the rest. I tested it out in the testing jig and it seemed to work, so I threw it in the green 300SD and voila cruise control back.

I actually took out the green SD's cruise unit and its a different model. There are few difference between the two boards though, namely three resistors that are on raised solder points. I believe these are akin to the coding plugs of the 005 variants.

I'll post up pics later. Interesting stuff.

I was taking apart my 420SEL's cluster to repaint the needles and found this:

8075 Impulses per Mile. or
12,920 Impulse per kilometer

http://i.imgur.com/DQfk7l.jpg

This seems to agree with my original claim that the coding plug has to do with impulses and "setting" things internally for the signal type.

Based on this listing in a VDO PDF Catalog:

http://i.imgur.com/5vEakl.jpg

I'll have to pull on the of the SD's clusters and see what it says on the back of it. Probably will have to be the gold SD as the green one is a DD.

I found this on my 300SD:

K=10,240. It doesn't say miles or Kilometers. If we assume its in miles as the 420SEL was, then you get K=16,384 impulses per kilometer.

So in theory, If i sourced with the x4 or x5 one of them should get a newer coding style unit working on my SD..

http://i.imgur.com/GwyBil.jpg


If anyone has their cluster out of their car, can you let me know if you have a K value sticker on there?

None for the 124 cars?

Thanks

I have several 124 car coding plugs. I can take pictures and post, which car are you interested in specifically?

The 1991 124.030

Thanks!

Here you go!

http://i.imgur.com/XpLMVl.jpg

What do these coding plugs tell the controller?

I have used different ones in my 300E and they all seem to work....

I'm sure James can shed more light than myself, but I fully expect that the combination of resistors basically sets up the unit, for a particular gear ratio or some such.

The ignition system on the early 124 gassers works a similar way. There is a resistor that plugs into a socket near the master cylinder. The resistance provides a setting for a particular maximum ignition advance. Remove it and you get max ignition advance but premium fuel is required. Different resistances retard ignition to different levels for use of different fuel grades.

Some ROW cars have a dial in the resistors place so that you can set for different octane ratings. This is a more necessary feature in some countries were high grade fuel is difficult or impossible to obtain.

Sorry for the diversion from the thread subject.