Well folks best I can gather, since the turn signals and the intemmitent wipers fail at the same time the combo swith is faulty.
If this is correct then I got the part in hand,if not pleeze let me know! I'd like to get teh right part form Fast Lane and being a shift worker the days just whizzz on by...., which leads me to my next question: how is this done.

I feel a couple of recessed hole for screws(?) at the back of the steering wheel but after that I'm at a loss.

Would appreciate the help, I know some ahve gone through this after doing a search but it applied to different chassis and I don't want to assume......:p I do enough of that already!!

Thanks, Leon H

The problem is the Combination Relay, which is located under the black panel (6 screws) just to the rear of the main fuse panel in the engine bay.
This relay controls the intermittent wipers, turn signals, and rear defrost.


Prior to replacement of this relay on my 95 C280, I had the following symptoms:
1. Turn signal flash is irregular, or not operating at all.
2. Intermittent wipers worked totally randomly.
3. Flashing LED in rear defrost rocker switch when rear defrost was engaged.

The part number is: 201 821 02 47.

Good luck! The part is about $50, and is cheapest in FastLane.

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Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

As hard as it is to communicate I'm glad that you replied and confirmed the problem. Guess I did a poor job in describing the part to Fast Lane, but none the less I'll send the combo switch back and order the combo RELAY. Yep had same symptoms here signals and wipers worked like teenagers....on ocassions..:p

So my thanks Dave for the help. Leon H

Hello Leon, I am having the same problem with my 95 C280...where exactly is the combo switch located and how do you know what switch to change...is it marked. Thank you in advance.

I have been having a similar problem with my 1994 C280. When I have the headlights on the right side turn lamps are steadily on. Otherwise the right turn signal works just fine, i.e. daytime usage.

Is this going to be the same problem or is the root cause elsewhere?

Thanks in advance,
Graig

I have a similar problem. The wipers on my 04 CLK do not work properly. My warranty finished last month

If I press the windshield washer button, they do work.

However, if I just try to use the wipers they don't work most of the time(the speed does not matter, they still won't work). Once in a blue moon I will find them working.

Any advice on how I can fix this would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks.

Welcome, just a hint 04clk...you would be better starting a new thread.

ON that 2004 CLK there ate several computers involved in wiper operation. Scanning the front signal activation module (SAM) should start a good diagnosis.
Does the hood close properly?? Have you tried pushing on the front of the hood with the wipers on, to see if they will come on?

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Thanks M.B.DOC.

The hood does close properly. I did trying pushing it more without a result. However, the same day I tried this, I would be driving and it is raining and the wipers would start working. It may be a coincidence or a loose wire somewhere ?

Any advice is appreciated.

I will start a new thread as you advised. Thanks.

Ben

Back to the W202....

I had the intermittent wiper problem...From time to time the wiper decided to do an un-commanded wipe. This was more prevalent when I had selected the right blinker.

I changed the combination relay with no change the symptoms.

I bought a new multifunction blinker/wiper stalk on Ebay for US$88 plus postage and that solved all the problems.

Oz, if I understand you correctly, you replaced the multifunction stalk and that solved the problem. Questions:
- can you share how you replaced the stalk please. I am jus trying to gage the difficulty level of the work. Did you have to remove steering wheel (and airbag?).
- did you try examining the old stalk and see what went bad?

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tobybul,

Yes I replaced the multifunction stalk with a new one that I bought on Ebay and it fixed the problems. I think these problems are fairly common on the W202 as they get older.

I was going to cut up the stalk to try and see what was malfunctioning, but there didn't seem to be much point as the diagnosis would destroy the stalk anyway. Also the replacement part on Ebay was only about $95 for a new one.

The job was easy. I sweated about removing the airbag but followed the instructions and all went extremely well.

I posted the following on another forum:

A number of W202 owners are starting to report problems with their multi-function stalks! This can include the wipers doing an un-commanded sweep, wipers not working on a particular switch setting, high beam not functioning but OK on flash function, etc, etc.

The combination relay can and has been identified as one of the sources of these problems. But as our cars get older, it would appear that the multifunction stalks are now wearing out and are becoming the major source of the problem. The good news is that the multifunction stalks are not very expensive to replace if purchased on Ebay or online carparts warehouses and the job is a DIY for the well equipped and reasonably intelligent DIYer.

I talked to a knowledgeable Merc guy and he said he started having problems after he upgraded his headlights to 100 watt bulbs from the 55 watt standard. He found that the wiring in the indicator stalk had started melting and was the cause of the problems. He said that the indicator stalk was NOT repairable.

Now, my Merc has never had anything other than standard fitted in the wiring circuits, but was still playing up. I thought if I am going to all the trouble of dismantling the beast, then I may as well put in new parts.

So I bought a brand new indicator stalk on Ebay (only $95) and fitted it today. It required removing the airbag, steering wheel and then the indicator. I was a bit apprehensive but every thing went very well. In fact the quality of the repair area in the Merc was like working on a Swiss watch! I used the following link and found it to be very accurate and useful (many thanks and tributes to the poster Martin at blauschwarz@comcast.net!).

Problem solved!

202Tech - Steering Wheel Removal
http://202tech.mkosonen.com/howto/steering.html

Ebay Mercedes turn signal (Part No 202 540 2144):
http://search.stores.ebay.com/Car-Parts-4-Less_turn-signal_W0QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ4QQfsnZCarQ20PartsQ204Q20LessQQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQfsubZ5700767QQsaselZ66731537 QQsofpZ0

















If I find time I might dissect the problem indicator stalk, but I don't hold very high hopes for finding anything useful (or even finding the time to waste on it!).

nice 1 ozc36!

same problem with my c36 and my neighbors c36. i just been looking at my c280 which im breaking up spare. not sure which relay it is? dont suppose any one has a diagram or picture?

i will have another look now with the part number mentioned above!

the neighbors car has a problem with the rear glass de - fog, so may be its the relay with his. but i got a feeling its my stalk. my car is a 1995.

on another note, does any one know if the 1996 wiring harness will fit on to the 1995 models car? 1995 dreaded harness problem crumbling. all 1996 cars were fixed! my c280 is a 1996. noticed the steering pump is different and the temperature sensor is in a different place.

Multi-Purpose Relay/Combination Relay; 13-Pin Relay 2028204626

Try Google Auto haus or any online carparts seller to see the relay

nice one ozc36 for the fast reply!

sorted!! happy days. done the switch swap! since the relay wasnt the culprit. took about an hour and a half to remove from my c280 and another hour and half to refit to my c36.

i looked every where last night to try and find what the culprit was which was causing my headlights alarm to beep when the doors were opened and the key out of the ignition and the lights turned off! so yes the beeping shouldn't have been happening! but it was the stalk all along!

strange problem because i havnt heard anyone else speak about this!

surprisingly all wiring under the steering and behind the instrument cluster was intact! expected them to be deteriorated like the engine wiring harness on these 1995 cars.

my 1994 c280 started doing this years ago. it was the relay for me. removed it and simply applied a hot soldering gun to the points where the circuit is soldered to the connecting prongs. several of the solder joints looked cracked and corroded. re-melted them with the gun = fixed intermittent blinker AND wiper delay issues.