instrument cluster & speedo cable question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jsmith · #1 09-03-2002, 11:59 AM

i've found all the great threads on this topic but i still think i am missing something here. there is always a reference to "unhooking the speedo cable under the floor mats" to give more slack. i am not sure what this means - is there supposed to be some clip that secures the cable to the steering column? i can't find one and i can't get enough slack somehow. i've even taken the side vent out and i still can't budge the cluster out more than an inch or so.

TIA...

J.HIDALGO · #2 09-03-2002, 02:08 PM

loosen the speedo cable or give it some slack. You may even have to disconnect the cable from the transmission side.

jsmith · #3 09-03-2002, 02:30 PM

from the footwell, i am able to push up the cable, enough to give it more than an inch of travel i think. does unhooking it from underneath mean that there was some kind of restraint that i don't have? the various descriptions indicate that it should slide out without a lot of difficulty. i got a pretty good grip on it once i had the ac vent out...

J.HIDALGO · #4 09-03-2002, 02:51 PM

and aftermarket one. Again, look under your car

, follow the cable and see how much slack you have. I suspect all the slack is under you vehicle. If that is the case, just push it into the cabin so you can have more slack.

G-Benz · #5 09-03-2002, 04:58 PM

Just pulled my W124 cluster a few weeks ago. The Haynes manual states that the cable should be disconnected from the transmission...I don't believe that is necessary if your cable is OEM.

There is enough cable length that you should be able to locate the cable down by the footwell and encourage maybe an inch or so of travel by pulling the slack upwards towards the gauge cluster. That should give you enough cable to be able to pull the cluster out and over a bit to gain access to say, bulbs.

Besides, the speedo lube is pretty nasty stuff, and when you start disconnecting that stuff, you run the risk of getting it on your hands, clothes, on that Palomino colored interior, etc., etc.

jsmith · #6 09-03-2002, 05:04 PM

g-benz,

did you use pull hooks? i started doing that and got it out maybe a half an inch. i then decided to take off the vent on the left since that was easy to do. i tugged on the exposed section but it wouldn't budge. unfortunately i ran out of time and had to push it back in. will try again in a couple of days. thanks...