Hi all - let me begin by letting you know that I've searched this topic and still have a couple of questions.

My speedo is bouncing at lower speeds (fades away at anything north of 40mph). I think this is a cable problem. Correct me if I'm wrong or please comment if I need to do a couple other diagnostic checks to nail it down...

Here's the question: my tech will have the instrument cluster out next week to replace a bad bulb (will be replacing all of them, actually). Do you need to pull the guages to hook in a new cable and would this:
1) be the best time to do it
2) be a best remedy (vs. trying to add graphite or some other lube to cable)

Thanks,
Matt



[This message has been edited by makakio (edited 04-10-2000).]

You did not say what model this is on.

This question is somewhat subjective because it could be one of several situations.

If the cable housing is in good shape and not kinked anywhere, simply lubricating the cable with cable ease could very well solve the problem. If ignored I would expect the cable to eventually break.

It also could be that the cable housing is damaged to the point that there is a sharp edge somewhere cutting the cable.

If you're having the work done in a shop, and they already are taking out the cluster, it would be a good time to replace it. If it is a 123 series car, getting the cluster out is such a simple job, it may not make much difference in cost anyway.

You are on the right track though. I feel quite sure that the cable is causing the problem you describe.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Whoops - 1993 190 2.6

If you have the cluster out, have the tech run the speedo up slowly with a vatiable speed reversible drill and a cable stud. If the movement in the speedo head is sticking, this will give it away, otherwise, it's probably your cable or cable housing. How long ago did it start doing this and did it start suddenly??

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

[This message has been edited by jeffsr (edited 04-10-2000).]

It's been occurring since I took posession of the car (at 52k miles) - I'm now at 70k miles and it doesn't *appear* to be getting worse, but as with so many other slowly-wearing parts I may just not be noticing. Thanks for the tip on using the vari-speed drill.

Funny I haven't seen this post earlier, because I have had the same problem on our 93 190E 2.6 and it hasn't been getting any better or worse. We thought its been like that since the first time we took it out in winter (in early 97) and the wheels were slipping like crazy. We thought that it might be due to excessive wheels spin. As for the dealer, they haven't been able to find a problem with the car, and everything checks out fine. They did say that other 190E owners have experienced the same thing though, and they thought it might be like that since the factory built it.

I sure would like to find the answer to this one if there is any.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells :))