outside temperature sensor
 

my 560SEC has probably covered 200000 km and was privately imported from Hong Kong with 54000 miles showing.
the data card shows it being first sold in Malawi (Africa!!!) Mercedes did not sell this model here in Australia so part and information are in short supply!!!!
The outcome of this history is that all the sub-systems that are not essential but which define "luxury"have fallen into disrepair or are disabled.
my current project is to restore the outside temperature function..presently it reads invariably +3 degrees.
to this end i have acquired a new sensor and cable but cannot find the existing one..i am asuming one is fitted as i get the +3 degrees output.
can anyone tell me where to look either at sensor end or"gauge"end.
are there any tricky bits once i find the thing?
thanks in anticipation

Hi kel347,

my 87 420 has the sensor in the midddle of the front bumber behind the frame that would hold a license place. I kind of recall reading it might be to the passenger side on your car.

Regards

Reinhard Kreutzer

I really wouldn't bother...all Mercedes read
 

high.

My 1995 s420 reads five degrees high and my wifes 00 E320 reads 4 degrees high. I think it is due to the close relation of the sensor to the road.

Good luck.

Hi 95s420,

mine reads also about 4 deg. F. high in summer, 2 in winter. But kel347's seems to read 3 degrees absolute. At least thats how I understood it. May be he will let us know the outcome once installed.

Regards

Reinhard Kreutzer

outside temperature sensor
 

i have (thanks to your help) found the sensor behind the front bumper.
yes . it reads"+3"most time but ocasionally "+2".(absolute)

to install:

i am told to cut new and old leads and join them but this would introduce another element.
does anyone know where the display end terminates?
thank you all

Hi kel347,

mine seems to join a cablestrand that runs from the bottom of radiator on driverside (US) up into the front of the fuse box, to the middle of the car right next to the closure of the box.

Then it disappears into the unknown, at least for me...

Regards

Reinhard Kreutzer

I have a 87 190 and my temp seems to be dead on. The only catch is it's in C and I am in the US and used to F. Any idea how to change it? I am tired of having to add 32 and divide by 10, take the square root of 5, add the weight of the sun, less the weight of the moon and divide by 2 to get the temp.

Anyway, O would like an easy fix for this as everything else on this god forsaken car has cost me an arm and a leg to repair. If it is too involved I will have to live with knowing when it says 40 its too damn hot, 0 means it's a tad nippy out and when it is reading 20 it's just right.

subsequently determined lead terminates in led display in dash.replaced the led display and the sensor and now it works!!!!;)

Good show,

was it difficult to replace? Did you have to take apart the dash or remove the fuse box? Appreciate a short description.

They're not convertible. You would have to purchase a display specifically set up for F.

it was simple to replace the led unit once i had obtained one. price here in australia aus$ 900 (thats right 900) and subsequently got one from UK for approx $200. remove instrument cluster (post on this elsewere)remove two screws holding led unit unplug unit,replace with new , replace plug, replace cluster.....voila!!!
the only "tricky " bit was that there are two pin configurations (maybe F and C ???).i just orderd as a direct replacement (4 pins...mine is in C).
i soldered the new lead to the old as i lost it under the fuse box!!!

however it doent seem to have backlight. is this normal?

was it worth it? yes to me because i am trying for all luxury systems working.

systems comleted:
headlight wiper/washers
outside temp
cruise control
power seats
central locking

presently working on climate control!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
then secureing front seatbacks when underway thanks to alll who have helped

Mine has backlight once I turn on the light.

My 1995 E320 read +136 all the time since the day I bought it. I went to a local junkyard, they had only two MB's, both 83 large-body diesels, and cut the sensor off from behind the bumper of one with 236,000 US miles on it, and cut and spliced it on to mine. It works perfectly. The junkyard gave it to me for free. My car had 40,000 miles on it at the time. Why is that sensor from a 1995 vehicle which is 12 years newer and has almost 200,000 miles less junk and the old one is fine? Is this a testament to the rumours about newer Mercedes-Benzes being less quality? I think so.