Odometer Problem - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 01-07-2004, 12:08 AM

I have a 1979 300D mercedes and I just reached 200k miles and the odometer stopped and is stuck as it was turning over to 200k and makes the speedometer click as it moves shakingly in a 5mph give or take of what you are actually driving. How do I get the odometer to continue going and get it unstuck? Please let me know, post here or e-mail me at Grimlin50@aol.com

haasman · #2 01-07-2004, 01:01 AM

Sometimes gently pushing in the trip odometer reset with get it to start working, but if it does, it will only be temporarily.

From my experience it is a little white gear mounted on a small metal shaft that has moved away from the worm gear that it engages with.

The shaft is held in place on the opposite end by the black plastic speedo housing. It looks like that over the 200k miles of use the end of the the metal shaft has worn into the black plastic allowing it to move into the housing and thus creating just enough room for the little white gear to become disengaged.

I have experienced the same problem with the 190E. I have had it out and tried multiple times to fix it. The car has 220k miles on it so it seems this is very common.

A local speedo shop quotes $145 to overhaul it. I am going to have to take it there eventually because the shaft continues to want to walk out of the housing. I did on the last repair install an ultra small washer that covered the end of the shaft and secured it using a small dab of gel super glue. I then tested it to make sure it rotated and then carefully added a dab of light lubricant under the tiny washer.

Hope this helps,

Haasman

#3 01-07-2004, 01:40 AM

um ok, but how do I get to this? I don't really know how to get behind the dash.

haasman · #4 01-07-2004, 05:32 PM

In order to get to the speedo you must pull the instrument cluster.

In order to pull the instrument cluster it is best to disconnect the speedo cable on the back of speedo.

The instrument cluster is held into the dash by friction. There are tools that you can buy or make yourself. The tools are basically wires with T-handles on one end and little L hooks on the other. The L hooks slide between the instrument cluster and the dash.

Please see this thread: Remove Instrument Cluster

Also see this threads:

Many Instrument Cluster Removal threads

Haasman

#5 01-07-2004, 07:18 PM

Unstuck???? Keep driving the car and then sell it with low miles....wait a minute, 200k?? Never mind.

#6 01-07-2004, 09:50 PM

Yeah 200k is pretty low for a 79 benz though. I don't care if the odometer works really, just would like the clicking noise to go away if I could and make the speedometer work normal and not move w/in a 5 mph range of the speed