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  #1  
Old 01-18-2005, 05:58 PM
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Speedo Faulty in 508D... Any ideas?

1989 Mercedes 508D van. The speed is doing very odd things... it's either the wrong side of the stop pin at zero (ie. off the scale), but once the van's been running for a bit it jumps to a vertical position where it remains until the van is switched off.

Any ideas? I'm assuming it's an electrical fault, but there's no technical information that I can find anywhere. There doesn't seem to be any tech info on the van at all for that matter!

Thanks



Andy

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  #2  
Old 01-19-2005, 12:13 PM
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I think that the problem is that the 508 needs a new home here on the gulf coast. Yes, I am sure that is the answer. If the van agrees it can come live in my yard. I promise to feed it a steady veg-oil diet.

Check the voltage with the engine running and with all of the electrical accessories turned-on. The voltage should read over 14 volts. Look it up in any manual for any vehicle. The tests will be nearly the same.

A quick test is easiest at night. Point the headlights at a wall or something. Turn-on all of the accessories, the lights should stay bright.

Quick battery test: hit the starter with the headlights on. The lights should stay bright while the starter is turning the engine.

The underlying idea in all of this is that voltage should be maintained under a load.

If you can post a picture of the van that would be nice.
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  #3  
Old 01-19-2005, 12:48 PM
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No, that 508 needs to be moved immediately to Area 51! My SVO is much better and has a higher cetane rating too.

Seriously, do you happen to know if the speedo is cable operated or is an electrical unit? If it's a cable unit, I'd suspect some sort of mechanical problem in the speedo gauge. If it's electrical, my first bet would be a bad sending unit or wonky connections somewhere. Loose ground wires from the instrument cluster to the chassis would be my first bet.

You might try also to contact forum member 'kerry edwards' (use the forum's advanced search function and PM or e-mail him) because he has owned several Mercedes vans in the past and currently is in posession of a 307D.

Welcome to the forum and, good luck!
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  #4  
Old 01-19-2005, 05:41 PM
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How did I get on an alternator problem on this one? Must have had my threads mixed up.
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  #5  
Old 01-19-2005, 09:54 PM
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Where are you with that 508d? You shouldn't have to worry about the speedometer because that thing can't exceed the speed limit anyway.

Seriously, I suspect the speedo in that is mechanical and not electrical. In my 409d van, the speedo cable comes from the tranny into a junction box under the dash near the accelerator and then a second cable runs to the speedo. I'd check out that junction box. There was a very odd setup in mine. If the cable hadn't broken, I have no idea how the cable could have been installed or removed. Fellow at the speedo shop was equally puzzled. Both ends of the cable were crimped into place.

There are technical manuals available for that. I got one for mine from an ebay seller in Rhode Island. I can look up the seller if you want. It was pricey $175 but worth it since no one knows anything about MB vans on this side of the pond.
Peter Russek manuals for MB vans show up regularly on UK Ebay but my experience has been that those manuals are not very good.

I'm curious as to where you have been going for parts. Europa and the guy in the northwest who deals in Unimogs seem to be the only US sources, but I've been dealing with EurocarParts in the UK of late. The exchange rate sucks though.
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  #6  
Old 01-20-2005, 07:37 PM
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Postcard from the UK

My 508 (at least I think it is!!) is currently resident on the sunny Isle of Wight in the UK, and unfortunately due to local policitians and other dogooders, we have some 20mph limits through some small towns and on road running right past schools. And of course the speed cameras they've installed wouldn't just be there to raise money, that fact that they're on a downward slope gives you an idea as to the problems motorists in the UK have with the police and coucils charging us more money than ever!!!

Quick picture.... smile!!!....


Anyway, if you've seen one of the recent posts I'm not sure what my van actually is... the VIN plate says 508D, and one guy has checked my chassis number which also confirms 508D, but the UK's government database say's I've got a 410P.

Now I would just phone them up and tell them it's wrong, but I've ordered a bonnet/hood and a brake servo for a 508D and neither of them fit. Bonnet/hood is just not big enough, and seems to be for the shorter style of bonnet.

Anyone know if there are several styles of the 508D available, because I'm well confused!

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