1997 E300 - No instruments?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

klaus kallas · #1 08-29-2011, 02:56 PM

The cluster in my E300 has no working gauges while the car is running. The warning lights and message display work fine, but all the needles of the gauges stay at their rest positions. Only thing that shows any life is the fuel gauge which just vibrates at it's lowest position.

What the heck?? Has a new k40 which fixed my other issues, but nothing with the cluster. Starts and drives fine. Every once in a while you can start it and they work fine until it is turned off again, but rarely.

Any ideas??

Thanks!

Aquaticedge · #2 08-29-2011, 03:29 PM

Ground knocked loose, Fuse blown in the fuse array... my guesses

DAR2KMR2 · #3 08-31-2011, 02:46 AM

I had a similar problem on my 1996 E300D with over 250k miles on it. The guages would work fine then all of a sudden everything in the cluster would die .... but the car ran fine. I believe the fuel guage on mine also fluttered a little. Then some time later the cluster would spring back to life. The problem persisted for about a year eventually getting to the point that the guages were off probably 75% of the time. I took the car in and my mechanic said the instrument cluster was failing and sent it out for repair/reconditioning to somewhere outside California. Cluster was gone for a couple of weeks and when it returned it worked perfectly and I haven't had a problem since (little more than a year). It cost something on the order of $650 for removal, shipping, repair, and reinstallation. They also replaced all the bulbs and fixed the LCD display that had a bunch of missing dots/lines.

jmbeam · #4 08-31-2011, 07:00 PM

Id like to know what they did because Im in no position to spend $650 on this problem with 2 kids in school.

klaus kallas · #5 08-31-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmbeam

Id like to know what they did because Im in no position to spend $650 on this problem with 2 kids in school.

AMEN!!! Is their a write up on overhauling this thing floating around? Whole car is barely worth $650 (well, other than the engine).

DAR2KMR2 · #6 09-01-2011, 10:55 AM

It's my understanding that they reconditioned/rebuilt the cluster. I'm not sure what exactly that entails but as I stated eariler they fixed the problem as well as the LCD display and replaced all the bulbs. A 1997 E300D with 250k on the odometer is worth way more than $650 unless yours is completely thrashed and rusty. Additionally, a speeding ticket around here can run over half that amount easily ....plus adding a fix it ticket for the non-functional guages adds another $150 or so ...... I'd rather get my car fixed than hand over that much of my cash to the government for nothing!

pimpernell · #7 09-01-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klaus kallas

AMEN!!! Is their a write up on overhauling this thing floating around? Whole car is barely worth $650 (well, other than the engine).

It is my understanding that the cluster needs to be sent out for repairs, and is not a DIY project. If you can live with the cluster the way it is, you might consider getting a Scanguage. It is connected to the OBD port, and will give you all the essential readings that your cluster provides. MPH, RPMs, Temp, MPG, along with a number of other readings. It is also a code reader, so you get twice the bang for the buck. Good luck!

klaus kallas · #8 09-01-2011, 05:57 PM

Thanks guys! Was looking for a DIY way out, but appears not to be so. $650 actually isn't bad, I'm just frustrated with this car I bought for $2500 and am trying to sell, well, for $2500 before my new car gets here! This thing was an experiment to begin with, so can't cry too much I guess.