W123 Dash Lights... What Should Light Up? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 05-01-2002, 11:53 AM

I was wondering one night, the dash on my 85 300 always looks stark at night, the cluster lights, as does the climate control, radio and window switchery, BUT is anything else supposed to light? Namly the controls for the sunroof, and the switches in that area? I'm just curious... Thanks!

#2 05-01-2002, 11:57 AM

I suggest you use the search function on this subject. I have seen several detailed explanations about how to handle the dim dash lights. It concerns a plastic prism/diffuser that becomes opaque with age and must be removed and buffed. have fun!

#3 05-01-2002, 12:07 PM

No, no, I'm not complaining about dim dash lights or anything like that. I'm not sure which parts should light up. See, I've only had the car three years, not knowing what she was like new, I was curious if other parts, namely the area where the sunroof switch is located, is supposed to light up.

peterhardie · #4 05-01-2002, 12:44 PM

YES, you should have lights for all your switches. I don't have the power sunroof, but I am guessing it is in the set with the antenna, defog, etc.

Check the archives for the fix.

Peter
1985 300TD

tcane · #5 05-01-2002, 12:50 PM

Randall:

The rocker switches that activate the sun roof, radio antenna, rear window heater, and back seat light are all lighted from one common bulb who's light is distributed via a fiber optic-like cable to the individual switches. If only one or two of the swithces do not light up and the others do, then gently pry the switches out of the wood panel (the come out from the front), and look for the fiber optic cable not being in its proper position on the switch or another problem with the cable (broken ends, etc.). The fiber optic-like cable ends are pushed into holes located on the back side of the switch. The cable ends have a small metal piece that slides on the cable, this metal piece needs to be found and positioned at the end of the cable, and then pushed into the back of the switch.

If all the swithches do not light up, then the common bulb probably needs replacing (it could be loose in the socket, the socket wiring is bad, contacts corroded, etc.). The common bulb is found behind the panel surrounding the AC climate control panel. On my '77 the control panel is removed by first taking out the ash tray, then removing the radio or the radio face if it is the detachable type (if you have a detachable radio face, then removing the ash tray may not be needed), then gently prying the control panel from the base the panel is connected to (plastic tabs/pins hold the control panel to the base), as I recall the common bulbs will be exposed once the control panel is removed (I last did this about 6 years ago), but you may need to unsrew the fasteners holding the base to the frame and move it away a bit to access the common bulbs (the base is the part the AC controls are fastened to and the base is fastened to the frame). There are two bulbs, one lights the AC panel and the other lights the other switches. I would replace both bulbs since you're there anyway and the bulb that's now working will shortly not (Murphy's Law!

!).

Good Luck!
Tom

Nate Stanley · #6 05-01-2002, 12:53 PM

Tcane,
Are these bulbs the same ones as those used in the instrument cluster?

I need to repace mine as well, and have spare inst and warning lightbulbs--

JPL · #7 05-01-2002, 03:03 PM

Folks:

In my w123 climate control (vertical style) all the push buttons light up well. I am wondering if the temprature dial ever had one of those tiny light leads. I noticed at night, you can see the buttons fine, but you cannot tell what the temprature setting is selected on the dial because that area of the climate control panel is not lit.

Should it be lit. Like from the top of the dial or something?

just curious.

James

#8 05-01-2002, 03:06 PM

Thanks guys! You're all the best!

tcane · #9 05-01-2002, 03:11 PM

Nate:

The instrument cluster uses two different size bulbs (one about 1/4" dia. bulb and the other 1/8"-3/16" dia. bulb). As I recall, the AC control panel and rocker-type switches located above the AC control panel use the smaller bulb (it was 6 years ago that I replaced the AC/rocker switch bulbs). Call Fastlane to get the right bulb size and order a couple.

JPL:

My temp dial is not lit and I did not see a way to light it when I've serviced the AC components located in this area.

Good Luck!
Tom