Sticking Tempeature Gauge
 

The needle of my temperature gauge occasionally sticks at 0C when I start the car and will not move up from that position as the coolant heats-up. Occasionally it will suddenly jump to the proper temperature. When stuck, if I tap on the instrument cluster lightly it will unstick and jump-up to indicate the proper coolant temperature. Once its un-stuck from the 0C position it will work properly until the next time I turn the engine OFF and ON again.

Has anybody ever opened-up one of those gauges? What's inside that could make it stick? Is there something I can do to fix it? I never touched this thing.

Thanks

I did not have this problem until I painted my gauge needle, and then it happens only rarely in the summer (oil gauge).

There might be a ground problem with guage itself. Tapping on the dash makes the ground come back. Good luck.

I know of problems with some instrument clusters where the speedo needle would stick to the resting peg due to the paint on it getting sticky. Maybe you are experiencing a similar problem with the coolant temp gauge if it does have a painted resting peg.

Although, it could still be, I don't think its a ground problem, as it never happens while the needle has moved up from its resting position. Once it works, it keeps on working until the next time I shut of the engine and restart.

Perhaps I should also have mentioned, that 2 days before the symptoms started, I had my garage remove the cluster to install a few bulbs. I was watching him however and he was very careful with it. So this may just be a coincidence.

I am hoping that this problem will somehow fix itself over the next few days but if not I still would like to know of there is something in that instrument that could be lubricated or fixed.

Phil

Agree with the above posters about sticky paint on the rest needles. Mercedes are aware of the problem and supply plastic sleeves to fit on the rest stops ; Part no:A 000,992 92 20., or you could make you own from fine electric cable insulation stripped off and cut to length. This might help. http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.mb-treff.de/tipps-tricks/w202/tachozeiger-klebt-fest/index.php&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.motor-talk.de/f73/s/%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

Unlike some of the other gauges, the temperature gauge does not appear to have any rest post, at least non that I can see. I never took this gauge apart or painted anything. Its just seems that something gets stuck on the inside of this gauge.

It did it again this morning, but nstead of tapping, I just waitd a few minutesw, and it jumped right up.

It is more likely the feed connector .. if it were a ground problem , it would show up on the other gauges...I would check the plug for full in contact, specially as it was recently unplugged...

That makes sense, Maybe it will resolve itself over the weekend. If not, I'll go back to the garage that took the cluster out and have him check it.

Thanks