SRS cluster light flickering on 2.3-16v 16v
 

On my 1986 190e 16v the SRS light has started flickering on and off. Mainly at startup and warmup at idle in park. I thought it might be a low voltage issue. IT sometimes will come on and off and flicker back and forth while driving, usually not as often as when in park.
I got a salvage SRS voltage box as swapped it out and it dodnt make much difference. I also changed the seatbelt timer/relay in the drivers side foot well. The seatbelt light and buzzer seems to have stoped turning on when you undo the seatbelt from the drivers side belt receiver. I think the two might be part of the same problem. The only part of the SRS I know about that I did not swap is the crash sensor on the tranny tunnel and I have one on the way. Can anyone give me guidance? The manuals ignore the system mainly and I can find no trouble shooting text anywhere for the SRS.

voltage accumulator
 

I swapped the SRS voltage accumulator that is next to the cruise control amp in the foot well to see if it was bad. I am assuming that the voltage accumulator is a large capasitor that holds voltage and allows there to be enough to activate the system or keep the system at a constant voltage in cooperation with the SRS voltage "regulator"/converter also in the pass footwell. Swapping both units for another unit of same part number off another car didnt seem to fix the SRS light flicker problem. Anyone know what triggers the SRS light on the instrument cluster?

When I had this on my 1991 300CE, this was the problem:

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=24616EQV12470PRI69&year=1991&make=MB&model=300-CE-002&category=M&part=Horn+Contact+Ring

I first changed my voltage regulator but that didn't do it. I finally noticed that sometimes the flickering coincided with moving the steering wheel. There are also horn contacts that are very inexpensive that may be worn down. I changed these too but changing the ring did the trick. There was no obvious failure of this part. It fits on the back of the steering wheel.


glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280
1990 LS400

Hmmm
 

You know, I have pulled the steering wheel recently to replace the crusie switch and something might have gotten messed up then. I will look to see if it seems to relate to movement of the steering wheel. Thanks a lot! Nothing else seems to be making any sense, maybe I'll get lucky!

Check Steering Lock
 

It's not the contacts that cause this to occure you can drive with bad contacts - Just No Horn - but it is the incorrect installation of the airbag.

To check with engine running turn wheel left till steering lock and then right till steering lock if the light flikers or lights up the the airbag is not installed properly.

Airbag Installation:

1. Plug in gas generater till lead is seated home. It should click!
2. Place airbag on steering wheel.
3. Turn left side socket head to spec of 6 nm.
4. Turn right side socket head two full turns.
5. Slightly raise right side of airbag from steering wheel and tighten to spec of 6 nm.

Recheck steering lock procedure. :confused:

Hope This Helps!

Excellent!
 

OK, so I read Williams fix and went out to the old 16v one last time to try to fix this crazy flickerring SRS light. I pulled the air bag, reinstalled it and wow, it stopped flikering...almost. Still a tiny bit so I removed the air bag again, and pulled the wheel. Cleaned the contacts, took a green scratch pad to the contact ring and then sprayed it all with contact cleaner and dried it. Reinstalled the wheel and air bag as the instructions said and PERFECT! NO MORE FLICKERING SRS LIGHT! I never knew the air bag had to be installed just so, but now I do. You learn something new everyday. Thanks alot!