'92 190E, no dash lights
 

I have a very odd light outage problem in my 190E. All and I mean all the lights on the dash went out. This is including the rear defroster switch light and the rear light switch light. The climate control panel and the window switches went out as well. Oddly the light for the gear selector is still on. I checked all the fuses and all is good. So at night, all I have is the aforementioned gear selector light and the radio (aftermarket).

My first thought is the main light switch, but need some confirmation from the gang here.

Any ideas?

Thanks

dash lights out
 

i seem to remember years ago my 91 300e had something like that happen i pulled the gauge cluster and found a bad connection on the board by the dimmer knob i think(it was a long time ago) but it was something i was able to resolder and it has worked fine since. i know this is vague but i would start looking for voltage at the dimmer knob in the gauge cluster the gauge cluster in the 300e is held in place by 4 spring clips that can be released by inserting straight flat tools like a small putty knife or old kitchen butter knives and then disconnecting the speedo cable when you pull the cluster forward

Rheostat or dimmer switch behind the instrument cluster has gone kaput.

See if you can adjust the dimmer switch adjustment knob first, sometimes they find a bad spot and lights go out :D

I haven't had a 201 apart in years, but the dimmer on the back of the instrument panel would be my guess also. many of the nearby auxillary lights are lit by fiber optics coming from the gauge panel itself, so if those go out you could be losing some of these switches also. Again going by memory. It would be where i would start anyways.

My guess is the "red fuse" on the back of the cluster.

Thanks for all the tips. Last year one of the 2 lights for instrument cluster went out. I attempted to pull the cluster out, but it wouldn't come out enough for me to get my hand behind it. I looked from underneath and holy crap there is alot of stuff jammbed up there. What steps do I need to take to get the whole cluster out?

Thanks again,

There are at least two procedures documented in the forum (search) that do not require removing the steering wheel.

My favorite is from below, removing the under dash panel, removing the plastic air vent tube that goes from the center console to the driver's vent (press fit easy to remove replace); then reaching up and unscrewing the brass colored speedo cable nut from the back of the cluster and then pushing the cluster out from the back.

If you pull the steering wheel, you'll have LOTS of room to work.

I've had my speedometer head out at least 4 times over the years.

You can reach up there and remove the speedometer cable nut, then push the unit out.

I was not able to do this with my 93 190. Either my hands are too fat or I just couldn't find the room.

I was also replacing my speedometer cable at the same time so what I ended up doing was removing the speedo cable from the transmission then giving it some slack as I pulled out the cluster. Taking the steering wheel off is EASY and will make it much easier to work with the cluster. I recommend it.

JamesDean, I too tried reaching up there and it is very tight. In my previous attempts, I was able to push a bit from the back side but it would come out any further. I assume that's because the speedo. cable is still attached. I haven't had a chance to mess with the car since posting this issue. So, obviously I haven't yet tried to disconnect the speedometer cable.

I know that I would certainly have more room to work with the steering wheel off, but I have never messed with pulling off a steering wheel that has an airbag in it. What do I need to do in this case? I assume first disconnect the battery.

I have wiggled the dimmer knob and no luck. All is still dark except the letters on the gear selector. So, let's go with the notion that the dimmer is shot, what then. Can this one item be replaced?

Thanks

If the problem is the speedo cable being too tight, you can disconnect the cable at the trans to give more slack, I used to do that a lot. Sounds like overkill, but it is only ONE bolt holding the speedo cable to the trans. Then give it some slack and you can pull the cluster out a lot more. Now on some models the problem was the steering wheel blocking the cluster, in which case you might need to pull the steering wheel, better to take the time to do it rather than scratch up the steering wheel leather covering. I want to say the 202 chassis often needed the wheel removed.
Gilly