Gremlins!

[James Fearn]

Hi all,

I'm not too sure but I think my lovely motor has a case of the Gremlins!!!

A few months ago I had the typical W210 Clock and Temperature segment failures which I've been too wussy to fix myself as I have a soft touch like the slag brothers in wacky races!

Next came the speedo dial starting to jump rather than rise normally.

Just recently I seem to be replacing bulbs all the time. I must have changed the headlights and fog lights 3 times each in the last couple of weeks and today its happened again!

Does anyone know if its common to get the electrical Gremlins in W210's?

Thanks all!

James.

 

[V12]

Hhhmmmmm, the electric windows and mirrors are common to play up, but not that common to hear of bulb problems as far as i know.
Speedo jumping sometimes indicates a weak voltage, which is normally a problem with the alternator. Get a multimeter under that back seat and check it out...

 

[James Fearn]

Hhhmmmmm, the electric windows and mirrors are common to play up, but not that common to hear of bulb problems as far as i know.
Speedo jumping sometimes indicates a weak voltage, which is normally a problem with the alternator. Get a multimeter under that back seat and check it out...

Thanks for the tip mate. I'll get on to that in the morning! That makes sense actually as the display segments tend to flicker every now and then. Cheers mate.

 

[grober]

Definitely sounds like an alternator problem. Voltage/current spikes will blow the bulbs. Not familiar with the w210 alternators but if you take the car to a competent auto electrician they may be able to rebuild it with a new control/rectifier pack. An entire replacement alternator could be expensive!

 

[James Fearn]

Definitely sounds like an alternator problem. Voltage/current spikes will blow the bulbs. Not familiar with the w210 alternators but if you take the car to a competent auto electrician they may be able to rebuild it with a new control/rectifier pack. An entire replacement alternator could be expensive!

Thanks Grober. That's just what I need with Christmas looming large on the horizon!

 

[V12]

Yeah, grober is unfortunately correct, while the normal petrol alternators are standard relatively inexpensive items, the oil cooled alternator used on the CDI is a beast and a mega exensive one at that!
Yours being an E320cdi, will have a 150amp, which iirc is £400-£600 from the stealer (supply only)

 

[James Fearn]

Yeah, grober is unfortunately correct, while the normal petrol alternators are standard relatively inexpensive items, the oil cooled alternator used on the CDI is a beast and a mega exensive one at that!
Yours being an E320cdi, will have a 150amp, which iirc is £400-£600 from the stealer (supply only)

Gulp! Looks like I'll be going down the auto electrician route first then!

 

[James Fearn]

Hi all, just wanted to update this post with some info. I took my motor in for a B service at 124 Works today and while it was in Ian had arranged for the alternator to be tested. It turns out that the alternator is fine and there seems to be a fault in the Instrument Cluster!

Im going to send it off to be repaired so thats a few more quid in the Christmas kitty for my little one this year! I hope she appreciates it!