Indicator Stalk W203

[chrisk2010]

Hi Folks,

Well my washer system developed a bit of a weird fault last night out of the blue where it isn't washing the screen when I press in the indicator stalk or do a pass with the wipers however the wiper do work as normal when selecting 1,2 or 3 speed.

If I wiggle the thing while depressing the indicator at the same time it works, so it builds a strong argument that whatever wiring is in there is kaput.... typical the car is due an MOT in March.

Had a look online and £98 odd from Edinburgh Merc and something I could do myself given the time and patience both of which I have neither atm

So I've put in a call this morning to Mercedes Waterhouse Chelmsford for a quote to fit the thing hopefully it should just be about an hour labour for an experienced Merc mechanic.

It seems to be a fairly common problem online but has anyone had any experience with this?

 

[chrisk2010]

Okey dokey so £98.50 + VAT for the part and £96 + VAT for the Labour so about £233.40 all in.

It's sad as it is a job I'd really love to tackle if the days were long and warm but we're expecting a new born any day now, my beautiful missus is fed up and tired, I'm fed up and tired and the nights close in cold and quickly so it's booked in for the 31st January (after the due date).

At least I get to rest for an hour and a half and can help myself to free coffee while I wait.

 

[chrisk2010]

All fixed! Me and my 2 year old dropped it in last Friday to Waterhouse with a box of doughnuts for the canteen, replacing the indicator stalk solved the problem.

Actually turned into a nice morning out with my little one who is car crazy. We woke up got ready hit greggs for a sausage roll and picked up some doughnuts for the guys at Waterhouse.

Waterhouse got him some crayons and a colouring book out then we popped into the Volvo showroom to see the new models which he loved and the lady manning the desk we extreamly nice offering him every snack under the sun even though we were only looking. When asked if I should change the car he said he preferred Daddies car .

He got to see a police car being repaired which he talked about for two days afterwards, as well as the big snap on tools boxes which he wanted to take home. Quick jaunt over to Homebase he picked up a small tool box so he could work on the cars then as we walked back we could see my car coming out of the workshop.

To top it all off the bill came back cheaper than expected!

 

[MrGreedy]

I paid about £140 seven years ago, so about the right amount of say.

Mine wouldn't retain the indicator position and just returned straight away to the centre position, so you had to hold the indicator in position when turning.

 

[chrisk2010]

£140 is good without pulling the paperwork mine was about £200 all in give or take a few quid.

The fault was the screen wash not working and the wipers not doing a single pass when I pushed the stalk in. If I pushed it in and wiggled it, it was hit and miss if it would work but with the MOT coming in March it needed to be done.

Like all faults they always come at the most inconvenient time as we was a week away from our baby arriving and with the days being cold and short it wasn't the best time to be removing the steering wheel and everything behind it as much as I would have relished in doing the job myself.

I pretty much ummd and ahhd about it right up till the day but always thinking as soon as I take it off I'm going to get the call that the baby is coming lol.

The car is feeling good now and is booked in for it's B service next week at which point I'll book the MOT which it'll now pass with flying colours.

 

[MrGreedy]

Glad it's sorted an I think you made the right call in this instance. You wouldn't be thanked and you wouldn't want to miss the birth because you were elbows deep in car repair.

Wishing you all the success and happiness for the future. A new maintenance project starts! (nappies)

 

[chrisk2010]

Glad it's sorted an I think you made the right call in this instance. You wouldn't be thanked and you wouldn't want to miss the birth because you were elbows deep in car repair.

Wishing you all the success and happiness for the future. A new maintenance project starts! (nappies)

Thanks MrGreedy, the nappy side of things is certainly high maintenance but a job I wouldn't give up for the world lol.

 

[Petrol Pete]

OP, If I had a quid for every job that I could have done myself but had to pay someone else to do it due to weather/work/time/family restraints I would be rich . Glad you got it sorted.

 

[chrisk2010]

Thanks Pete, same here!

It wasn't so bad years ago when I had a forklift workshop to work in at my leisure but now days everything is done outside either at home or at work.

I genuinely love working on my cars and not so much the money but I hate handing a job to someone else that I know I can do.

 

[merc85]

Glad Waterhouse Chelmsford sorted you out, there a good bunch

 

[chrisk2010]

Thanks fella, they certainly are and they'll be seeing the car again next week for the service then in March for the MOT

I have to say this is the very first time in 13 years I have handed them the key to a dirty car lol! I'm sure I apologised twice before handing the key and doughnuts but I really haven't had the time.

Last year the chap was very impressed and thought I kept it stored in a garage it was so clean and polished.

 

[pcthrillrider2]

Hi Folks,

Well my washer system developed a bit of a weird fault last night out of the blue where it isn't washing the screen when I press in the indicator stalk or do a pass with the wipers however the wiper do work as normal when selecting 1,2 or 3 speed.

If I wiggle the thing while depressing the indicator at the same time it works, so it builds a strong argument that whatever wiring is in there is kaput.... typical the car is due an MOT in March.

Had a look online and £98 odd from Edinburgh Merc and something I could do myself given the time and patience both of which I have neither atm

So I've put in a call this morning to Mercedes Waterhouse Chelmsford for a quote to fit the thing hopefully it should just be about an hour labour for an experienced Merc mechanic.

It seems to be a fairly common problem online but has anyone had any experience with this?

thats where i take my mercedes just around corner from me