instrument cluster s320cdi

[tejwant007]

the instrument cluster on s320cdi has stopped working, only the red SRS light comes on all other warning lights and dials have given up the ghost. Any ideas as to what i should be looking for, i have checked all fuses and relays which are all ok. car starts and drives ok,indicators work but no repeater sound heard.
tejwant007

 

[television]

Hello and welcome, so you have no speedo or rev counter.

This fault has been up before but I cant remember if a cure was found, others will know, or is it where the lamp goes down.

there are firms that fix them and you do not have to get a new one

 

[eGuru]

There was a recall for this problem about 18 months back. Go to your nearest MB dealer and have them look it up.

 

[mr. shr]

Yes, as eGuru says, there's a recall on these. Dealer changed mine without me even raising it. Car was in for something else and they said, while I'm there they'll fit a new cluster for free as my car fell into the recall bracket. (My old was working fine).

See what your local Stealership says.

 

[tejwant007]

thanks for the promt replies. MR.SHR can you tell me which car had the cluster changed and what date it was.have contacted local dealer who says there is no recall,is there a site where you can check what recalls were made by mercedes.
tejwant007

 

[television]

this is some info posted by Hawk 20 on this matter
---------------------------------------------------------------

There is a recall on SOME 220 series S class and 215 CL class instrument clusters in the UK.

In the US the recall was by build dates -all cars built between 200x to 200y. In all about 36,000 had to be changed. Yipes!

The UK instrument clusters are different. There is a recall in UK but it is for 3 faulty batches which are not date-related but can be isolated from the VIN numbers. Ask your dealer. They check the VIN with Mercedes. Several postings here and there suggest they are being very generous under goodwill as well to cars not strictly in the recall.

Before anyone gets too upset, you should see the amazing number of recalls by Toyota, that paragon of reliability. Or try my Dell computer which has now had new hard drives 5 times in one year.

Here is the alldat link where the recall is posted: -

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Mercedes-...04A/index.html


Here is the link to one of the main US threads: -
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...l-s-class.html
And here's a link to details of the recall on another UK site
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=32065 __________________

 

[mr. shr]

thanks for the promt replies. MR.SHR can you tell me which car had the cluster changed and what date it was.have contacted local dealer who says there is no recall,is there a site where you can check what recalls were made by mercedes.
tejwant007

My car is a S430 from year 2000. But I don't know how they decide which cars are eligible for a change.

I'd only just bought the car (private sale) and took it too them to do a Winter check (yes, I know, complete waste of money).

Whilst it was in, they said there's a recall on some instrumet clusters (which I'd previously read about on here!!) and that my car was one of the recalled ones.

They had one in stock that was meant for another customer later in the week. But they said they'd fit that one in my car while I wait (and ordered another one for the guy returning later in the week).

Didn't charge me a penny of the cluster or fitting it.

Where are you based?
This was at MB of King's Lynn and I would estimate they did it in Jan 07.
You could give them a call and just see what they say. If they agree yours in due a change, you could relay that to your local dealer.
Or try another dealer near you.

 

[eGuru]

I have copy of recall letter. PM me if you want me to email you a copy.

 

[tejwant007]

update, have managed to get dials and warning lights working(no 5 fuse which looked okay, multimeter showed as faulty)but no dial illumination.
eGuru please send me a copy of the email to [email protected] , in the meantime i will contact MB of kings lynn and see what they say.
tejwant007

 

[jaymanek]

illumination is a common issue on W220's.. its a flourescent tube inside... I take the whole thing apart and spray lots of cleaner, put it back together and that usually works..
alternatively bba reman fix them for around £200...

 

[tejwant007]

like to fix things myself if poss,so have no worries about taking things apart.will strip console and see if spraying will sort it out. will wd40 do the trick.
tejwant007

 

[jaymanek]

no use electrical contact cleaner and then spray electrical silicone to stop it happening again... but im never sure if its the cleaning or just the taking apart that fixes them... i have done it on four W220's now..

 

[eGuru]

update, have managed to get dials and warning lights working(no 5 fuse which looked okay, multimeter showed as faulty)but no dial illumination.
eGuru please send me a copy of the email to [email protected] , in the meantime i will contact MB of kings lynn and see what they say.
tejwant007

Have emailed recall letter.

 

[tejwant007]

thanks for the Email eGURU. have contacted MB at M keynes and they say mine does not fall under the recall even though it dislays the same fault as yors and countless others and the 36000+ in america. It appears that MB are aware of the problem but do not want to admit to it since my local dealer is offering me £200+ in part exchange of my old cluster.SINCE when have MB become so generous.? HA. It,s a pity our goverement does not back our consumer rights as strongly as the Americans.
tejwant007
tejwant007

 

[tromppost]

thanks for the Email eGURU. have contacted MB at M keynes and they say mine does not fall under the recall even though it dislays the same fault as yors and countless others and the 36000+ in america. It appears that MB are aware of the problem but do not want to admit to it since my local dealer is offering me £200+ in part exchange of my old cluster.SINCE when have MB become so generous.? HA. It,s a pity our goverement does not back our consumer rights as strongly as the Americans.
tejwant007
tejwant007

How much left to pay at Mercedes after the £200 in part exchange? Sorry to be so blunt.

 

[tejwant007]

MB want £626+vat outright or£427+vat exchange. i have checked the back of the cluster and the two capicitors and transformer get very hot, is this normal?
jaymanek, have removed cluster, i live in birmingham is it possible you can show me how if i came to you.
tejwant007

 

[television]

Capacitors can be checked on a ESR meter, and these give a more accurate read out than a normal cap meter, as it is the efficiency more than the value.

To drive a fluorescent lamp from 12 volts it needs an inverter, these can give problems