SL500(230) engine temp display

[cardiffrob]

I've tried the search function but not found anything.

2002 car that sometimes shows temp readings of 40 to 60c after a long run and then maybe the gauge won't even get off the bottom stop on another day. A few minutes ago it looked as if the needle was up off the stop whilst the ignition had been off for a few hours. Surely it is electrical and won't read anything whilst the ignition is dead?

If it is a sender failure then where is the little sod located?

Cheers

 

[BlackC55]

I suspect it is a faulty cluster causing this problem.

 

[x332race]

Thermostat may have failed in the open position to give these sort of readings....Temp should rise to mid point fairly quickly and stay there...would not explain why you getting a reading with ignition off though...

 

[cardiffrob]

Silly question, but....what is a cluster? Is it the whole dashboard display assembly? If so, this car had one changed in 2003.

 

[cardiffrob]

Phoned the Main Stealers and they said that MB had sold over 1000 temp senders this year. Guess it is a common fault??? £10 unit that slots into a hole at the front of the head and is held by a clip. 5 minute job (when it stops p155ing down) and then I'll see what happens. After giving the car a stiff talking to and showing it that a 60 yr old Morris Minor is 10 times more reliable, it started giving me a semi-sensible reading. 50c after about 10 miles. Still wrong but at least it has started moving the needle again. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

 

[cardiffrob]

30 second job to replace the sender unit, even with my arthritic hands.
In the driveway it will idle towards 65c and after a stroll down the road it doesn't get above 80c indicated

 

[cardiffrob]

Progress! The sender unit was a quick 30 second job but the result was disappointing. The needle was stuck at 40c, even with the ignition off. The following week it stayed at 80 when the engine was running but suddenly ratchetted itself up to 120c in the second after switching off. Looked mechanical to me!
Quickly whipping off the cowl over the instrument pod (cluster?) and removing the 3 torx-screws let me pull the pod out. One umbilical cord on it and I instantly saw a label from a 'cluster repair' company and the date of October 2007. The temp gauge had a bit of cardboard wedged in it to hold the casing together. Bodge job????
It looks like I need to get it repaired since (I assume) any secondhand pod will need a main stealer to monkey about with the mileage readings. Any ideas as to the cost of a new pod or can the temp unit be bought as a single item?

 

[renault12ts]

You have full acc? You should be able to display temp digitally.

 

[BlackC55]

The new cluster will be £600-£1000 plus fitting.

 

[cardiffrob]

You can display engine temp digitally???

 

[renault12ts]

Well you can on the W210 with auto air con, so I thought you must be able to with an SL R230. I don't know yours, but on mine you hold "rest" until the display changes, then scroll through until the temp is displayed.

 

[cardiffrob]

Can anyone with an SL500 (230) tell me what temp it normally runs at when driving and what is the displayed needle position when you first switch it on. Does it sit at the bottom of the gauge or sit at the lowest scale position?

 

[mirras]

Can anyone with an SL500 (230) tell me what temp it normally runs at when driving and what is the displayed needle position when you first switch it on. Does it sit at the bottom of the gauge or sit at the lowest scale position?

I'll have a look this morning and post reply by lunchtime.

 

[mirras]

Just checked the gauge. The needle sits on 40 degrees and remains there when the car is started, doesn't move at all. The normal operating level is around 80 degrees on my car. ( 2003 )

 

[cardiffrob]

Top bloke! Then that is where I shall move the needle to when I reset it. It seems to have a ratchetting electric motor on the needle and it can be made to jump the cogs.

Mine had been sent to "Cluster repairs.com" or similar in the past and it looks like they wedged a piece of card in the casing to keep everything in place. The card had gone soft.