W203 Indicator stalk problem

[oscarisapc]

Hi Folks

Is it possible to tighten up/adjust an indicator stalk? I have just bought a MY55 C320 Estate, lovely car, but when I indicate right and then cancel, the stalk doesn't just centre but it flops down and indicates left. I found myself on Tuesday going up the M1 like a Christmas tree (apologies for the confusion if any members were following) winking from left to right and back again as I indicated, tried to cancel, over corrected etc.

The local MB garage suggests putting in a new switch which may be what I need but as a MB owner for 10 years, I have never known them suggest anything other than a new part. At a cost of £180 plus fitting I thought I would see whether any alternatives were possible. Not sure if the detent is worn or a spring weak and whether any of these are adjustable. If adjustment is possible is it relatively straightforward to dismantle the steering cover? Anxious not to trigger any airbags!

Thanks

 

[jaymanek]

No afraid this is very common, you need a new one.

 

[Robbruce]

Hi I have the same problem on my 02 C270 did you manage to fix yours i had a price of under £90 from MB Bradford.

Rob

 

[oscarisapc]

I had it replaced - the final cost was a bit less than quoted. £68.85 for the switch plus £56 for fitting it - all plus the dreaded VAT of course.
The new switch made things a lot better but it is still not 100% OK - the stalk will still occasionally flip into indicating left after cancelling a right indication. The garage now reckons this is another "faulty switch" and will replace this one (free I assume). Since this didn't happen with my previous C Class coupe I don't know whether this is a design problem with the extra weight of the head of a stalk with rear wiper controls overcoming a spring that is too weak for the job to flop down into the left indication position or whether something is not right with the way it is fitted. I am totally in the hands of the garage as I am strictly not technical - my limit extends to checking the tyres and the washer fluids and changing the CDs.

 

[Meldrew2]

I've had my ML for 4 years and I've never changed the CDs. How often do you recommend that the CDs are changed? Isn't it something the dealer should do when they service the car?




.

 

[MercUser]

i have about the same issue with my c220cdi saloon 2003, indicator switch doesnt hold in place when indicating right.. it drops down as soon as i let it go..failed MOT because of that... so phoned Buy or sell salvage cars and car parts at our breakers scrap yard in Southampton, Hampshire | Silverlake Autoparts to see if they got the part... they had it already on the shelf - £15+ VAT = £18. .. it was southampton, 45 miles away from my place.. so went there - checked if the switch is stiff enough and if its got same functions I needed... looked about the same, only from 2001 model.. will try to fit it myself tomorrow .. so were looking around on forums on how to swap them.. that's how i found this thread .. go for scrapyard - its a lot cheaper. just phone them before u get there to make sure they've got the part you need, Merc is a rare car on scrap// also if you dont want to fit it yourself I have asked my local mechanics shop for price for labour, the said its around 30-40 pounds..
I know its an old thread, just writing this in case if anyone else will have this issue in future, so hopefully I could help someone.. thanx

 

[MercUser]

found pretty good instructions on another forum ... just in case some one needs it... W203 steering-wheel swap how-to - MBWorld.org Forums