WHITE SPEEDO CABLE???? 1995 e300d

[eggzy43]

Re: dash backlights not working
after reading someone in the same predicament my last hope is the red fuse on the back of the cluster. After lifting the carpet, trim etc. I can’t find the white Speedo cable, which is described as a thin white cable clipped to the lower steering column. However, there is a fat black cable (a cable inside a rubber hose shroud) exiting to the left into the transmission tunnel, when I moved the cluster it moved too, so its probably the one, but there’s no free play in it, I was going to detach it from underneath the car and I found to my horror a large plastic aerodynamic shield covering the belly of the car, so it looks like I’ll have to remove the trim >above< the cluster…or find someone with ultra-skinny hands and arms?

BTW when I removed the lower trim to check out the headlamp dial assembly I found I could insert my fingers in the upper gap and push out the instrument cluster, a worthwhile thing if you can't remove it with hooks.

 

[SilverSaloon]

why not remove the plastic shield.... its only held on with a few self tappers dotted around, 5 or 6 iirc.

it is accessible when the front of the car is up on drive on ramps or axle stands, and you can just about do it all....

cheers

derek

 

[219]

If you remove the cover above the drivers footwell (and below the cluster) you should be able to reach up (follow the cable - it is the one with the rubber shroud) and undo the speedo cable from the back of the instrument ( brass collar which unscrews by hand , allowing the cable to pull out ) . You do need to be a bit of a contortionist , and it may involve sitting upside down in the seat with your head in the footwell ( like Robin Williams did in 'Mork and Mindy' ! ) , but it IS possible : I've done it several times . There's a big transverse air duct running from the heater to the side vent - pull this out to make access easier , it will come out and go back without trouble .

On some W124's there is enough leeway to pull the cluster out enough to get your hand in and undo it from the front .

Disconnecting from the back of the gearbox is a PITA and too much hassle - usually something breaks !

 

[eggzy43]

thanks derek i'll try your method

 

[eggzy43]

pontoneer,
when i do it, should i say; "mork calling orson" "mork calling orson"