View Full Version : Clocks faded?
This morning when I turned on the ignition I realised my clock had faded to a fraction of its normal brightness but the other displays were fine. Any clues anyone???
Backlighting bulb needs replacing ? Can't remember how these are lit . . will pop my cluster out later and have a look.
S
jaymanek
28-04-2004, 09:35 AM
erm it doesnt just need adjusting does it?? Use the + and - to set.
or by turning the little pin that resets the trip counter... Not sure which you have
Jay
erm it doesnt just need adjusting does it?? Use the + and - to set.
Jay
No unfortunately I tried that and it worked on the others but not the clock :(
Hi R2D2..
My digital dash clock on my 97 w202 has just suddenly faded to very little brightness too..but appears to be keeping time as a clock...Did you ever get yours sorted?
Yupp its a blown bulb on the back of the instrument cluster. I managed to do mine, how adventurous are you?
HHmmm...well i have read the how to do section on instrument cluster removal but thats it... :confused: ...going to have to get some custer removal tools and give it a go..thanks for the help.
No dont do that, you can do it without the tool. MB Mechanics dont use the tool coz it sometimes splits a brittle cluster.
Basically what you do is take a phillips screwdriver to the lower dash, where your knees go. Remove the screws and remove the lower dash panel. Making sure the ignition is off and you have nice dry clean hands, stick your arm up inside the dash and push the instrument cluster out. It is only held by friction!
Once the cluster is moved forward you can pull it out, gently from the front and from memory you manipulate it out to your left until you can get access to the bulbs on the back. replace the appropriate bulb. Turn on ignition to test all bulbs working, then turn it off and replace the cluster. Test ignition again just to be sue!. Then replace lower dash. 15mins if you dont break anything or get electrocuted!
SilverSaloon
19-07-2004, 05:40 PM
u dont even need to do this (well i didnt anyway!)
i removed my cluster by simply putting a small but WIDE flatbladed screwdriver on the bottom "ledge" of the cluster and carefully levelling out with tissue paper/cloth between the screwdriver and trim. once started to come free then just pull out with your hand. no trim needed to be removed on mine at all.
might be different on your car tho - mine is a 1999 CLK
I think if you very fortunate you might get away with this on a w202, however, the danger is the same as with using the "proper" tool that if your cluster clear plastic is brittle then it might split.
pepper&boulou
18-08-2004, 07:23 PM
No dont do that, you can do it without the tool. MB Mechanics dont use the tool coz it sometimes splits a brittle cluster.
Basically what you do is take a phillips screwdriver to the lower dash, where your knees go. Remove the screws and remove the lower dash panel. Making sure the ignition is off and you have nice dry clean hands, stick your arm up inside the dash and push the instrument cluster out. It is only held by friction!
Once the cluster is moved forward you can pull it out, gently from the front and from memory you manipulate it out to your left until you can get access to the bulbs on the back. replace the appropriate bulb. Turn on ignition to test all bulbs working, then turn it off and replace the cluster. Test ignition again just to be sue!. Then replace lower dash. 15mins if you dont break anything or get electrocuted! Is this the same for the w124
pepper&boulou
18-08-2004, 10:59 PM
erm it doesnt just need adjusting does it?? Use the + and - to set.
or by turning the little pin that resets the trip counter... Not sure which you have
Jay Has the w124 got an instrument cluster dimmer? :confused:
andy_k
18-08-2004, 11:56 PM
yes the W124 has got an instrument dimmer - rotate the trip reset :)
personally I wouldn't try the "levering out" method instead do as R2D2 suggested and push the instruments out - you'll need to get in behind anyway to disconnect the speedo cable (assuming you have a mechanical speedo rather than an electronic one)
Andy
grasmere
19-08-2004, 08:24 AM
Hope you get it sorted OK R2D2, but your query has raised my own query . . .
On my '96 W202 the left and right hand ends of my instrument cluster have never been very well illuminated, ie behind the temp guage on the left and the right side of the rev counter on the right. Anyone know if its the design or do I have bulbs gone at both ends ?
pluggers
19-08-2004, 08:41 AM
sounds to me as tho you have got a couple of blown bulbs
pepper&boulou
19-08-2004, 01:26 PM
yes the W124 has got an instrument dimmer - rotate the trip reset :)
AndyTried that nothing happened. :mad:But thanks anyway for the info. ;)
grasmere
20-08-2004, 11:12 PM
would anyone have the part number for instrument cluster bulbs please
Ian
Hi
Does anyone know what type of bulbs go in the dash to illuminate the clock...trying to find out before i attempt to remove it...are they the same as the rotary heater control bulbs i wonder?....anyone know ?,,thanks
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 02:15 PM
No dont do that, you can do it without the tool. MB Mechanics dont use the tool coz it sometimes splits a brittle cluster.
Basically what you do is take a phillips screwdriver to the lower dash, where your knees go. Remove the screws and remove the lower dash panel. Making sure the ignition is off and you have nice dry clean hands, stick your arm up inside the dash and push the instrument cluster out. It is only held by friction!
Once the cluster is moved forward you can pull it out, gently from the front and from memory you manipulate it out to your left until you can get access to the bulbs on the back. replace the appropriate bulb. Turn on ignition to test all bulbs working, then turn it off and replace the cluster. Test ignition again just to be sue!. Then replace lower dash. 15mins if you dont break anything or get electrocuted!
Please help me!! Just tried to remove my instrument cluster to change a couple of blown bulbs so have removed the lower dash panel and tried to move the cluster forward with both hands either side pushing forward and it won't budge :mad:
Am I missing something? If its held on by friction alone I think someone has glued my down in the past.
I'm getting mad with frustration now . . .
Any suggestions much appreciated!
Stevie
W202 C200 Elegance
You might find that it needs some persuasion from the front, in terms of squeezing the soft-ish outer housing out of the way, in the bottom corners, and in fact all along the bottom.
You will have to push really hard from the back to get it out - it might click a few times before eventually moving forwards.
S.
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 02:28 PM
You might find that it needs some persuasion from the front, in terms of squeezing the soft-ish outer housing out of the way, in the bottom corners, and in fact all along the bottom.
You will have to push really hard from the back to get it out - it might click a few times before eventually moving forwards.
S.
Thanks Sym - Will give it another try after I've calmed down :)
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 05:37 PM
Any joy yet high- lo??
Not really R2D2 . . . I've been using some brute force too :mad:
Any more ideas?
Cheers
Stevie
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 06:12 PM
Right - Got the cluster out now - Wasn't easy though.
Can't seem to get the cluster turned enough to see what I'm doing. Just so happens that the two bulbs I need to work on are in hard-to-get-to places. Do I need a special tool to get the bulb holders out from behind the centre of the cluster?
The steering wheel gets in the way quite a bit.
Think I'll leave the dash in pieces overnight while cos I've got this far and want to complete the job.
Thanks,
Stevie
If your steering wheel is adjustable, then pull it out as far as it will go. Then ease the cluster out upwards and to the left - you'll have to experiment with the angles.
In fact, even if your steering wheel doesn't adjust, you will still get it out - just a slightly tighter manouevre - you'll have to compress the steering wheel / dash padding very slightly - but it WILL come out ! Keep trying - you've got this far !!
S.
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 06:54 PM
If your steering wheel is adjustable, then pull it out as far as it will go. Then ease the cluster out upwards and to the left - you'll have to experiment with the angles.
In fact, even if your steering wheel doesn't adjust, you will still get it out - just a slightly tighter manouevre - you'll have to compress the steering wheel / dash padding very slightly - but it WILL come out ! Keep trying - you've got this far !!
S.
OK Sym I've managed to twist it round so I can see the back of the cluster at an angle. Problem is the two bulbs I need to change are both sunk in (countersunk?) - Its the one behind the petrol gauge and also the backlighting for the digital clock. I assume the bulb holders are the same as the others (i.e. twist and pull out) but as they are sunk in I can't get my fingers to it. My attempts to use pliers/tweezers to grab it have failed. Is there a special sort of tool or key to get to these ones? :confused:
I'm so close . . .
Thanks for your help,
Stevie
Small Flat bladed screwdriver to twist 90 degrees or so anticlockwise should remove them.
Unplug the cluster (two plugs - they only go back in the same sockets, so don't worry about remembering which goes in where) and try to remove it completely if you can - it will make the job a whole lot easier.
S.
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 08:50 PM
Small Flat bladed screwdriver to twist 90 degrees or so anticlockwise should remove them.
Unplug the cluster (two plugs - they only go back in the same sockets, so don't worry about remembering which goes in where) and try to remove it completely if you can - it will make the job a whole lot easier.
S.
Thanks for your help Sym - I am 50% there now because I have managed to change the bulb for the backlit digital clock. On your advice, disconnecting one if the plugs gave me enough to turn the entire cluster around. I'm convinced that its impossible to remove the bulb from the 'Osram' branded bulb holder as I shattered both bulbs trying to get them out. I still have a problem in that I can't get the bulb behind the petrol gauge to work (even by using a working bulb elsewhere on the cluster - I chose the ABS one which is working) so I think the problem lies elsewhere maybe?
Do you know if I can buy a replace bulb holder (they look pretty standard as they're manufactured by Osram and doesn't have an MB part number)?
At least the digital clock now works again :)
Cheers,
Stevie
Stevie
The replacements that I obtained come in their own new bulb holders ... I just replaced the entire units.
I'll check the part number for you as have a spare in my toolbox, and let u know.
S.
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 08:57 PM
Stevie
The replacements that I obtained come in their own new bulb holders ... I just replaced the entire units.
I'll check the part number for you as have a spare in my toolbox, and let u know.
S.
Excellent thanks Sym - Makes me feel better now as I was gutted when the bulbs broke. One of them survived though as I fitted a Halfords 286 bulb into the holder and it still works and lighting up my digital clock.
Cheers,
Stevie
Here ya' go .... one of these, I assume :-
Back of pack, with the part number :-
High-Lo
03-10-2004, 09:44 PM
Cheers Sym. I think my ones are slightly different as they are blue holders with 12V 1.2W bulbs fitted. Also the bulb slots behind the instrument cluster are all marked 1.2W. I will pop down the stealers and enquire hoping I won't have to pay big bucks!
Thanks again for you help today - I am kinda glad that I did it myself instead of paying someone else and I learned something too :)
Stevie :rock:
Rumble
24-03-2005, 03:08 PM
I take it its possible to buy bulbs for a w202 cluster other than in white/yellow. ie blue?
GROWLER
24-03-2006, 04:03 AM
iv got a problem with my clocks on a e320 cdi (w210 ) 2000 model
the clock and gear indicator has gone to dots , the temperature has gone dim so you can hardley read it is this just a case of replacing the bulbs ?? if some one can help it would be greatful thanks in advance , my dealer in newcastle are hopeless with no help what so ever .:bannana:
PeterE320Cdi
17-04-2006, 05:31 PM
I have the same problem as GROWLER, coincidentally I also have the same car/year.
My local indi quoted me £606.73 to have a new instrument cluster fitted.
This is the last remaining item on the list of repairs which I compiled after buying the car, it seems a lot of money to see which gear I am in.
Anyone know if these can be repaired instead of replaced?
Howard
17-04-2006, 05:35 PM
Hi Peter,
Clocks for W210's turn up quite a lot on ebay.....
If you fitted a set you would (i think) need to get your Stealership to code them to your car .... 10 minute job ....
eg. - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Instrument-Cluster-Mercedes-Benz-95-2001_W0QQitemZ4630915294QQcategoryZ10398QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
the chap reckons they will fit an e class, but the coding is for a w208 CLK ...
or how about a nice AMG one ... this would definately fit !
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCEDES-AMG-INSTRUMRNT-CLUSTER-E-CLK-55_W0QQitemZ4630688705QQcategoryZ10398QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem
vBulletin® v3.6.4, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.