Hello everyone, I drive a 1990 300E and the odometer and tripometer on my car has recently stopped working. Everything else in the dash is working normally, but the mileage is stuck. It looks like it stopped in the middle of a change because some of the numbers are in transition.

Does anyone know if I can fix this myself? Do they even sell new odometers? If so, how can I buy one so it reads accurately because I don't want it to start at 0.

Thanks for your help.

 

was it mechanical type?

 

Yes, mechanical.

 

on that case, you need to check first:

that the cable is properly inserted in the back of the cluster.

see if the inner cable turns if you run the car.

if it does, connect it properly.

if it don't, go down there on the transmission and see if it is connected well.

the lastic drive gear can wear out and might need replacement. but before you do that, make sure that the cable is fine and in one piece.

[IMG]local://upfiles/1/1CA8AEB81A264CA0A1D5A1841EBB715D.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/1/ED9759DE37E148D9907C2ED8229EE0CA.jpg[/IMG]

 

After you have all that Sleepwalker has suggested, if your odo still does not work,
refer to my reply to popsicle below for the same problem.
SHAN.

 

THanks for the suggestions and diagrams. I will try taking it apart this weekend.

 

Ok, finally got the gauge cluster out and the speedometer/odometer part out. How do I take the faceplate off??? I unscrewed the two little screws, but the speed needle is in the way. I tried pulling on the needle slightly, but was afraid I was going to break it.

Also, I noticed that the little gears that turn the ones digit on the mileage moves freely on the axle. Does anyone know which gear is suppose to turn to start the whole sequence of events? It looks like I can the ones digit on the odoometer, but then the tripometer doesn't turn. If I turn the trip gear, thta usually turns the odometer also, but not always because that ones digit gear sometimes get stuck.

Hmm, that sounded confusing... What I'm asking is which gear is the first one that turns when hooked up to the car?

Thanks!

 

It is the wheel without the digits (numbers) on it.
It should not turn freely when you move it with your hands (fingers).
It should only turn if the gear attached to the speedo cable housing rotates.
If it is turning freely, jam it with some hard setting glue like araldite.
SHAN

 

Hmm, I'll have to look again...

Do you know how to remove the needle so that I can take the faceplate off???

 

Does anyone know if the needle and face plate even needs to be removed. I've been searching around and it looks like if I remove the needle, I would need to recalibrate it. Something I would like to avoid if at all possible. Thanks!