Hey everyone this is a first post, I got my hands on a really clean, loaded, 99 c230 over the weekend. However, when night fall came I noticed that the back lighting on the gauge cluster is not coming on in some places. Specifically, the speedometer and tachometer are on but below 40 on the speedo, the fuel gauge, and engine temp gauges are blacked out. Do you thnk it could be a lose wire? Is there a fuse for this I should know about? The only weird thing was last night parts that are usually dark came on temporarily, like the whole of the speedo and the gas gauge, telling me that there could be something not plugged in. Anyways any advice regarding gauge lighting would be appreciated.


- Otto

 

I'm wondering if the car had been sitting a while and some contacts got corrosion on them?

I can only provide anecdotal information. When I purchased my '99 C280 S, I had three months where I was dreading crack open the cluster and changeing the clock bulb and the RPM red zone bulb. However, when I learned I could lightly tape the dash above the cluster and the lights would come on, I got lazy and never ventured into the cluster. I'm guessing the electric current or my tapping shifted the contacts just enough, because they've been on now for 4 months w/ no tapping.

BTW, I've since learned that opening the cluster is not that difficult- at least for my car with a telescoping steering wheel.

 

remove your cluster using mb combie hooks and replaced all the bulbs in the back of your cluster. dont go cheap do them all no joke cause if you only do one shortly after that another one will go bad. there is like 5 bulbs in the back with a i think yellow base unscrew them with needle node plyers and replace them

 

Thanks guys for responding, when I get in the mood to do this project I will take this info to heart.

-Otto

 

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