I'm considering the purchase of a 1995 C280 with 174,000 miles. The owner says the gauges stopped working intermittently last winter and the winter before yet the speedometer and odometer were unaffected. The gauges work now but the speedometer, odometer and tripometer do not.

I've researched the forums but cannot find much information on this problem other than a possible cluster coming to end of life. Can anyone confirm this and any ballpark estimate on cost to replace? There is a MB mechanic I'm hoping to have look at it but he's got to answer his phone first. Thanks.

 

i had a C280 in the past that kept blowing fuses for the cluster and there is a fuse that can be replaced but it will blow again after sometime. after extensive testing and ripping the car apart i found in the trunk on the right side the wiring harness for the tail lights was chaffed and rubbing on the body thus causing the fuse to blow. you might want to check this and check on both sides. use a wire tie to secure the wires from touching metal.you need to pull out the trunk panels to access those wires.

 

Thanks for the reply chassis221, I'll look into that.

 

you could just need a cluster too. if your not blowing fuses then the chaffed wire is probably not the problem

 

I have the same problem, Have you fixed it yet and how? My MB mechanic cannot find the source of the problem