Funky dashboard/radio/shifter light situation

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The Chairman - 16 Apr 2006 03:16 GMT

Hi,

I have a '92 300E. 2 nights ago, I got in to my car at night and turned
on my headlights. The lights that are supposed to come on when you turn
on your lights (dashboard, radio, climate control panel, shifter, etc.)
did not come on, and haven't come on since. All the warning lights, the
outside thermometer, gauges, the ashtray light and radio work fine.

I have checked all the fuses that say instrument panel, and they are
fine. This leads me to believe that it is something with the headlights
switch not tell the dash lights to come on maybe? As far as I know, I
don't have an dashboard dimmer in this car. But I could be wrong, and
really stupid for having turned it all the way down!

Anyway, any thoughts on this matter would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

The Chairman

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Karl - 16 Apr 2006 03:49 GMT

I would HIGHLY suspect the rheostat on the cluster going bad before the headlight switch ever goes
bad.

Have you turned the knob back and forth?

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> The Chairman

Reply to this Message

The Chairman - 16 Apr 2006 07:49 GMT

> I would HIGHLY suspect the rheostat on the cluster going bad before
> the headlight switch ever goes bad.
>
> Have you turned the knob back and forth?

Which knob are you referring to? The headlight switch I have turned on
and off multiple times. However, I don't know if I even have a dimmer for
my dash lights. I couldn't find one, but then again I ain't that bright!

Do you if and where one is on a '92 300E?

Thanks,

The Chairman

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ws - 15 Apr 2006 09:05 GMT

Erm,

This one, in the pic.
http://www.mercedesshop.com/diy/w124inst_cluster/tool_left_side.jpg

I recommend the rest of the site too.

Regards,
WS

>>I would HIGHLY suspect the rheostat on the cluster going bad before
>>the headlight switch ever goes bad.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> The Chairman

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The Chairman - 16 Apr 2006 11:31 GMT

ws <see.sig@pacific.net.sg> wrote in news:4441fb0a$0$15610$c3e8da3
@news.astraweb.com:

> Erm,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Regards,
> WS

Eureka! I've had this car for about 5 years and never knew that that knob
dimmed the dash lights as well. I thought it was only the tripometer. I
must have turned it to a bad spot on the rheostat last time I reset the
tripometer.

Thanks to both of you for your help on this!

Reply to this Message

Richard Sexton - 19 Apr 2006 18:09 GMT

>ws <see.sig@pacific.net.sg> wrote in news:4441fb0a$0$15610$c3e8da3
>@news.astraweb.com:
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>must have turned it to a bad spot on the rheostat last time I reset the
>tripometer.

They can be replaced.. or even repaired. Change the dash bulbs while you're
in there, it'll bever have seemed so bright.

http://articles.mbz.org/instrument/

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1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
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