Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
At the MBCA tech gathering yesterday, it was suggested that there probably is a bad trace or ground on the cluster circuit board. There was a broken ground that we resoldered last time the cluster was out, the fuse hasn't blown since then, but it has been flaky. I'm gonna pull the cluster back out and carefully look at it. Luther On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:58:39 -0600, Jim Cathey [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The fuse is currently not blown but does have some evidence of being hot on one end. See the pictures (+1MB each) of each end of the fuse. Those are shot. You seriously need to burnish the contacts INSIDE the fuse box, they're inducing heating. If it was heat due to normal current the fuse itself would blow, this is heat in the contacts. Disconnect battery. Use Dremel with wire brush. -- Jim -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) '82 300CD (166 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
You are correct. It has blown 3 fuses, and I thought the most recent outage was also a fuse. Then it came back on without me changing the fuse. That is where my confusion lies. -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) BioBeast '82 300CD (176 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine Quoting Jim Cathey [EMAIL PROTECTED]: So, the dash lights, RF corner markerlight, and right tail light all decided to work about 2 minutes into my drive to work tonight. G. How does a flaky rheostat cause the right marker/tail lights to not work? Doesn't. I thought you said a fuse blew and all those things didn't work after that. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
The fuse is currently not blown but does have some evidence of being hot on one end. See the pictures (+1MB each) of each end of the fuse. Luther On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:35:34 -0600, Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You are correct. It has blown 3 fuses, and I thought the most recent outage was also a fuse. Then it came back on without me changing the fuse. That is where my confusion lies. -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) '82 300CD (166 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
I forgot the link. http://www.gulseth.net/fuse_ends/ Luther On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:06:02 -0600, Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The fuse is currently not blown but does have some evidence of being hot on one end. See the pictures (+1MB each) of each end of the fuse. Luther On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:35:34 -0600, Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You are correct. It has blown 3 fuses, and I thought the most recent outage was also a fuse. Then it came back on without me changing the fuse. That is where my confusion lies. -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) '82 300CD (166 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
The fuse is currently not blown but does have some evidence of being hot on one end. See the pictures (+1MB each) of each end of the fuse. Those are shot. You seriously need to burnish the contacts INSIDE the fuse box, they're inducing heating. If it was heat due to normal current the fuse itself would blow, this is heat in the contacts. Disconnect battery. Use Dremel with wire brush. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
So, the dash lights, RF corner markerlight, and right tail light all decided to work about 2 minutes into my drive to work tonight. G. How does a flaky rheostat cause the right marker/tail lights to not work? -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) BioBeast '82 300CD (176 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine Quoting Jim Cathey [EMAIL PROTECTED]: So, tonight I fire up my car, and no dash lights etc. BLEH!!! Part the way through my drive they started working. Change from last night? It was more than 70 degrees last night, now it's barely 40 Could this be temp related?? ARGH!! Sounds like your basic flakey dashboard dimmer rheostat. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:28:54 -0600 Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So, the dash lights, RF corner markerlight, and right tail light all decided to work about 2 minutes into my drive to work tonight. G. How does a flaky rheostat cause the right marker/tail lights to not work? Maybe a flakey headlight switch, or loose connections on it? Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
Since you cleaned the fuse holders, perhaps the connection from the wiring harness to the fuse holder is corroded / loose? On Jan 11, 2008 11:00 PM, Craig McCluskey [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:28:54 -0600 Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So, the dash lights, RF corner markerlight, and right tail light all decided to work about 2 minutes into my drive to work tonight. G. How does a flaky rheostat cause the right marker/tail lights to not work? Maybe a flakey headlight switch, or loose connections on it? -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics. -Benjamin Disraeli and/or Mark Twain '90 300D, '87 300SDL, '81 240D, '78 450SLC, '97 Ply Grand Voyager ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
I've wiggled the headlight switch while driving for miles. No change. -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) BioBeast '82 300CD (176 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine Quoting Craig McCluskey [EMAIL PROTECTED]: On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:28:54 -0600 Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So, the dash lights, RF corner markerlight, and right tail light all decided to work about 2 minutes into my drive to work tonight. G. How does a flaky rheostat cause the right marker/tail lights to not work? Maybe a flakey headlight switch, or loose connections on it? Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:21:15 -0600 Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've wiggled the headlight switch while driving for miles. No change. Did you wiggle the wiring harness that connects to the headlight switch? Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
I'll do that next time the car is stationaryI'm not into leaning low enough to grasp the headlight switch wiring harness while I'm driving. :) -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) BioBeast '82 300CD (176 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine Quoting Craig McCluskey [EMAIL PROTECTED]: On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:21:15 -0600 Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've wiggled the headlight switch while driving for miles. No change. Did you wiggle the wiring harness that connects to the headlight switch? Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
So, the dash lights, RF corner markerlight, and right tail light all decided to work about 2 minutes into my drive to work tonight. G. How does a flaky rheostat cause the right marker/tail lights to not work? Doesn't. I thought you said a fuse blew and all those things didn't work after that. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
Your reostat is flaky --- Kaleb C. Striplin Cox Auto Trader 730-Tulsa FSBO Supervisor - Original Message - From: Luther - laptop [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 8:23 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion So, tonight I fire up my car, and no dash lights etc. BLEH!!! Part the way through my drive they started working. Change from last night? It was more than 70 degrees last night, now it's barely 40 Could this be temp related?? ARGH!! Luther, with quotes from Charlie Brown and Garfield. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
Had that trouble with all my Mercedes. Best solution I'v found is to put a jumper across the rheostat. As dim as MB dash lights are in a 123, why would anyone want to turn them down? Gerry . From: Luther - laptop [EMAIL PROTECTED] So, tonight I fire up my car, and no dash lights etc. BLEH!!! Part the way through my drive they started working. Change from last night? It was more than 70 degrees last night, now it's barely 40 Could this be temp related?? ARGH!! Luther, with quotes from Charlie Brown and Garfield. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1214 - Release Date: 1/8/2008 1:38 PM ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
archer [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Had that trouble with all my Mercedes. Best solution I'v found is to put a jumper across the rheostat. As dim as MB dash lights are in a 123, why would anyone want to turn them down? I like my dash lights as dim as possible while still allowing me to see the gauges. I find bright dash gauges at night to be annoying and hard on the eyes. Allan -- 1983 300D 1966 230 ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
I agree with Jim Cathey, as I recently performed the aluminum foil treatment of the light piping channels for the instrument cluster suggested by Craig McCluckey and my dash lights are indeed bright enough to dim approximately 1/3 of the way and are still brighter than they were prior to the aluminum foil treatment. On another subject, my turn signals and 4way flahers were behaving really weird and Jim C. suggested off-list that this could be caused by dirty contacts in the 4way flasher switch. Well, success, success, I removed the 4way flasher switch, opened it up and the contacts were rather ugly looking, so I cleaned 'em with a Scotch-Brite, applied a small amount of conductive grease to all the contacts as well as the connecting pins, and reassembled the switch and all is working correctly again. Thanx Jim. G. M. Brown Brevard, NC ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
On Wed, 9 Jan 2008 18:17:48 -0500 Glenn Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: ... Jim C. suggested off-list that this could be caused by dirty contacts in the 4way flasher switch. Well, success, success, I removed the 4way flasher switch, opened it up and the contacts were rather ugly looking, so I cleaned 'em with a Scotch-Brite, applied a small amount of conductive grease to all the contacts as well as the connecting pins, and reassembled the switch and all is working correctly again. I've heard that disassembling the switch inside a plastic bag is a good idea to contain all the (flying) parts. Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
It was once reported that my right markerlight flashed randomly. A complete cleaning with dremel/deoxit was then completed. Ugh, I LOVE looking for needles in a hay stack. No wonder dispatchers hate me when I tell them that a wiring diagnosis could be a 30 minute fix or a 30 hour fix. Luther On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:44:58 -0600, Jim Cathey [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Had that apart several weeks back and cleaned it with dexoit. It was still in one piece and now dims across the full spectrum. Other ideas? Those can be a real stinker to trace. It's certainly worth pulling the right-side light fixtures out and examining their connectors and internal connections for oddities. -- Jim -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) '82 300CD (170 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
So, tonight I fire up my car, and no dash lights etc. BLEH!!! Part the way through my drive they started working. Change from last night? It was more than 70 degrees last night, now it's barely 40 Could this be temp related?? ARGH!! Luther, with quotes from Charlie Brown and Garfield. On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:22:55 -0600, Luther - laptop [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It was once reported that my right markerlight flashed randomly. A complete cleaning with dremel/deoxit was then completed. Ugh, I LOVE looking for needles in a hay stack. No wonder dispatchers hate me when I tell them that a wiring diagnosis could be a 30 minute fix or a 30 hour fix. Luther On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:44:58 -0600, Jim Cathey [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Had that apart several weeks back and cleaned it with dexoit. It was still in one piece and now dims across the full spectrum. Other ideas? Those can be a real stinker to trace. It's certainly worth pulling the right-side light fixtures out and examining their connectors and internal connections for oddities. -- Jim -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) '82 300CD (170 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
So, tonight I fire up my car, and no dash lights etc. BLEH!!! Part the way through my drive they started working. Change from last night? It was more than 70 degrees last night, now it's barely 40 Could this be temp related?? ARGH!! Sounds like your basic flakey dashboard dimmer rheostat. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
Subject car: '82 300CD The fuse for the right front markerlight, right tail light, dash lights, and headlight warning buzzer (key buzzer works fine) has blown 4 times in the last 6 months. The most recent time was about 3 weeks ago (or so I thought...). Last night I opened my door and the buzzer sounded at me. WHAA? Tonight all lights are working as intended. I'm totally confused at this. It's also dawned on me that my radio reception might be diminished when the dash/marker/tail system is not working. It blows a brand new copper alloy fuse just as easily as the crappy aluminum fuses I am using until the problem is resolved. Any ideas?? TIA all. -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) '82 300CD (170 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
The fuse for the right front markerlight, right tail light, dash lights, and headlight warning buzzer (key buzzer works fine) has blown 4 times in the last 6 months. I've seen a dimmer rheostat that came apart and managed to short out against something. It obviously felt like a mess, though. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
Had that apart several weeks back and cleaned it with dexoit. It was still in one piece and now dims across the full spectrum. Other ideas? Luther On Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:51:43 -0600, Jim Cathey [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The fuse for the right front markerlight, right tail light, dash lights, and headlight warning buzzer (key buzzer works fine) has blown 4 times in the last 6 months. I've seen a dimmer rheostat that came apart and managed to short out against something. It obviously felt like a mess, though. -- Jim -- Luther KB5QHUAlma, Ark '87 300SDL (272,xxx mi) head case '85 Ford F250 6.9 diesel (x58,xxx mi) '82 300CD (170 kmi) '82 300D (74 kmi) getting donor engine-sold '85 300D (280,176) parts car sans engine ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 coupe electrical confusion
Had that apart several weeks back and cleaned it with dexoit. It was still in one piece and now dims across the full spectrum. Other ideas? Those can be a real stinker to trace. It's certainly worth pulling the right-side light fixtures out and examining their connectors and internal connections for oddities. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
