Anyone know wich fuse operates instrument lights in 95 w124

mercmancdi

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I have a 95 w124 e300 d estate and I can not locate the fuse that operates the lights that illuminates the switchs in centre console ..ie heater fan switch rear wiper and wash etc. ps the switchs works ,,,its the fuse for the back lights behind them are ou I think I blew a fuse removing a bulb. Also anyone know apart from m b who online sells these small bulbs. ...........thanks........
 
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television

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there is a little red fuse on the rear of the cluster
 
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there is a little red fuse on the rear of the cluster

Thanks ..my dash lights on cluster are lit ok if this fuse you speak of was blown would the cluster still be lit . Also do you know if it is the same type of fuse as in main fuse box. Thank you
 

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According to my 124 handbook:-
Fuse 3, 8A, White, RH parking & tail, number plate, instrument cluster, controls.
For what its worth Haynes agrees.

If the fuse was blown then all the other associated circuits would be out as well.

I am not sure about the fuse on the cluster being associated with illumination, none of the diagrams (admittedly not for 1995 Uk) I have show it in the illumination circuits, it might be a red herring.

You can get the lamps from CPC (huge catalogue on the web), about 20 pence each I think, catalogue no SC00352 (pack of 10) 12v, 30mA, T1 1/2 wedge base, it seems to me that once one fails all the others follow in quick pursuit. I have satisfactorily replaced all those in my car with the 30mA type, some of them several years ago. You will need at least nine, do have fun changing the air vent regulator ones, the tenth will do for when the rear fog tell tale goes awol.

A piece of 4-5mm bore plastic or rubber tube helps to extract and insert the lamps, just push it onto the lamps and pull them out.

Take care not to fit a higher rated lamp (the 100mA/1.2Watt) since they will melt the holders.

At my last visit to CPC they were stocking carded pairs of genuine Osram 12v21w and 12v10w SBC at somewhere around 80 pence, best price I've found locally for decent lamps.
 
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television

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I think that you will find that the little red fuse drives the other lamps and not the cluster
 
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I think that you will find that the little red fuse drives the other lamps and not the cluster

Thanks I hope so as the cluster works and the switched are out.will check it out I had the cluster out but only comes so far I reckon I have to dissconnect speedo or something.
 
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Anyone know what type of fuse it is in cluster so I can get one before I take the cluster out.
 

television

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It is tiny smaller than a 20mm I think I rewire some of these odd fuses
 

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There is no reference to any fuse on the instrument cluster diagram in the link, it does very closely resemble the older 124 and 201 clusters.

Edit

I've just been a shade more thorough and found it (the fuse) on an MB USA after May'87 drawing.

It bears the tittle "red fuse" and no other description.
It supplies dimmed illumination from the instrument cluster to all of the multitude of small lamps on the body/dash/centre console, via a terminal block marked X6, no location is given for this but I suspect it will be under the centre console or behind the dash, it is highly populated with a grey/blue wire for each lamp.

So I think the "red fuse" will have failed if you shorted it with the lights on and I suggest you go to MB for a replacement, it is if I remember correctly (its so long ago) an oddball special or at least a little used type that nobody stocks.
Malcolm's suggestion of repairing it with a link wire seems to be the easiest approach if you are suitably equipped to do so safely.

Does anybody know which corner of the cluster it sits on? a clue might make it easier for mmcdi to access it.

Not a red herring after all.
 
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It cannot be much more than 2 to 3 amp, I just cannot be sure,, one could add up all the lamps and work it out,,,,I may have the info on WIS but too late tonight
 

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Red Binnacle Fuse

Looks as though it's A2015460025. Pic of one of mine attached. It's to the right (on the pic) of the speedo housing.
 

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wireman

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The total current drawn will only be that of all the dash lamps plus the window switch lamps etc there's around 15 or so of them in total so that's a ball park of 450mA, a 1 or 2A fuse would be on the cards but anything less than 5A would be OK, bridging the old fuse element with 5A fuse wire will suffice, don't use anything bigger than 0.2mm wire, one strand of mains wire.

Note that the excellent photo from maj shows the steering wheel removed to gain access, oh dear.
 
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Got red fuse holder out from rear of cluster as other members had advised ,did a fix on it with a 5amp for now would have used 3 but had no 3amp fuse wire to hand , this brought back on all the main switches back lights except for heater dial near drivers side ,assume I need a couple of bulbs. 2 out of centre of heater dials are tiny with the writing ALBA on them can't make the rest out
Looks like 12 v 4 w . Small grey plastic rectangle end on them.
Any one know exact type on e bay etc would love to know
Been suggested t1 but in picture they look different than mine but not 100per cent sure.
 

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I am pleased that I was right in that this fuse only protected the other lamps, and not those in the cluster as it was 6 years ago that I last answered this fault

Other than MB It could be worth asking your local garage
 
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mercmancdi

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I am pleased that I was right in that this fuse only protected the other lamps, and not those in the cluster as it was 6 years ago that I last answered this fault

Other than MB It could be worth asking your local garage

Yes the red fuse had nothing to do with the lights on the cluster ,,seems a bit strange but true ,funny place to fit it though.
Many thanks
Stevie
 
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television

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Yes the red fuse had nothing to do with the lights on the cluster ,,seems a bit strange but true ,funny place to fit it though.
Many thanks
Stevie

The idea is to protect the cluster in the event of a short circuit bulb elswhere
 
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mercmancdi

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Ok thanks. ,,, would you suspect the 5 amp I fitted would be ok for now and perhaps fit a 3 amp when I get one.
 

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