Can anyone help me?! - bits and pieces on w107

[cowsurgeon]

Dear all,
I've got a 1980 350SL and it's just got a few niggling probs -
1.I haven't got an owners manual and was wondering if anyone new where I could get one? Do merc still sell the old ones?Malcolm-I think I mentioned this before and was wondering ifyou'd be able to email those pages about bulbs and fuses etc.
2. There's only cold air coming out of the middle dash vents (which is what my old volvo did so maybe they're just designed that way). Any ideas?
3. The side dashboard vents have two settings - boiling hot or very hot, is this normal?
4. The rear windscreen heater on the hardtop doesn't seem to work even though the fuse is ok, the light on the switch itself comes on, and the wire to the hardtop is definitely plugged in and the right way round, as it's getting colder up here in the n.east I reckon I should try and get this sorted!
5. Are there supposed to be lights illuminating the heater controls on the central console? My haynes manual seems to think there are, but it's an american model manual. Also there's no mention of it on the fuse box cover.
6. Finally, the handbrake dash light doesn't come on with the handbrake or on start-up, but did come on the other day for about 10 secs very mysteriously, will this just be a short?

Thanks to all who take the time to read this list!
Your help will be much appreciated!
Cheers

 

[Malcolm Brown]

Can anyone help me?!

Taking questions in turn:
1. I'd go for the CD-based manual, now available on e-bay for about $10. Granted, it's US versions and the 350SL is not included but for electrics, steering, trim there are 1980 models covered. Also, see my e-mail.
2. Centre vents should be cold air; outer vents are heated.
3. The nut on the end of the control rod that controls the flaps can come loose. If you remove the footwell covers and loof/feel around, you may find it. (Not done it myself, but seen posts on this elsewhere.)
4. Check current is getting to the socket on the rear side panel, and check condition of connection to the rear window element. (Again, not done this, but assume you'll need to remove trim from hardtop to find it). If all this fails, it is likely to be a break in the element, in which case you've got a problem. Is there any clouding within the window at the bottom edge? That may indicate it is de-laminating, which could break the element.
5. I can't remember which bits are illuminated - there is certainly some illumination. It's too bright outside to tell at the minute - I'll get back to you when it goes dark.
6. Could be a faulty switch. You won't find the answer in the US manual because they have a foot-operated parking brake. I expect the switch is attached to the handbrake lever mechanism -  the tunnel/handbrake cover is easy to remove so it would only take a few minutes to check out.

Hope this helps.

 

[Malcolm Brown]

Can anyone help me?!

And the answer to 5 is yes. All of the following are illuminated - both pairs of slider controls; the fan control knob including the arrow above it; the small panel showing slider positions for defrosting. I think there is a faint light on the headlamp height adjuster, but not lighting the whole of the knurled wheel.

Not sure if my heater controls are the same as yours. There were various changes in 85.

(Edited by Malcolm Brown at 12:19 am on Oct. 4, 2002)