Fuel gauge needle alignment

[1stmerc]

Hi all,

My first posting here hope someone can help, otherwise my wallet will be alot lighter!!!

Our A140(W reg) had to be jump started by the RAC the other day, car wouldn't turn over and display showed 'start error'. Now the Fuel gauge needle is misaligned with the dash markings, e.g when engine is off needle is almost aligned with the 1/2 marking, but when engine is on needle is now way past the full ( '1' mark).

Some further info when the engine would not start the needle was going crazy, swinging from side to side, is this normal, has anyone else seen this?

Additionally I checked the battery when I got home and the levels in it were very low....so what do we pay MB for during a service, the battery had quite obviously never been opened and had the level checked!!!!!!

Does anyone know if there is an easy fix to the misalignment?

I will remove the cluster and have a look, if I am successful at repairing it I will let you know, any other info would be very helpful.

Dave

 

[jberks]

I can't think why it would behave this way unless it did itself some damage bouncing around when the current was low. It does sound like the needle is out of alignment with the actuator so I would have thought a strip down is the only way forward.
I would speak to your local MB dealer and see if they have seen this before, just leave before they attempt to fix it for you! (they'd only replace the binnacle anyway).
It won't be a lot of use in the details, but I stripped the binnacle on my W210 and the photos are posted on another thread. It may give you a pointer on what to expect.

 

[turnipsock]

The needle is just pushed onto a shaft, it sounds like this has slipped with all the bouncing.

 

[marshie001]

The needle is just pushed onto a shaft, it sounds like this has slipped with all the bouncing.

i would agree, just like a clock hand, you just need to gain access and push it back to empty with the ignition off!
probably not as easy as it sounds though!
it must have been vigorously jumping to have slipped like that!

 

[1stmerc]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, there was an easy answer...

Patience....

Have just been out in the AClass and when I switched the engine off I noticed that the needle had returned almost to the zero point but then didn't quite fully disappear from view.

I turned the Ignition on and off about three times and gradually the needle has found its normal position....it returns to zero mark and then moves down out of view!!!!

Don't understand why as when I tried this the other day it made no difference.

Lets hope it isn't a temporary reprieve...at least my wallet hasn't taken a hammering, yet.

Thanks again,

Dave

 

[jinafox]

Probably the jumping was caused by the amount of amperes transferred to your vehicle during the jump start, these road side recovery starters are fully loaded for quick charging, if it starts to play up again, I think you will need to replace it.

 

[tom7035]

There's a post on the correct method to jump start avoiding electrical surges and possible damage. Even the recovery guys often don't do it correctly.