Lcd Digital Clock And Outside Temperature Gauge Faulty

[CSUTHERL]

Hello
I have a 320 CLK Cabriolet, all was fine until my wife was involved in an accident. Two cars shunted our car from the rear. The police drove the car back and the radio came on with the ignition turned off. The third party admitted liability, I took it to the appointed repairers and the cosmetic work is fine. However they are saying the digital display could not have been affected by the accident and it is just a coincidence. Are there any experts reading this who can say if the accident could have affected the LCD display? I understand it is quite a big job to repair it. I really want to fight my case with the insurance company but they are saying I need to take it to Mercedes at my own expense and if they say it has been damaged due to the accident they will repair it. Can anyone help!

Thank you
Craig Sutherland

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I don't think you have any other recourse but to ask Mercedes to inspect the unit. The accident may have contributed to the problem but it will be very difficult to prove without the dealers agreeing this was the case.

If you stand your corner the insurer may relent or offer a contribution to the cost of a replacement unit (if it is the unit). It's certainly worth the effort as the dash unit is very expensive to replace.

As an aside, these units are notorious for LCD related problems and there is a specialist who repairs them at a fraction of the cost of new.

If it is the Dash at fault, try this link.

http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=audi_tt_dashboard_failing

 

[television]

Just to add something useful, the reason the displays go down is when the unit gets a shock, the display figures lose contact, its the same as when you drop a calculator and its starts missing segnents.
Speedo fixer charges £150 to do it.
malcolm

 

[CSUTHERL]

Thank you both for your advice. I think what you say about the unit is damaged by shock is surely a good indication that the accident could be the cause.

 

[television]

Thank you both for your advice. I think what you say about the unit is damaged by shock is surely a good indication that the accident could be the cause.

Yes, nothing breaks as such, shock ,viabration is the cause.

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

These are notorious (mine did it without a shunt) and you'd no doubt have had the problem shortly anyway. However, as you state the fault occurred immediatley after the accident you may be able to get the dealer to state that it "could" have been caused by the accident and wasn't present prior (at the last service). Then they may pay out anyway, just to avoid the hassle.
The dealer shouldn't charge you for this or perhaps a small admin fee, but they won't need to take it apart to inspect, they are fully aware of this fault it is soooo common. As it's doubtful the ins co know this, you could be on to a winner!
As Malcolm says, if the ins co pay - get a new cluster, otherwise BBA or Speedofixer are your best bet.

 

[hawk20]

THe forum at its best. Great replies.