Some advice please...

[Lookalot]

Hi,

2002 S320 desiel - 135K on the clock

Following the replacing of the alternator, four days later the instrument cluster failed...No lights on dials, Speedo stopped working and no indicator or warning lights working.
Following a good read through the forum (thanks to all) followed the advice to seek Main Dealer to see if cluster is within the recall. Great news it is, but just had call from garage stating that they have replaced the cluster, but nothing is working. Have been advised that garage will look into problem as it may only be a wire or the “engine management system” which may need to be replaced. Gulp (will this be expensive as I am still reeling from the £700 + bill for the alternator)
Any explanation or thoughts would be gratefully received, and being cynical (age thing) are they lumping things in to pay for the cluster.

Thanks in advance for any help or comments..

 

[television]

I wonder if they worked on the car while it was all live,,that alternator was expensive

 

[Lerpy]

Just before I bought my current car my nephew had to have an alternator fitted to it that was £750 5 years ago

 

[Alex Crow]

hi lookalot, can you confirm that nothing whatsoever is working in the instrument cluster?

 

[Xtractorfan]

Do not mention the new alternator to the garage, it is a way out and could be costly... unless they fitted it

 

[brianbrian]

I agree with Jet Tech. Hope this helps

 

[Lookalot]

Thanks all, an update anfd some more questions

Thanks to all that replied, answers to questions and comments
Alternator fitted by independent. And yes cost over £700, £425 + £7 new hose for part rest to empty cooling system, replace, top up and check total add the VAT result £779.71
No. did not tell MB dealer about alternator
Yes lost everything
Right, MB Maidstone (claim) they fitted new cluster, but nothing still working, stated they need to look into problem.
2 days later got job done, charge £261.88 for wait for it (drum roll) a check and the replacement of a coolant temperature sender unit. They explained the cost was for working backwards from the cluster...Hmmm
A couple of more questions for the forum:
When the cluster is replaced, are they able to re-program to show the correct mileage the car has done, the same amount of mileage the car needs to go before next service. If so clocking of MB cars must be a doddle.
Driving back from work, re-set on entering motorway 41 miles later achieved the following 51.3 mpg for average of 63 mpg. Is this possible?
Anyone else had the cluster replaced? If so did you sign to say you had it done or do MB go on trust?

Thanks again all

 

[television]

When fitting clusters to cars with DAS the info in the old cluster is down loaded into STAR and uploaded to the new cluster,,and yes you could set the mileage to what ever you wanted,,first it winds back the clock to Zero,,and then you put on the mileage that you want

 

[eGuru]

Anyone else had the cluster replaced? If so did you sign to say you had it done or do MB go on trust?

Thanks again all

I had the cluster replaced and did sign to confirm the work had been carried out. I did however discover much later that all the info from the old cluster had not been downloaded and restored on the new unit.

 

[television]

I had the cluster replaced and did sign to confirm the work had been carried out. I did however discover much later that all the info from the old cluster had not been downloaded and restored on the new unit.

That is very bad,,and I remember that now,,the cluster would not know what the car had got without that info