W124 No interior lights or dashboard lights

[mjtray]

Hi,

I have a 320CE which I purchased recently and using the car for the first time in the dark, I've noticed that the car has no interior lights, ie dashboard completely black, centre console...non of the switches are lit up and only the reading lights work on the cabin light, ie the light does not come on when you open the door....only the cabin lights in the door bottoms come.

Any Clues?

 

[Myros]

Martin

sounds like a fuse, either in the fusebox or at the back of the dash board.

Liked the feature on your Hammer last month.

 

[Legoman]

try this , its the common fault , turn the left knob on the dashboard , it controls the dimm on lights , mine didnt work till i wiggled it as my car was never used in the dark till i got it. the switch gets gunged up and stops working.

 

[television]

As Legoman turn it a few times backwards and forwards, if no luck it could be the little red fuse on the rear

 

[mjtray]

Tried the rheostat and thats not made a difference and the fuses are fine

To recap, in addition to the dashboard lights not working, none of the buttons on the centre console illuminate either and the interior light up by the sunroof will only work in the spot light position.

Does this give any further clues?

Cheers ,Myros re the comments on the Hammer...I've just sold it and it was picked up by its new owner on Sunday...a very sad day!!!

 

[Myros]

not a sad day for him though

I bet he's been out in it every day since then.

I can't see the dash and the inner lighting being linked, although all the switchgear illumination is definitely from the same feed. Maybe there is a more common feed back up the stream which has been snafu'd somewhere. Sounds like one for Malcolm.

 

[television]

Tried the rheostat and thats not made a difference and the fuses are fine

To recap, in addition to the dashboard lights not working, none of the buttons on the centre console illuminate either and the interior light up by the sunroof will only work in the spot light position.

Does this give any further clues?

Cheers ,Myros re the comments on the Hammer...I've just sold it and it was picked up by its new owner on Sunday...a very sad day!!!

There is a little red fuse on the rear of the cluster, it has to come out to change it

 

[premmington]

I've been here, no internal lights dash or interior, on an over night trip accross France, in a 1990 E300D. Thought it was the multifunction switch (I have spare if you need one). Stripped it out, on the train in eurotunnel, but it was not the problem. All light feeds run thru instument multifunction pod, when you get it out, remove speedo cable underneath the car, pull clocks out with bent wire. You will have to trace fault with multi meter. Mine was on PCB near illumination bulbs, had to solder wire on two points of PCB to bridge dysfunctional track in it.

This took me a whole day, on my return from France to find fix the problem & I'm a full time auto electrician.

Good luck, if you want the multifunction switch email me...

http://www.remmington.plus.com

 

[television]

I've been here, no internal lights dash or interior, on an over night trip accross France, in a 1990 E300D. Thought it was the multifunction switch (I have spare if you need one). Stripped it out, on the train in eurotunnel, but it was not the problem. All light feeds run thru instument multifunction pod, when you get it out, remove speedo cable underneath the car, pull clocks out with bent wire. You will have to trace fault with multi meter. Mine was on PCB near illumination bulbs, had to solder wire on two points of PCB to bridge dysfunctional track in it.

This took me a whole day, on my return from France to find fix the problem & I'm a full time auto electrician.

Good luck, if you want the multifunction switch email me...

http://www.remmington.plus.com

I know the feeling, I have repaired a few

 

[premmington]

To be honest...

Most people moan about the fusebox, wiring & relays on W124's, but in my experience the dash is the weak point. I've had lots of them apart for repair.

Window regulators, bit of regular replacement item.

Vacuum system for diesel stop and central locking reliable except for leaks.

http://www.remmington.plus.com