W124 speedometer stopped working

[MercStraight6]

I was driving at about 65 on a dual carriageway earlier, and then the speedo dropped down to 0 and stayed there, all the other instruments were working fine. After a while, it came back to life, then died again, then came back.

Could my speedo cable be loose, or is there a problem with the speedo itself?

 

[roadhog]

Could be the cable loose or snapped off, could be the speedo itself. Pull the binnacle out and have a look, it's easy enough.

 

[MercStraight6]

Could be the cable loose or snapped off, could be the speedo itself. Pull the binnacle out and have a look, it's easy enough.

I have actually tried to remove the cluster before for another, unrelated reason; I made some makeshift removal tools and tried to pull it out, it would come forward a little but then I encountered resistance so I stopped pulling.

The Haynes manual says that the cable must be disconnected from the transmission under the car before the cluster can be pulled out.

 

[The Crooner]

I had mine out wothout doing that.

I did loosen it behind the carpet underneath the dashboard though.

Tony

 

[MercStraight6]

I had mine out wothout doing that.

I did loosen it behind the carpet underneath the dashboard though.

Tony

I'll have a look at that.

I just drove down to the supermarket and it worked fine all the way. Weird.

 

[robparker]

Hi, You can just pull it straight out with the right tools, or makeshift tools, it will be tight, but do it towards the lower outside edges and it will be fine, no need to disconnect anything from the gearbox just to do this.

 

[The Crooner]

I have the MB pullers.

If you want to borrow them send me your address by PM along with a solemn undertaking to return them

 

[MercStraight6]

I have the MB pullers.

If you want to borrow them send me your address by PM along with a solemn undertaking to return them

Thanks, I may take you up on that offer.

I'll see how it goes over the next few days.

 

[124coupe]

Make a pair from a wire coathanger - works just as well.

As a tip, if you do replace the cable, tape the old and new together and pull through - (or spend a long time trying to re-discover the right cable route....).

Also, don't be tempted to lubricate the exposed end of the cable at the top - it can't work down the cable so it goes up into the speedo and wreaks havoc instead!

Usually, dying cables make the speedo needle "twitch" at low speed.

 

[roadhog]

How long do they take to die? Mine's been doing that for the last 30k miles, I thought it was a feature of the model.

 

[meanie]

It would be unusual for a cable to mend itself though.It is effectively a solid link between the speedo head & the gearbox.

 

[MercStraight6]

How long do they take to die? Mine's been doing that for the last 30k miles, I thought it was a feature of the model.

Mine too, and my last 124. I think they all do that?

 

[television]

Dont forget that early cars have a drive cable, and later ones the the speedo is electronic

 

[MercStraight6]

Dont forget that early cars have a drive cable, and later ones the the speedo is electronic

I think all W124s have cable-driven speedos, though I may be wrong.

 

[television]

I could be wrong there

 

[television]

I was not wrong, the 124036 and the 124034 have an electronic speedo

 

[MercStraight6]

I was not wrong, the 124036 and the 124034 have an electronic speedo

The 400E & 500E.

Mine is a 124088.

 

[television]

The 400E & 500E.

Mine is a 124088.

Then the gear box end should be undone first

You may buy a 400 or 500E one day

 

[124coupe]

Mine too, and my last 124. I think they all do that?

They do once the cable has worn into the outer - a new cable makes the needle smooth again (at least mine did).

 

[EireJames]

I had the cluster out and was able to disconnect the speedo to pull the cluster out fully, not easy but no impossible. Much harder to get it back on again I found. That was less than pleasant. My speedo needle wobbles at low speeds too :lol: