They have always worked normally until today.
1996 E300
LED information is normal but no Speedometer, Tachometer, Fuel or Temp
I see that this has come up on the board but with no conclusions.
Any ideas?

The fuel gauge needle jumps 3mm in rhythm and a click can be heard when the key is turned before start and while the car is running. all other gauges are at the bottom and not moving.
Other wise the car runs and drives great.
?

I removed the Instrument cluster and everything looked normal. Reinstalled and the gauges still didn't work but the LED's for the clock and temp are brighter than the milage screen. Is this normal ?
I have seen that before but this car has always had all of the LED's the same brightness.
checked the junk yard; $70
dealer retail price; $916
used and rebuilt online; $75-$750
Drove car yesterday and the gauges started to work after a mile. Why?
I have seen postings with the same issue. Parked outside in the cold and rain and the dash fails.
After a few days they work again.
Anyone?

Poor instrument cluster ground ? Mercedes ground wires are normally brown in color.

OVP relay?? Bad ones cause tach. to fail in W124 diesels.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

96 has bio degradable wire harnesses.

__________________
92 e300d2.5t
01 e320
05 cdi
85 chev c10

I would be looking at the wiring harness, but first check to see that you've got good voltage. A failing battery caused a few odd symptoms in my 210 but the car still started. As for the wiring harness, check to be sure the connectors are clean in various places, headlights, and so on. They get corroded and cause all manner of gremlins.

__________________
DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV

I ask a Mercedes dealer mechanic and he said that the biodegradable harness was spotty through 1998 but it is possible that some have regular durable ones.
That I need to mess with it and see if it flakes out.

All of the grounds look good, really everything looks good as the car has spent most of its life garaged but I will take a close look at all of the wires from front to back when I get back from the trip that I am on now.