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#1
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1997 S500 - Oil Pressure Gauge Drops to zero.
I bought this '97 S500 a week ago. When I first drove it I looked at all the gauges while it was idling and everything was good, including the oil pressure at about 2. I test drove it for about an hour and it ran, idled and shifted perfectly. It wasn't until I was half an hour into my trip home that looked down and saw that the oil pressure gauge was at zero. I pulled over immediately but when the car settled down to an idle speed the gauge jumped back up to just under 2. Thinking it was probably a defective sending unit, I started to accellerate and as I did the gauge started increasing until it hit the top and it dropped back to zero. At that point I was sure it was the sending unit so I replaced it with a Mercedes OEM unit. It did not fix the problem.
I have an all data account for this car and found this tech bulletin: ![]() Apparently I need to replace the circuit board. Is this something I can pull out of a salvaged cluster. Does anyone know how to open the cluster up to get at the board? Baring that, can I install a salvaged cluster without the car's computer system having a bad reaction, like posting a warning on the cluster or refusing to work correctly? My mechanic tested the oil pressure with a separate gauge and it's fine. I've also taken the car on a 600 mile trip and it ran perfectly, but it sure is scary to look down at the oil pressure gauge and seeing it at zero, plus if something did go wrong I wouldn't know about it until it was too late. Thanks!
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2000 Mercedes S500 1990 Mercedes 560SEL 1970 Triumph Spitfire |
#2
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Agree that is seems like the same fault, but have you checked that electric wire all the way up to the cluster? And, since it says that "Ensure replacement circuit board has a production code of 04/92 or higher", doesn't that mean that this tech bulletin is for cars earlier than 04/92?
br, syljua
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1998 CL500 W140 1984 230E W123 |
#3
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Unlike a typical oil pressure reading problem, this one really DOES sound like the gauge is the problem. MUCH better than what usually causes a low oil pressure indication. Sounds like maybe there is a flaky connection.
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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual 2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution |
#4
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agreed, I would check the connections and wire to the sender itself
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- ![]() '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#5
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Zero Reading
Are the other gauges like the tach and clock working OK?
When I had grounding issues with my cluster, the oil pressure gauge would read zero, the tach was a bit haywire and the clock was intermittent. Other gauges were OK.
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![]() 1989 300E 2005 Acura TL 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited Swing hard! Take chances! |
#6
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Quote:
All the other gauges are fine. It's just the oil pressure gauge that's wacky. Can I leave the battery connected when I pull the cluster? I'd like to wiggle the connections to see if it has any effect. I'm also still wondering if I can swap the cluster with a salvaged without there being a problem. There's one close by that I can buy pretty cheap. Does anybody know?
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2000 Mercedes S500 1990 Mercedes 560SEL 1970 Triumph Spitfire |
#7
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Quote:
no issues with the engine, however
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1989 300ce 129k ( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone) 1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus 1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k ![]() 1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it [/SIGPIC] |
#8
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All the other gauges are fine. It's just the oil pressure gauge that's wacky.
Can I leave the battery connected when I pull the cluster? I'd like to wiggle the connections to see if it has any effect. I'm also still wondering if I can swap the cluster with a salvaged without there being a problem. There's one close by that I can buy pretty cheap. Does anybody know?
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2000 Mercedes S500 1990 Mercedes 560SEL 1970 Triumph Spitfire |
#9
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bolomiester
Quote:
Last edited by eddie a; 12-03-2011 at 11:42 AM. |
#10
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Swap!
I have done it without a problem! Just make sure the replacement is for your model year. I also swapped out the speedo on the replacement cluster since the mileage on the odometer was about 100k higher than mine! LOL!
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![]() 1989 300E 2005 Acura TL 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited Swing hard! Take chances! |
#11
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Quote:
OP, take a look at the connector to the oil pressure sender (behind the plastic panel, next to the idler arm.), and see if you have good connection there. Certainly better to replace the oil pressure sender than the cluster... br, syljua, who has recently replaced my oil pressure sender, and know it can be faulty...
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1998 CL500 W140 1984 230E W123 |
#12
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Solved!
Quote:
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2000 Mercedes S500 1990 Mercedes 560SEL 1970 Triumph Spitfire |
#13
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I'll bet you aren't talking about Fastlane Phil.
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1988 California version 260E (W124) Anthracite Grey/Palomino Owned since new and still going strong and smooth MBCA member Past Mercedes-Benz: 1986 190E Baby Benz 1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized 1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin' There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't |
#14
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No it wasn't Phil, but the other company is usually very good so I won't beat up on them. I think this is the only time they've ever let me down and they did make good without giving me a hard time.
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2000 Mercedes S500 1990 Mercedes 560SEL 1970 Triumph Spitfire |
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