Newbie Question?!?!?

[n/a]

I just bought my 280sl and I went for a drive last night and realized that the insturments did not light up.  All of the other lights work just fine.  Is this normal considering this is the first and only 280 I have ever driven?  Thanks

'69 280sl

[enochbell]

Yes, it is completely normal. Not right, just normal.  The brightness control ( the black knob in the middle of the center instrument cluster) is a rheostat that is notorious for going bad.  You have a few choices:

The Italien tuneup method (scuzzi): move the knob back and forth through its adjusment revolution and hope you can find a good spot on the coil in the rheostat.  If you are lucky, you will find a good spot and it will be near the brightest setting.

The "I don't care what it costs" method: buy another center instrument cluster and hope the rheostat on that unit works better than yours (the rheostat itself is not replaceable).

The elegant repair, which is to bypass the adjuster and hardwire the instruments on their brightest setting (search this board for other posts on that procedure).

Best,

Greg



'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

[n/a]

Thanks a lot

'69 280sl
'95 Land Cruiser w/some stuff

[Jonny B]

Also, make sure the grounding straps are connected on the back of the intsruments, the brown wire (ground on MB) should be connected to the knurled nut on the keeper (U shaped barcket) that holds the each instrument in place.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[Douglas]

Regardin what Greg calls the "Italian Tuneup" method -- you have to be driving the car while fussing with the rheostat.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[n/a]

I was able to play with it a little bit last night and found a good spot.  Thank goodness it is almost as bright as it can be too   I might just go ahead and bypass the rheostat this coming weekend though.

'69 280sl
'95 Land Cruiser w/some stuff