How do I remove the instrument panel around the diff lock sw
I need to change my centre diff lock switch. I am not going to attempt to repair it like Jesus as it looks like a lot of hassle? Where can a get a new switch cheaply. Is it best to buy in Germany?
when you say cheaply how much is it from merc's cant be more than £12 surely.
The early 463 dash is a bugger to get into..
These are instructions for a 463 without airbags....
1. Disconnect the battery, take the key out of the ignition and let the steering lock when steering is straight, remove the radio and cubby box next to it(put your hand inside and push it up or down and pull out).
2. Remove the centre piece to the steering wheel(the bit you press for the horn), you should be able to pull it off with your hands, you may have to prise the mercedes star out first, it is held in by a rubber rim.
3. This should reveal a nut on the steering column which you must undo to get the steering wheel off.
4. You then have to remove a plastic surround on the base of the steering column which is held in with two screws.
6. You should now be able to see two black screws, one for each strip of laminated wood that runs from each side of the steering wheel to the doors, unscrew the one of the left, and you should be able to then gently prise the whole strip off(do this softly as you do not want to snap it).
7. This reveals screws that hold the whole centre dash in place at the top, there are also two in the bottom inside( this is why you need to take out the radio and cubby box next to it) put your hand just inside where the radio was removed and feel the wall, there should be a possy screw in there and on the opposite side.
8. Once all these screws are removed the dash should just pull away. You now need to remove the laminated wood from the top part of the dash, there are four nuts to be un done in each corner on the dash backside. You should then be able to pull the laminated plate off.
9. Label the plugs that connect to each difflock switch as all will need to be unplugged. There are four metal clips that are sprung that hold in the difflock switches into the console, make sure you dont lose them when you pull all the switches out from the front of the console. You can then take each switch out of the group and replace!
10. To re-assemble REVERSE PROCESS! :lol: !
One question though, if your difflocks are not working it might not be the switch, have you checked the diff-lock time delay relay in the fuse box, I'll have to find the part number.... This tells the diff-locks to disengage after the ignition has been off after 30 secs and if it fails all your lockers can no longer be used!
Hope this helps.
Adrian.
I need to change my centre diff lock switch. I am not going to attempt to repair it like Jesus as it looks like a lot of hassle? Where can a get a new switch cheaply. Is it best to buy in Germany?
It doens't matter whether you buy over here or in Germany. These switches are exclusive to the G-Wagen and cost a minimum of £ 20 + VAT each. However, I doubt that your problem is the switch since they are so rarely used that the cause must surely be somehwhere else. In any event, if the cause is the switch, once you clean it inside it must work like new.
Cheers
Hmmmm, the mystery deepens. I will definately check other things before removing the whole dash and dismantling the switch into many pieces (since Jesus has now put me up to the challenge!, he has done it before so he is an expert now I guess).
After looking in detail at the forum I guess I need to check the vacuum noises stop once it is engaged and then try and find the switch/wiring that actuates the light once the diff is locked. Never knew the G would be so challenging to fix minor problems! And that it would be designed like a Citroen, needing specialist tools to be used in specific order in spaces that are totally inaccessable and that everything would need to come apart to fix a light! Oh well at least if you get it all apart putting it back together is not a problem! And at least all this work doesn't have to be done with the car in 2ft of mud, water or snow. Not yet anyway!
Okay, from what your saying its definitely not the relay as its cuts power to all switches. One difflock does not have to be 'locked' (red light) to engage the next it just has to be 'activated' (orange light). i.e. you can have all the orange lights on before any of the red lights come on and when the red lights come on to say the diff has actually been locked this can be in any order, though I usually find the the transfer case is fastest. Have you tested by finding a nice piece of muddy ground and locking all the diffs up, give it a bit of gas and see if all the wheels rotate at the same speed or if the tranfer locker is not working one axle will spin faster than the other or only one axle may spin. Other than that it could be the bulb, which are not part of the switches, they have there own wiring and it could be that the bulb is not broken, but has just fallen out of its holder and lost current. When you have the dash off take it out and push it back in a little and try it then, you may not have to buy anything at all. 8)
I am with Adrian. The yellow and the red lights are not part of the switches but to check/replace them you have to follow the sequence that he so aplty described.
In you case, it can be that the transfer case diff has not locked or that the light does not work. I would be inclined to think that it is the light that does not work.
I would suggets that you test the diff locks following Adrian's advice. If you think that the diff is effectively locking then dismantle the dashboard and check the bulb. But first buy yourself a couple of those (Ref MB N 072601012230, corresponding to the OSRAM reference 2721).
Cheers,
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Thanks for the extensive reply Adrian! I am fairly sure it is the switch as its only a problem with the red centre diff lock light, all others both orange and red are OK. I presume rear and front diffs wouldn't lock if the centre hadn't actually locked? So I think they are all working. Maybe its the bulb which I understand is difficult to fix. Had a look underneath at the wiring to the central transfer box/diff and there was a rubber connector that I couldn't pull off to check the wiring. Surely the only wiring is for the locked light?
I have purchased new discs & pads and sent off for a manual from Mike Liley. How easy is it to put on new discs and pads? Can't wait!