Thanks Jim. It can get to the whiney point, then to the half blink point. I don't recall it being faster though, and worked fine while the blinker was on. Now everything [but the clock] that needs an electric feed is dead. I tried swapping around the relays that had the same number, but that made no difference. I'm thinking a bad ground that finally went from intermittent and partial to total. I'm well past my activity limit for today, even though it is relatively cool at only 87. I'll try some of it on Monday with a tester. IIRC, the flasher is left and up from the brake pedal, suspended right at the back of the knee panel. I might have been working with the flasher a couple of years ago [unless it is the same?]. BillR
-----Original Message----- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of j...@windwireless.net Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 11:07 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Dash console dead - 1981 300SD The flasher will whine/buzz if there's a load on it even when the switch (to the lamps) is off. I found this out when I hooked up an auxiliary clacker relay in the SL, but did it 'wrong'. In normal operation it flashes when it sees a full load on it, and waits quietly until it does see such a load. Remember that it's calibrated to flash faster under a too-light load, as a lamp-out warning. Taken to extremes apparently it can get to the buzz/whine point. Pull the flasher and measure the resistance from the output socket pin to ground, there should be infinite resistance unless a turn signal or hazard switch is engaged. I'm guessing it's a leaky/dirty hazard switch that's letting some current, at a non-illuminating level, travel through it. Regardless, I'm thinking you'll find a parasitic leak, and your job is to chase it down and kill it. -- Jim ---------------------------------------- From: "Bill R" <billr32...@comcast.net> Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 6:12 AM To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Subject: Re: [MBZ] Dash console dead - 1981 300SD I didn't know the relays were interchangeable. I had noticed that there seems to be more pins than metal contact sleeves in some of the sockets, and wondered if I had knocked one loose during the [relatively gentle] cleaning. I'll take a look at the numbers on the relays. Thanks - Bill -----Original Message----- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of MG Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 8:09 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Dash console dead - 1981 300SD Maybe a relay problem since it changes when you messed with that relay. I would try switching another relay of the same type from another position and see if it improves. If not then look for a bad contact on the back of the instrument panel. Possible loose wire or even a broken trace on the board. A loose wire can make a buzzing noise when the power sparks across the gap. Check all the contacts in the plug on the back of the board. Manfred Message: 7 Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 16:47:28 -0400 From: "Bill R" Subject: Re: [MBZ] Dash console dead - 1981 300SD Guess I should get a bit more specific. The temp, fuel, oil pressure [pegged at the top] speedo, tach and blinkers are dead. The clock. odo and flashers do work. BillR _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090808/a4 41de4a/attachment.html> _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com