[San5]

Hey guys. New to the Benz World forum. Have a 2002 G500. Tried to do a swap of clusters, wanted to go with the newer 2010 look. Had the new look cluster programmed, and it didn't work when I tried plugging it in. The Gas Guage didn't take, and had dashes in place of numbers for the mileage. I said its ok, and put the old one back. Now, when I put the old one back, something seriously mixed up electrical wise. List as follows:

1. Passenger seat adjuster only adjusts the driver side seat (I cannot adjust the passenger side seat at all)
2. Driver side seat adjuster only adjusts the driver side seat going forward
3. The passenger side rear view mirror does not move
4. The passenger side blinker (side marker) goes on together with the driver side blinkers once turned on
5. The same passenger side blinker (side marker) does not go on when the passenger side blinker is turned on
6. The passenger window will not open when you press the window opening switch on the driver side

Can this be a bad Sam module? Or does something have to be re-programmed? Any info will help. Its really frustrating because the truck ran and functioned perfectly. Had no malfunction messages, and zero problems. I took it to the dealer, and they won't look at it because the headlights were updated to newer looking headlights. Thanks

 

[Floobydust]

IMHO, trying to replace an early MBUSA instrument cluster with the later style is a fool's errand in spite of the apparent plug and play. Somewhere on one of these forums is a very lengthy thread about that hackery required to try and do it. AFAIK, very few, if any, have succeeded in getting a 100% functional replacement.

Some of the malfunctioning items you list are SAM based and some are not. The one thing they have in common is the CAN BUS which you may have damaged or corrupted with the replacement cluster. Indeed, one of the things that is needed for the cluster swap is some sort of CAN interface module. I'm not sure if your CAN BUS transceivers are toast or whether the system can be reprogrammed. Either way, your dealer is an A-hole for refusing to look at because of the headlights - seriously, what's that got to do with the price of tea in China. Find another dealer or an Indy with a STAR system.

 

[San5]

Ok, thank you. I will stay with the old cluster. What is the best way to go about with this now, and try to have everything hopefully go back to how it was? I'm in the NY/NJ area.. Any recommendations? Also, are these issues fixable?

 

[Floobydust]

Try the easiest possible solution first - disconnect the battery for 15 - 20 minutes, reconnect, and see if that resets that state of the system. If not, the only other way I know of to look into it is with the STAR (SDS/Xentry) system which can read/reprogram devices on the CAN BUS.

In the NY/NJ area there is an Indy called Wolfgang's in Tenafly, NJ. I'm not sure if they have STAR system, but they do have a good reputation with the G.

 

[San5]

I really appreciate it. Thank you

 

[San5]

Try the easiest possible solution first - disconnect the battery for 15 - 20 minutes, reconnect, and see if that resets that state of the system. If not, the only other way I know of to look into it is with the STAR (SDS/Xentry) system which can read/reprogram devices on the CAN BUS.

In the NY/NJ area there is an Indy called Wolfgang's in Tenafly, NJ. I'm not sure if they have STAR system, but they do have a good reputation with the G.

Hello, ended up going to Wolfgangs. It was a bad front SAM module. All fixed. Thanks!

 

[Floobydust]

Glad that Wolfgang's worked out and all is working now! Be sure to check the windshield wiper pivot seals as these can leak and let water drip into the front SAM causing failure (i.e., did that happen with this failure?).

 

[San5]

Glad that Wolfgang's worked out and all is working now! Be sure to check the windshield wiper pivot seals as these can leak and let water drip into the front SAM causing failure (i.e., did that happen with this failure?).

Will do! The module seems to have had a small area of damage. Might have been water.. and I will definitely check the wiper pivot seals..

 

[AlanMcR]

Replace those pivot seals every 10 years if garaged, 5 if not. Also check that the nuts at the body are tight. Then put some thick grease inside the pivot seal before pushing into place. It might ooze a bit and require cleanup, but the alternative is leaks and the kinds of problems that you just experienced.

While I'm ranting. You are flushing the brake and locker hydraulic systems every two years, right?