The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (“CL” standing for the German “Coupe Leicht,” or “coupé light”) was designed as the flagship of the new Mercedes-Benz aesthetic, and they based much of its features off of their already popular S-Class. While the S-Class was a full size luxury sedan, the Mercedes company decided that a luxury coupe would be a better choice for their calling card, and so the CL was designed with these considerations. The initial run of the CL-Class, the W140, was produced between 1992 and 2000. Some of the more common issues owners experience with these cars are:
Leaking Evaporators: If the AC in the car stops working and your vents are only blowing out warm or hot air, then there is a good chance that the evaporators behind the dashboard have stopped working.
Reverse Gear Problems: An unnerving sign of potential transmission failure, the inability to put the car into reverse poses all sorts problems. Some owners say the car refuses to go into reverse at all, and others say that it will go when the car is first started, but after 30 minutes or so it refuses.
Wiring Harness Problem: Odd power failures or flashing lights combined with a perpetually dead battery indicate that there may be something wrong with the engine wiring harness.
Instrument Cluster Failure: Some of the instrument dials work, some of them do not, and you cannot tell how fast your going or how much gas you have. There are several possible reasons for this, and it needs to be attended to immediately.
Transmission Shift Issues: Rough or clunky gear shifting can indicate a problem with the transmission, the shifting cables, or a poorly regulated modulator valve.
All of these issues can result in a potentially dangerous situation for both you and your passengers. We highly recommend that your response to any and all problems be to make an appointment with a local Mercedes Benz repair garage so that your car can be returned to tip-top shape.
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