hammer6212

I appreciate any help or input in advance trying to ask a question to the dealership doesn't work without $$.

Car: 2003 c230 Kompressor
Background: Had a small front impact collision, sit for 2 years, and now trying to put it back on the road. Came with the bi zenon upgrade and I'm trying to use some after market depo xenons with new bulbs.

-passenger side wiring seems faulty, making a bad connection as I can just tilt the light a little and the light will go out, even with the projector out though it still moves for the auto leveling. (will try white grease soon for a better connection)

- I had disconnected the battery myself with no back up for the CAN BUS which I read may blow the front or rear SAM? (No idea how to check if that is the case)

Problem:I can't get the driver side high beam to work, and none of the turn signals or parking lights/ side markers/side mirror blinkers
-power seats don't work either or the little shade thing for the back window, fog lights do work though.

Possible cause/fixes tried already:
- looks like no fuses are blown, and the turn signal is controlled by "electronics" in the fusebox diagram

-Tried hitting the reset button
-tried switching the ballast around but still can't get the driver high beam working, and I'm actually not sure anything should work if they were broken.

-Haven't tried to test the ballast in shop
-not sure where or what relay to test/fix/reset
-I read there was a new wiring harness upgrade and different socket to get (203 826 0282) and a slk2.8 blade but these worked fine before the accident and I'm using new bulbs
- I heard there is some blinker switch in the steering column but not sure what to do or how to do it there and that the airbag is really close

I'm basically trying to trouble shoot here and go with whatever is the easiest to check and fix first before getting to complicated and spending big bucks at the dealership

hammer6212

Anybody know exactly what it is that controls the turn signals? Relay, SAM, Switch in Steering Wheel, computer?

Russell Ormerod

front sam controls output to front lighting and front indicators
door modules drive indicators in side mirrors
rear sam controls rear lighting.

hammer6212

Thanks Russell. Do you happen to know or have any links to threads that may be able to tell me where exactly these things are located last I heard was under the seat, secondly how I might test them or see if something else is working that may indicate that they are not in need of replacement. And if so how to replace them I think I priced one at the dealership the other day for close to 300.

- Both low beams have gone on which I believe are the Halogen h7 bulbs, which I guess may indicate that the ballast is working (however one was hot on the bottom the other cold.) Only passenger side high beam work.

-still no blinkers, parking lights, markers and all that

- Steering wheel stalk show high beams go on and wipers work, not sure if that is saying the whole thing is good.
- dealership said the replacement harness and socket was needed on some models because of a bad ground but lights were fine when the car was last running.

Russell Ormerod

The front sam is the front fuse and relay box in the engine bay near brake booster. rear sam is in the boot basically the rear fuse box.

there no fuses for lighting all electronically monitored by thr sam drivers

so if you have a open circuit or no load condition at a lamp the sam will turn the supply off to that lamp.

the only real way to check the inputs is with a diagnostic scan tool.
thats the fastest and most accurate way to test.

With the scan tool you can even actuate the output for the lamps to check there function

Sam units are troublesome in the c class esp after jumpstart.

Dayna28

Russell:

I have a C230 - all lights work except my low beams. I've switched out the bulb (drivers side) once, took it to the dealer who said it was a corroded ballast (from leaky unit). I couldn't afford it at the time, so I switched the drivers side out with the working passenger side, but never switched it back and it corroded too I think.

Finally got my hands on two new (to me) working lighting units ('05), tried to install the ballasts, but still no low beams. All fuses look good. Relays seem fine. High beams, fog lights, daytime running lights, and blinkers all work. I tested voltage, ground was fine, but one of three sets of wires wasn't reading anything, and it looked to be going to the ballast (this feature was only on passenger side though). It led me think it was the SAM, but how could it be the SAM if all other lights are working? Could it be a voltage problem? Is this fixable w/o going to the dealer? How easy is it to replace the SAM? I am thinking it may still be just bad ballasts. Will '05s work in my 2006, or was there a factory change? They look the same. Could it be voltage? Any help would be appreciated (trying to avoid the dealer at all costs b/c I'm low on $$$).

Thanks,
Dayna

Russell Ormerod

when you talk about ballasts? do you have xenon lamps or normal halogen bulbs. The sam drives every single bulb with a different output, its easy to change the sam, try get one with the same part number at least.

Dayna28

Thanks, Russell. I have xenons. Looking at the fuse and relay box in the engine bay, I am still having trouble finding the SAM. The diagram only identifies fuses, it dosn't indicate where the SAM is or which relays do what...thanks again.

Russell Ormerod

you looking at the sam it is that just where all the relays and fuses plug into

hammer6212

you figure this out yet? The sam unit controlling your problems is in the back, that is if your problem is (the blinkers, trunk lid not opening from your car key or push button inside, back lights and blinkers). The ballast is most likely the problem there are some that are interchangeable, you can see if one is bad easily by switching a good one to the other side, the high beams I believe will work without the ballast even on. check out this link visit this guys store, buy the ballast that fits your ride for only 140 tell him (hammer6212) sent you. There will be a list of compatible vehicles for each ballast. If link doesn't work search seller genuinexenon.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/genuinexenon...&_trksid=p3686

Dayna28

Hammer6212, see my original post:

I have a C230 - all lights work except my low beams. I've switched out the bulb (drivers side) once, took it to the dealer who said it was a corroded ballast (from leaky unit). I couldn't afford it at the time, so I switched the drivers side out with the working passenger side, but never switched it back and it corroded too.

I finally got my hands on two new (to me) working lighting units ('05), tried to install the new ballasts, but still no low beams. All fuses look good. Relays seem fine. High beams, fog lights, daytime running lights, and blinkers all work. I tested voltage, ground was fine, but one of three sets of wires wasn't reading anything, and it looked to be going to the ballast (this feature was only on passenger side though). It led me think it was the SAM, but how could it be the SAM if all other lights are working? How easy is it to replace the SAM? Will '05 ballasts work in my 2006, or was there a factory change? They look the same...

hammer6212

my reply was to you Dayna, and you responded with the same post, check the ballast at the page, I was raped at the dealer for a grand to diagnose a problem that I told them was before they even started work. Low beams are ballast related.

Dayna28

Oh okay - thanks, I will!!

Dayna28

Will check tomorrow and keep u posted. Thx again...

bmilburn

2003 c230 coupe

It have a similar problem with electrical. I've not had a dead battery nor a jump start
as is mentioned as possible causes in other threads.

It started without warning one morning.

Turn on ignition but do not start car.
All gauges seems to work ok.
Start car. Car starts fine. As car starts:So is this a SAM module? Front or rear?

I have a video of this:
I've checked for blown fuses in all three places.

Any hints?
So is this a trip to the dealer or should I get a new/used sam (front/rear) and try that?

Russell Ormerod

Try your spare key

bmilburn

Car still starts and runs with either key, just many things stop working as car starts.

THX for the suggestion. It was worth a try.

Russell Ormerod

Car will start but if terminal 15 is not available on the CAN bus the interior electrics will not power up. This signal comes from EIS but only if communication with the key continues after start. Hence try your spare!

Russell Ormerod

So if both keys do the same. You have 2 faulty keys or a faulty EIS. Connect Star and check in Term 15c is on! After the car starts.

bmilburn

Just an update. The issue is sporadic. Sometimes all work fine and sometimes
this issue appears. Happens with both keys. So I guess it's something iside the car.

bmilburn

For anyone else that hits this, the issue appears to be the cheap key fob covers I got. On both of them the red window is all scratched up.

If I simply wet the red lens just before inserting the key it seems clear up the
lense enough that both keys work.

Russell Ormerod

Well done