Tail lamp bulbs out.. but not really
01-19-2014, 01:46 PM
#1
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2007 GL 450
Tail lamp bulbs out.. but not really
Hi all. We own a 2007 GL450,76,500 miles.
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
Is there something I'm missing or is this common with a simple fix? Or do I have an electrical problem that needs to go back to the dealer? We've owned our GL for almost 2 years and it's just odd that all these lights start popping all at once. Incidentally the passenger side low beam went out a day later, I replaced that with no issues.
Thanks for any help you can give!!
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
Is there something I'm missing or is this common with a simple fix? Or do I have an electrical problem that needs to go back to the dealer? We've owned our GL for almost 2 years and it's just odd that all these lights start popping all at once. Incidentally the passenger side low beam went out a day later, I replaced that with no issues.
Thanks for any help you can give!!
01-20-2014, 09:51 AM
#2
Senior Member
Reminds me of the similar issue I had 6-7 months ago. Left tail light. Message said, bulb is out. Looked at it, sure enough, one of the two left bulbs was out. Took it apart, nothing wrong with it. Its working. Put it back together, not working. Repeated the process couple times, now its working without any issues. 
Last edited by a2j; 01-20-2014 at 01:25 PM. Reason: spelling
01-20-2014, 10:30 AM
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2008 GL 450
If a bulb is out other bulbs light up to take the place of the burnt bulb so that some lights are still lit in the event of a bulb failure. Test each bulb to make sure you are replacing the correct/bad bulb. Once you find and replace the bad bulb you should be good to go.
01-20-2014, 10:30 AM
#6
fair enough.
inconsistent system diagnosis of burnt bulbs usually is in indication that a non-standard bulb is used somewhere on that circuit. check all bulbs that activate at a particular moment for one that is wrong wattage/ etc ie has different resistance. such a bulb albeit looking ok and lighting up will mess up the "bulb out" messages.
inconsistent system diagnosis of burnt bulbs usually is in indication that a non-standard bulb is used somewhere on that circuit. check all bulbs that activate at a particular moment for one that is wrong wattage/ etc ie has different resistance. such a bulb albeit looking ok and lighting up will mess up the "bulb out" messages.
06-09-2016, 09:39 PM
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1999 ML430, 2008 GL450
sorry for the silly question, but are the rear bulbs replaced from the inside or the outside? do i take the entire light assembly off to do the replacement? any good LED replacements out there?
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06-09-2016, 10:57 PM
#8
They are replaced from inside. Remove the corresponding side cover in the trunk and look inside. The whole bulb array is on a flimsy plastic frame that is held in place with two plastic thumbs. Squeeze them and pull the assembly out.
06-10-2016, 05:08 PM
#9
Bulb Error
I have the exact same scenario on my 2012 Sprinter van and I figured it out. One day I get a bulb out message for the license plate bulb. I ignore it for two weeks then I get a check engine light so I pulled out the DAS /Xentry system and it threw a fault code for the license plate believe it or not (only stored code). I replace the bulbs with auto parts equivalent, or so I thought. It calls for a 5watt bulb however what I picked up was a 3.4watt bulb that looked exactly the same. Ordered the proper 5 watt bulbs and it worked, code would reset.
I suspect the replacement bulb is the culprit. Also make sure the bulb has good socket connection as well.
I suspect the replacement bulb is the culprit. Also make sure the bulb has good socket connection as well.
10-09-2016, 03:38 PM
#10
Rear Tail Light Don't Work
Hi all. We own a 2007 GL450,76,500 miles.
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
Is there something I'm missing or is this common with a simple fix? Or do I have an electrical problem that needs to go back to the dealer? We've owned our GL for almost 2 years and it's just odd that all these lights start popping all at once. Incidentally the passenger side low beam went out a day later, I replaced that with no issues.
Thanks for any help you can give!!
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
Is there something I'm missing or is this common with a simple fix? Or do I have an electrical problem that needs to go back to the dealer? We've owned our GL for almost 2 years and it's just odd that all these lights start popping all at once. Incidentally the passenger side low beam went out a day later, I replaced that with no issues.
Thanks for any help you can give!!
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Prince Somorin (02-10-2024)
10-09-2016, 03:39 PM
#11
Hi all. We own a 2007 GL450,76,500 miles.
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
10-10-2016, 01:13 PM
#12
Hi all. We own a 2007 GL450,76,500 miles.
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
I got a message that the left tail lamp was out, so in checking things out I discover it's really the lower of the two right side brake bulbs that is out. Simple enough, I replace it (7056 LL). Get back in, still have the message only now on top of the one I just replaced still being out, the left (driver's side) upper brake lamp is out. I chalk it up to crazy coincidence, and buy two new bulbs. This time I have my teenage daughter stepping on the brake pedal as I repalce them. Turns out that if I remove the upper brake bulb on the drivers side, the rest of the lights work on both sides.
