leemcwilliams

I'm wondering if anyone has had this issue.
I have a headlight out on SL500. After replacing the bulb, then the igniter, and then the ballast. I still have an issue. Now it comes on (when the car is off). But when I crank the car, and it runs for about 20 seconds. The light then goes out. I'm at my witts end..................!!
Please help with any suggestions. It would be greatly appreciated.
Lee

AZN Optics

Welcome to MBWorld.

You have an aftermarket kit? It's a canbus kit right? Sounds like the kit isn't pulling enough current, triggering bulb out and your SAM cutting power to the socket.

leemcwilliams

No kit that I'm aware of. I've bought replacement parts off ebay. Some parts twice now. It went from not working at all to now this... It's as if it's fine till I crank the car. Then after 20-30 seconds it flickers a little and then goes out...??

AZN Optics

So you're saying you have OEM xenons then and a simple D2S bulb replacement didn't work? Also, I should have asked this, but is it both sides or just one side that's having this issue?

From the behavior you're describing, really does sound like SAM unit cutting power due to reading a bulb out.

leemcwilliams

It's just one side. I recently bought a entire second hand light off ebay. I have changed the bulb, ballast, and igniter. The light I bought is for the other side or I would have just put it in. And the brackets are broke. I bought it to rob parts off of. My thoughts are to put the ballast and igniter back in the housing I just bought. And hook it up just laying there. And crank it up and see if it is possibly something in my housing other then the parts I have changed. I don't know what else to do...

AZN Optics

As you have one side fully functioning, I'd suggest swapping parts left to right till you narrow down the component that's causing the issue.

leemcwilliams

So I swapped all the guts from my extra light housing to my old one. Which took every bit of 8 hours. Put it all back together, It worked sitting still. I cranked it and let it run for 5 minutes and everything was good. So I assumed all was well. So I drove about 2 miles and it went out. When I stop and start it again it works. But appears now instead of 30 seconds, it's cutting off after 5 minutes. It's only the big low beam light. Makes no sense. I'll make someone a great deal on a SL500 right now....!!!!!

AZN Optics

from 30 seconds to 5 minutes... that's a 900% improvement

Ok seriously, after you swapped from left side to right side, the issue went to the other side after 5 minutes or stayed on the original problematic side? Check your ground wiring? MB have notoriously bad ground wires.

leemcwilliams

Problem stays with the same side..

AZN Optics

Check the wiring then. And plugs. Make sure the sockets are clean of dirt/debris.

MJ50

moved to R230 forum...