bulb out technology

Aug 30, 2003 | 08:43 PM

levelr123g

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bulb out technology

does anyone know how to defeat the bulb out feature on our cars? or does anyone really understand how it works. i think it works by measuring resistance on the circuit.

Aug 30, 2003 | 08:58 PM

dtkw

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From: Indiana

1986 560SEL, 97 BMW 740iL

Are you talking about the warning light bulb light? Some people just said pull the cluster out and pull the bulb out.

Aug 31, 2003 | 01:30 AM

levelr123g

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no im talking about when the bulb is out the instrument cluster tells you to check whatever bulb is burned out. wheteher it be headlight, tail light etc. does anyone know how to defeat it or trick it.

Aug 31, 2003 | 02:27 AM

mmgrad

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From: So Cal

W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more

Quote:

Originally posted by nov0798
no im talking about when the bulb is out the instrument cluster tells you to check whatever bulb is burned out. wheteher it be headlight, tail light etc. does anyone know how to defeat it or trick it.

if you are getting this message because you switched over to low voltage bulbs (LEDs, Xenons, etc...), then a proper resitor would work. or, you can have the dealer switch to XENON PRESENT, if they are the source of your problems...

If you actually have a bulb out, then change it... hehehe

Aug 31, 2003 | 02:52 AM

levelr123g

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yes i know why it works, my question is how does it work. does anyone havean article on it. does it measure resistance, does it measure an open circuit??????????? does anyone know how to disable it?

Aug 31, 2003 | 07:02 PM

Lynn

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I believe it measures wattage consumed.

Sep 2, 2003 | 06:52 PM

amdeutsch

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Quote:

Originally posted by Lynn
I believe it measures wattage consumed.

Sorry Lynn. I doesn't measure W as W=VI in a DC system. As V is reduced by the systems turned on I increases for W to stay the same. Try it by having your lights on when starting your car.
We all have witnessed dimming lights with added on equipment drawing additional current (Voltage regulation tolerances come into play here). Therefore, it is most likely a setable current sensor (Xenon or regular) or just a current sensor (Rest of lights).