Replacing 3rd tail light bulb
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 453
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C230
Replacing 3rd tail light bulb
1998 C230
This morning, the "exterior light not working" icon came on, and it seems to be the 3rd tail light not functioning.
I went on You Tube and saw a "demo" on how to remove the cover to get at bulb. Of course, one of the removal tabs broke from the sun beating on it, but I can fix that. Once I got the cover off, it looks like a computer mother board, and it appears to have no bulbs, but 2 rows of LED lights.
Is this a "fixable" item, or buy a new one? Any ides of what may be wrong, and why it stopped working would be appreciated.
See photos
This morning, the "exterior light not working" icon came on, and it seems to be the 3rd tail light not functioning.
I went on You Tube and saw a "demo" on how to remove the cover to get at bulb. Of course, one of the removal tabs broke from the sun beating on it, but I can fix that. Once I got the cover off, it looks like a computer mother board, and it appears to have no bulbs, but 2 rows of LED lights.
Is this a "fixable" item, or buy a new one? Any ides of what may be wrong, and why it stopped working would be appreciated.
See photos
Last edited by ptcruiser; Dec 16, 2013 at 03:25 PM. Reason: added photos
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 453
Likes: 12
C230
I am an idiot
Well either I am blind or just an idiot!
Turns out the the "exterior light" dash icon has no relationship to the 3rd brake light not working. The light came on, and when I hit the brake, it appeared the 3rg light was not working. As you can't press the brake pedal and run to the back to see if it works, it's a lost cause to check.
Finally, I had my son go behind, and it was a regular brake light bulb, and 2 minutes later, all was well.
Unfortunately, I removed the 3rd light first, and of course the sun had made it into a crumbling plastic piece of crap. I patched it as best I could, and it looks Ok, but that's the best I could do.
So, moral of the story is don't do ANYTHING until you do a complete check when the icon comes on.
Turns out the the "exterior light" dash icon has no relationship to the 3rd brake light not working. The light came on, and when I hit the brake, it appeared the 3rg light was not working. As you can't press the brake pedal and run to the back to see if it works, it's a lost cause to check.
Finally, I had my son go behind, and it was a regular brake light bulb, and 2 minutes later, all was well.
Unfortunately, I removed the 3rd light first, and of course the sun had made it into a crumbling plastic piece of crap. I patched it as best I could, and it looks Ok, but that's the best I could do.
So, moral of the story is don't do ANYTHING until you do a complete check when the icon comes on.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 431
Likes: 44
From: Portsmouth, VA
2010 E350, Sold 1998 C230
The plastic on mine is crumbling too. It wasnt working when I got the car and I managed to get one out of a wreck but only the guts (circuit board and leds) was usable so I transplanted it as best I could. Pretty much any of the plastic on the back shelf will crumble if it is disturbed at all. I think the backup light is over 100 bucks new from the dealer.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 316
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From: San Francisco, CA
1996 C36
Your 3rd brake light is the LED type and has no easily replaceable bulbs. The good news is they don't seem to fail. I paid something like $15 for the brake light cover new from the dealer.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 453
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C230
For $15.00, I am off to the dealer today :-)
The base the cover sits on is still in decent shape from the sun, but 1 small tab broke when I pulled the LED unit.
I will follow up to see if they still have any in old inventory.
Thanks for the tip.
The base the cover sits on is still in decent shape from the sun, but 1 small tab broke when I pulled the LED unit.
I will follow up to see if they still have any in old inventory.
Thanks for the tip.
