HELP! Lights throwin error messages
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 264
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From: Jersey
2003 E500 Sport, 2006 C280 4Matic
HELP! Lights throwin error messages
So a couple of weeks ago my driverside front marker went out and i got the message on my dash...i notice today that it is on and now im gettin a message about my right break lamp, i had my gf step on the break after a couple of hours driving and it was working fine, now the message is gone, what the deuce?!!?!?
Any ideas? I have nothing modded on the car to mess with the system, completely stock
Any ideas? I have nothing modded on the car to mess with the system, completely stock
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,078
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
How can I not try helping you with that signature you have?
The filament in the bulb may have broken and then 'welded' itself back together allowing it to light, but it is using a different wattage causing the system to throw an error.
OR
The contacts inside the housing that hold the bulb might be a bit lose or corroded.
If the problem returns you should swap out the bulb. If you still get the error then you should hit the contacts with some steel wool or high grit sandpaper (without going overboard because you don't want to take any metal off that you don't have to.)
The filament in the bulb may have broken and then 'welded' itself back together allowing it to light, but it is using a different wattage causing the system to throw an error.
OR
The contacts inside the housing that hold the bulb might be a bit lose or corroded.
If the problem returns you should swap out the bulb. If you still get the error then you should hit the contacts with some steel wool or high grit sandpaper (without going overboard because you don't want to take any metal off that you don't have to.)
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,266
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
If the system sees excess resistance, or not enough resistance, it turns off the power to the bulbs.
Clean the contacts with pencil eraser until they are shiney.
No need for sandpaper.
I've had this before.
Also bend the contact out a little to make better contact, put some tension on the back of the light (as in the brake light)
My side marker sockets are looking a little rough, like cooked. I seem to be getting excess resistance as the bulb on one side isn't as bright as the other. So, the socket itself is going bad. Resistance from a bad connection results in heat, which will eventually melt the socket.
I get intermittent errors.
I just ordered 2 side marker repair kits, which is a new socket, cut the wires attach new socket.
000 540 09 66 like 8 bucks each.
There's a DIY and pics around here somewhere.
https://mbworld.org/forums/2858025-post28.html
I wanna do this before the damn thing melts.
How did my GF and her sister wind up in your sig??
Clean the contacts with pencil eraser until they are shiney.
No need for sandpaper.
I've had this before.
Also bend the contact out a little to make better contact, put some tension on the back of the light (as in the brake light)
My side marker sockets are looking a little rough, like cooked. I seem to be getting excess resistance as the bulb on one side isn't as bright as the other. So, the socket itself is going bad. Resistance from a bad connection results in heat, which will eventually melt the socket.
I get intermittent errors.
I just ordered 2 side marker repair kits, which is a new socket, cut the wires attach new socket.
000 540 09 66 like 8 bucks each.
There's a DIY and pics around here somewhere.
https://mbworld.org/forums/2858025-post28.html
I wanna do this before the damn thing melts.
How did my GF and her sister wind up in your sig??
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Dec 21, 2008 at 05:09 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,078
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
I never had good luck with the eraser trick, but it must work because I hear it recommended often. As far as sandpaper - high grit is nothing like the sand paper most people are used to. I was thinking somewhere around 700 grit. It probably has a similar bite to the eraser.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,266
Likes: 170
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I never had good luck with the eraser trick, but it must work because I hear it recommended often. As far as sandpaper - high grit is nothing like the sand paper most people are used to. I was thinking somewhere around 700 grit. It probably has a similar bite to the eraser.
Works great to get that black gukka off terminals that seems to accumulate, often due to dissimilar metals reacting with each other over time.
If not, some light scrapping with the screwdriver also worked, but sure fine grit sandpaper too, but the pencil is good to get into tight places.
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Thread Starter
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From: Jersey
2003 E500 Sport, 2006 C280 4Matic
So i took out the bulbs to check them and they are perfectly fine, didn't fuse back together or anything, connection was secure but i unpluged and re-connected it just to make sure and the error is still there. what the deuce man!
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Joined: Nov 2008
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2019 c300
Wow imagine that. This morning I get the "Marker Light, FL, check light" come on. I go out look at the front side markers and side mirror lights and they work. So I am confused. I am guessing FL meant front left.
Come on this site and bam got a few things I can try to resolve the stupid warning.
This board is GREAT!
Come on this site and bam got a few things I can try to resolve the stupid warning.
This board is GREAT!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Happens to mine, every once in a while it says rear brake light or tail light malfunction yet you look at it and it's working fine. I figure if I wanted a car that was perfect I would have gotten a Honda but then I wouldn't get free car washes.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
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From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
and ya the lighting in our cars is wierd...i had LED's in my halogen fixtures and when initially started they flickered a bit and then after about 20 seconds remained on and just gave me the error message, which i could care less about...but no i just installed oem bix and now they dont work at all in the new fixtures...kinda makes me mad since they would match my new philiips ultinon 6000k perfectly...so i ordered like 4 diff types of city lights from autolumination and im just gonna keep trying sets till the best color/combo comes out!!!!
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Wow imagine that. This morning I get the "Marker Light, FL, check light" come on. I go out look at the front side markers and side mirror lights and they work. So I am confused. I am guessing FL meant front left.
Come on this site and bam got a few things I can try to resolve the stupid warning.
This board is GREAT!
Come on this site and bam got a few things I can try to resolve the stupid warning.
This board is GREAT!
Lucky it did not say FU
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
All MB dealers in the O.C. offer free full service car washes, to me, the only real reason to own an MB. My local dealer is open 5 days a week for free washes (Tues-Sat).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Huh, weird, that was the deciding factor between it an the Subie WRX. Sometimes I wish I got the WRX, easier to mod, AWD for the local mountains but heck, how do you pass up free car washes? Now if only they would also wash my Smart.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 264
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From: Jersey
2003 E500 Sport, 2006 C280 4Matic
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 296
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From: FLORIDA
2003 C240
Just replaced my L brake bulb too in the parking lot at a auto parts store. It was fine until I got home.
Now it gave me 2 malfunctions:
Tail light R, Check Light & Check light Back-up light on!
I checked all the int. & ext. lights & all seem to be working fine. Also cleaned up the contact points.
Do you think disconnecting the battery will help reset it?
HELP!!!
Now it gave me 2 malfunctions:
Tail light R, Check Light & Check light Back-up light on!
I checked all the int. & ext. lights & all seem to be working fine. Also cleaned up the contact points.
Do you think disconnecting the battery will help reset it?
HELP!!!
