front turning signal problem
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 173
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From: Richmond, Va
02 c230k coupe
front turning signal problem
Hey guys, recently i got a problem with my left front turning signal. It happend about a day or two after i installed my hids, not sure if it has anything to do with that yet.
At first i thought it was the bulb, so i went and bought new bulbs, i put the new bulb in but it still didn't work. So i took my old bulb from the left side and tried put it in the right side, and it worked no problem..
Then i noticed this.
My left turning signal bulb socket has wires connected to it
Although, the right turning signal bulb socket has no wires connected to it.
Why would the right one have wires connected to it ?? And, does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to fix the turning signal ?
At first i thought it was the bulb, so i went and bought new bulbs, i put the new bulb in but it still didn't work. So i took my old bulb from the left side and tried put it in the right side, and it worked no problem..
Then i noticed this.
My left turning signal bulb socket has wires connected to it
Although, the right turning signal bulb socket has no wires connected to it.
Why would the right one have wires connected to it ?? And, does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to fix the turning signal ?
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 59
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From: Austin, Texas
2003 Mercedes C240, 2009 Audi Q5
Sorry, I'm a little confused. So, you're saying the socket you're having problems with has extra wires tapped off of it? If so, where are they going?
Did you purchase normal bulbs or did you get something special like LED's, etc?
Did you purchase normal bulbs or did you get something special like LED's, etc?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 173
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From: Richmond, Va
02 c230k coupe
Im saying that the right blub socket has no wires attached to it at all. All you do is untwist the bulb socket and put in the bulb, twist back in and it works.
But the left one, that is not working has wires attached to it. It seems like someone put them in for some reason.
I'm not sure were they are going, but ill take some more pictures and check it out in a moment.
But the left one, that is not working has wires attached to it. It seems like someone put them in for some reason.
I'm not sure were they are going, but ill take some more pictures and check it out in a moment.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 59
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From: Austin, Texas
2003 Mercedes C240, 2009 Audi Q5
Gotcha, I'd check where that wire goes. If that harness in the picture disconnects it, you might want to try disconnecting it to see if the problems goes away. Perhaps a short in some bad aftermarket wiring? I'm not sure why someone would tap into it, other than to add side mirror blinkers, but I thought all years of the W203 came with them.
Also, while they were tapping into the socket, they might have damaged it while soldering, etc. If you have a voltmeter, you might want to check to see if there really is power there...if you have a good ground, etc.
Also, while they were tapping into the socket, they might have damaged it while soldering, etc. If you have a voltmeter, you might want to check to see if there really is power there...if you have a good ground, etc.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
some people would tap the blinkers to the side makers that way the side makers would blink opposite of the blinker. I know alot of import guys do that to their hondas. What you do is run the ground wire from the side maker to the positive wire of the blinker, that way at night the side makers will still turn on, but when you hit your blinker it will blink.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Richmond, Va
02 c230k coupe
gotcha, I'd check where that wire goes. If that harness in the picture disconnects it, you might want to try disconnecting it to see if the problems goes away. Perhaps a short in some bad aftermarket wiring? I'm not sure why someone would tap into it, other than to add side mirror blinkers, but I thought all years of the W203 came with them.
i don't know where i should take it for repair
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,101
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
There was a common problem with these cars where the white housing that holds the indicator bulbs over time warps to no longer make contact with the bulb. The connector terminals within the housing usually bend away from the bulb.
This looks like a retrofit that someone has made to get around this problem...and now your HID install must have loosened the wires as well.
This looks like a retrofit that someone has made to get around this problem...and now your HID install must have loosened the wires as well.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Richmond, Va
02 c230k coupe
There was a common problem with these cars where the white housing that holds the indicator bulbs over time warps to no longer make contact with the bulb. The connector terminals within the housing usually bend away from the bulb.
This looks like a retrofit that someone has made to get around this problem...and now your HID install must have loosened the wires as well.
This looks like a retrofit that someone has made to get around this problem...and now your HID install must have loosened the wires as well.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Did you try taking the socket + bulb combination from the other side (the one without the wires) and plugging it into this headlight? Did it work?
If so, I would recommend trying to find a new socket online and get rid of the band aid new wires fix.
If you want to keep the wires, check the housing end. The wires might have lost connection between the wires and the terminals on the socket.
If so, I would recommend trying to find a new socket online and get rid of the band aid new wires fix.
If you want to keep the wires, check the housing end. The wires might have lost connection between the wires and the terminals on the socket.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Richmond, Va
02 c230k coupe
I just went outside and i was able to take a couple more pictures on my phone before it started raining again
But, the wires plug into the headlight
then they also run up here as well
But, the wires plug into the headlight
then they also run up here as well
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Your best bet is to cut out those wires and pick up a socket with unwarped terminals (its pretty cheap) and fix this problem once and for all.
the second wire is the ground for the indicator conencted to a groundingpost ont he cars body. This is a complete RICER fix...belongs on a civic
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: VA
THE C350
lol that is the oem fix for this actually my car also has one side done 
the socket is not always the problem sometimes it is the headlight side of the connector that goes bad. That was the problem on my original headlights.
the socket is not always the problem sometimes it is the headlight side of the connector that goes bad. That was the problem on my original headlights.
Last edited by samaritrey; Feb 28, 2011 at 05:30 PM.
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Richmond, Va
02 c230k coupe
well guys, i took out the working socket and bulb, plugged it into the non-working one and nothing happened, it doesn't work.
So i guess something has gone wrong with the oem fix. I really don't know to much about electricity and wiring so i have no idea how to fix it. Does anyone know if the dealership can fix it or ?
So i guess something has gone wrong with the oem fix. I really don't know to much about electricity and wiring so i have no idea how to fix it. Does anyone know if the dealership can fix it or ?
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,101
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
well guys, i took out the working socket and bulb, plugged it into the non-working one and nothing happened, it doesn't work.
So i guess something has gone wrong with the oem fix. I really don't know to much about electricity and wiring so i have no idea how to fix it. Does anyone know if the dealership can fix it or ?
So i guess something has gone wrong with the oem fix. I really don't know to much about electricity and wiring so i have no idea how to fix it. Does anyone know if the dealership can fix it or ?
If you cant fix it, Im sure any reasonable Indy/electrician will be able to....unless of course you stay awake all night wondering how youre going to carry all that money you have around on your person the next day
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Richmond, Va
02 c230k coupe
Thats strange! Look at the metal terminals on the working socket. Is it tarnishes/have holes in it? try bending it slightly outward and moving it about in the headlight to see if the lights come on.
If you cant fix it, Im sure any reasonable Indy/electrician will be able to....unless of course you stay awake all night wondering how youre going to carry all that money you have around on your person the next day
If you cant fix it, Im sure any reasonable Indy/electrician will be able to....unless of course you stay awake all night wondering how youre going to carry all that money you have around on your person the next day
But, why would i need to do anything to the working socket, if it works in the left headlight it should work in the right one as well.
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Shouldn't be more than a half hour of labor. Cost depends on your particular mechanics rate of course
Just to identify if the issue is with the terminals on the headlight assembly or on the socket.
When I had this issue on my old headlights, sockets 1 and 2 wouldn't work on the left headlight, but socket 2 would work on the right and socket 1 wouldn't. It just depends on the exact state of the terminals on the headlight and the socket...they may make contact on the left light and may not on the right.
When I had this issue on my old headlights, sockets 1 and 2 wouldn't work on the left headlight, but socket 2 would work on the right and socket 1 wouldn't. It just depends on the exact state of the terminals on the headlight and the socket...they may make contact on the left light and may not on the right.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
Look at the inside of the broken socket. You can visually tell if the contact has been damaged. You're making this harder than it is. Its very easy to do. If it's damaged you need to buy the updated socket which has wires. Then all you need to do is ground one wire and connect the other to one of the wires on the harness. I can check later, on which pin it is. I'll also snap a picture of the burnt socket if you want to see what the damaged one would look like.
