Lamp sensor malfunction
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Joined: May 2008
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W203
Lamp sensor malfunction
I have had this malfunction since I took out my headliner to have it wrapped in black suede. I hooked everything back up as best as I could remember, yet got something.
I am selling the car and would like to get rid of all the malfunctions. I searched and most people say its a battery fault, yet not in my case, the battery has been fine the last 6 years since the fault first appeared.
Any ideas of what to check? Is this a connection problem in the overhead light? In the mirror? Behind the mirror where the light sensor would be?
All the functions seem to work, including the auto lights so I've always ignored the error.
I am selling the car and would like to get rid of all the malfunctions. I searched and most people say its a battery fault, yet not in my case, the battery has been fine the last 6 years since the fault first appeared.
Any ideas of what to check? Is this a connection problem in the overhead light? In the mirror? Behind the mirror where the light sensor would be?
All the functions seem to work, including the auto lights so I've always ignored the error.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Just going by the description, it should be the headlight sensor. I'd check the wiring at the top of the windshield. Since you say that the auto headlamps are working, it is possible that the malfunction occurred when you took down the headliner, and may need to be manually cleared.
In any event, I would say that the fix will probably be more costly than whatever you'd have to take off your selling price for a potential buyer. On the other hand, I wouldn't buy any car that is showing a malfunction. So you've got yourself in a pickle.
This is one of the reasons why I told you I wouldn't mess with doing the headliner retro myself - too many variables for me to mess up.
In any event, I would say that the fix will probably be more costly than whatever you'd have to take off your selling price for a potential buyer. On the other hand, I wouldn't buy any car that is showing a malfunction. So you've got yourself in a pickle.
This is one of the reasons why I told you I wouldn't mess with doing the headliner retro myself - too many variables for me to mess up.
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W203
I didn't figure a few malfunctions would bother people, I've been driving with malfunctions for years for the deleted side markers. 
Apparently they do.
Found a buyer who i OK with the lamp sensor malfunction as long as I fix everything else. So spending tonight installing a bunch of resistors and replacing bulbs.
Definitely not spending the money to have a dealer lookup why the sensor is complaining. I'll look at the mirror hosing again and see if I didn't plug something in.
BTW you don't need to remove the mirror to remove the headliner. I did it to de everything the same black.
Apparently they do. Found a buyer who i OK with the lamp sensor malfunction as long as I fix everything else. So spending tonight installing a bunch of resistors and replacing bulbs.
Definitely not spending the money to have a dealer lookup why the sensor is complaining. I'll look at the mirror hosing again and see if I didn't plug something in.
BTW you don't need to remove the mirror to remove the headliner. I did it to de everything the same black.
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Joined: May 2008
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W203
Fixed.
Now if only I could find the right resistor for the sidemarkers. I've tried:
100 ohm, 5W (didn't work)
5 ohm, 10W (burnt out)
27 ohm, 5W (works for 5 mins then eventually gets too hot and the error message appears)
I'm going to try a 27ohm, 10 W next.
Now if only I could find the right resistor for the sidemarkers. I've tried:
100 ohm, 5W (didn't work)
5 ohm, 10W (burnt out)
27 ohm, 5W (works for 5 mins then eventually gets too hot and the error message appears)
I'm going to try a 27ohm, 10 W next.
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