Headlights Cycle on and Off
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2024
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c230 sport
Headlights Cycle on and Off
Hey all,
The headlights on my 2005 c230 keep going on and off all by themselves around every second or so. (See attachment)
Voltage is around 3v when off, 11v or so when on.
The wiring at the sockets is crap. The insulation is failing and someone has already put some electrical tape around some things. Does it make sense that this would cause the lights to go on, then off, then on, then off? What else can I look at to try to diagnose this problem?
Thanks
Ben
The headlights on my 2005 c230 keep going on and off all by themselves around every second or so. (See attachment)
Voltage is around 3v when off, 11v or so when on.
The wiring at the sockets is crap. The insulation is failing and someone has already put some electrical tape around some things. Does it make sense that this would cause the lights to go on, then off, then on, then off? What else can I look at to try to diagnose this problem?
Thanks
Ben
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
If the vehicle senses a short, or open circuit, yes, it will turn off the circuit.
Any bit of excess resistance counts as open. Do you have Halogen or Bix?
Any bit of excess resistance counts as open. Do you have Halogen or Bix?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Richmond, VA Metro Area
2005 C230 Sport Sedan-6 Speed Manual
C230 Sport Coupe pointed you in the right direction.
If you have installed LED bulbs, I expect that they draw less current than the OEM halogens. This causes the control module to interpret the lower current draw as a defective bulb and it cuts power to the circuit.
Here's an earlier thread that discusses the subject.
You may be able to "trick" the system by adding a resistor to the circuit to increase the current used by the LED, but I think it would be better to have someone recode the control module to show that the car has Bi Xenon headlights. This video shows the process for using the Star system to code for "Xenon Present."
If you have installed LED bulbs, I expect that they draw less current than the OEM halogens. This causes the control module to interpret the lower current draw as a defective bulb and it cuts power to the circuit.
Here's an earlier thread that discusses the subject.
You may be able to "trick" the system by adding a resistor to the circuit to increase the current used by the LED, but I think it would be better to have someone recode the control module to show that the car has Bi Xenon headlights. This video shows the process for using the Star system to code for "Xenon Present."
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I believe I've seen cables that fix this problem, use a capacitor or something to fix the problem.
Putting a resistor on the headlights to add 20 watts of resistance would be some healthy resistors
and would get very hot. Back in the day I had resistors on my parking lights to use LED's.
They got prettty hot and had to be mounted outside the light housing.
And that was to only shed 2 watt of power!
Now you can get LED's that are Canbus ready.
Do they sell headlight LED bulbs that are Canbus ready?
I don't know I went to Bix 15+ years ago.
EDIT: Quick search shows a multitude of CANBUS ready LED headlight bulbs
mostly off brands. Go with Philips if you can find them. They last FOREVER!!!
No joke!
Putting a resistor on the headlights to add 20 watts of resistance would be some healthy resistors
and would get very hot. Back in the day I had resistors on my parking lights to use LED's.
They got prettty hot and had to be mounted outside the light housing.
And that was to only shed 2 watt of power!
Now you can get LED's that are Canbus ready.
Do they sell headlight LED bulbs that are Canbus ready?
I don't know I went to Bix 15+ years ago.
EDIT: Quick search shows a multitude of CANBUS ready LED headlight bulbs
mostly off brands. Go with Philips if you can find them. They last FOREVER!!!
No joke!
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Aug 7, 2024 at 03:28 PM.
Thread Starter
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c230 sport
I replaced the crappy wiring harnesses on both lights. The passenger side low beam, blinker and parking lights are good now. The high flashes on and off. The driver side has no lights at all. It is drawing about 4 amps.
Do I need to reset the SAM or something?
other suggestions?
Do I need to reset the SAM or something?
other suggestions?
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Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 119
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From: SoCal
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
I’m not a fan of the individuals who run led retrofit lamps in housings designed for incandescent bulbs. Thank you for letting us know up front they’re LED.
That being said, the projector beam headlamps do a hell of a job putting the light down in the proper manner. LED and vehicles with ECU don’t mix until …..
This company, who integrated a fan into the lamp. It draws enough load to allow the system to believe there’s an incandescent bulb in there.
Installing those in the high beams will get me ranting.
Ursprung 2024 Upgraded H7 LED...
That being said, the projector beam headlamps do a hell of a job putting the light down in the proper manner. LED and vehicles with ECU don’t mix until …..
This company, who integrated a fan into the lamp. It draws enough load to allow the system to believe there’s an incandescent bulb in there.
Installing those in the high beams will get me ranting.
Ursprung 2024 Upgraded H7 LED...
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,258
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Sorry, whats the issue that's got you grousing? Those lamps you mentioned, 30,000 Lumens?
Seriously? Talk about overkill. Standard 55w legal bulbs have ~1500.
The only place I'd even consider something like that would be the brights. And that would upset you....how?
Since you're the one that posted these, why would you not want to use them for brights?
Use them as your full time normal beams will likely cause accidents by drivers who have been
completely blinded, and if installed as hi beam, better be quick on brights switch off.
And how long before the sheety fan gives out and melts the wiring, and probably the whole light assemby?
I would not recommend those. Not now, not never. (As the lizard says)
Seriously? Talk about overkill. Standard 55w legal bulbs have ~1500.
The only place I'd even consider something like that would be the brights. And that would upset you....how?
Since you're the one that posted these, why would you not want to use them for brights?
Use them as your full time normal beams will likely cause accidents by drivers who have been
completely blinded, and if installed as hi beam, better be quick on brights switch off.
And how long before the sheety fan gives out and melts the wiring, and probably the whole light assemby?
I would not recommend those. Not now, not never. (As the lizard says)
I’m not a fan of the individuals who run led retrofit lamps in housings designed for incandescent bulbs. Thank you for letting us know up front they’re LED.
That being said, the projector beam headlamps do a hell of a job putting the light down in the proper manner. LED and vehicles with ECU don’t mix until …..
This company, who integrated a fan into the lamp. It draws enough load to allow the system to believe there’s an incandescent bulb in there.
Installing those in the high beams will get me ranting.
Ursprung 2024 Upgraded H7 LED... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3L5RLVG...p_mob_ap_share
That being said, the projector beam headlamps do a hell of a job putting the light down in the proper manner. LED and vehicles with ECU don’t mix until …..
This company, who integrated a fan into the lamp. It draws enough load to allow the system to believe there’s an incandescent bulb in there.
Installing those in the high beams will get me ranting.
Ursprung 2024 Upgraded H7 LED... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3L5RLVG...p_mob_ap_share
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Aug 17, 2024 at 07:31 PM.
Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 119
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
I gotcha, both of us rant (grouse) about LED when used in high beam reflectors made for incandescent bulbs. They bleed light into oncoming traffic blinding them.
Hella, Morimoto and other similar Projector assemblies running DS1, DS2 (HID) or LED have a razor sharp cut off to safely direct the light. In EU standards the xenon/BIX or LED usually require manual or auto leveling technology.
Re: A burnt harness… LED in general uses approx 90% less energy. If that micro fan went out, the LED board would go out because it doesn’t have the heat sink that LED normally come equipped with. The remaining 3-4v draw the LED would be consuming would not fry a harness, but …
Flashing… Low current draw will freak out the SAM. It would make LED headlamp flash on & off as pictured or not work at all. The SAM for the left headlamp is flashing, the right SAM is keeping the circuit off. Both SAM are freaking out. Hopefully replacing the OEM bulbs will get things back to norm.
Sounds like the the 30,000 LM being referred to isn’t specifying that it’s for both bulbs. Civilian LED technology does currently top out about 15k LM per bulb due to bulb, chip size & thermal capacity.
Hella, Morimoto and other similar Projector assemblies running DS1, DS2 (HID) or LED have a razor sharp cut off to safely direct the light. In EU standards the xenon/BIX or LED usually require manual or auto leveling technology.
Re: A burnt harness… LED in general uses approx 90% less energy. If that micro fan went out, the LED board would go out because it doesn’t have the heat sink that LED normally come equipped with. The remaining 3-4v draw the LED would be consuming would not fry a harness, but …
Flashing… Low current draw will freak out the SAM. It would make LED headlamp flash on & off as pictured or not work at all. The SAM for the left headlamp is flashing, the right SAM is keeping the circuit off. Both SAM are freaking out. Hopefully replacing the OEM bulbs will get things back to norm.
Sounds like the the 30,000 LM being referred to isn’t specifying that it’s for both bulbs. Civilian LED technology does currently top out about 15k LM per bulb due to bulb, chip size & thermal capacity.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 314
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w203cl
Sylvania/Osram sells approved LED bulbs for Europe now, they draw 20W and have 5 times lifetime of a halogen but not cheap. And funny, they have 1500lm, because more is not allowed (without automatic leveling) When I remember correctly the normal H7 has 1100-1200lm
Last edited by 112233; Aug 19, 2024 at 05:54 AM.
Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 119
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
Good to hear TUV / Germany set foot into regulating them. They’re out of control here in the States. Those clowns often purchase led job site lamps and mount them on the roof or as fog lamp on trucks. I’m surprised those same characters don’t have playing cards attached to the spokes in their rims to pretend they have a loud exhaust.
it does make sense the led retrofit bulbs are regulated to a lower lm. The technology just isn’t there yet to focus all the light where it needs to be.
it does make sense the led retrofit bulbs are regulated to a lower lm. The technology just isn’t there yet to focus all the light where it needs to be.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,258
Likes: 168
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I have Bix, but in 2002 they didn't have autoleveling.
But compared to all the other vehicles on the road mostly
newer than mine, they are nothing compared to a new pickup or
SUV at eye leve with LED's and around here it seems like everyone drives with
their brights on all the time, probably since we live on the edge of town, and then there's nothing for 25 miles after our street,
and lots of deer and wildlife. Even had a baby bear in the backyard once. I'm sure mama was closeby.
Possums, skunks, foxes, deer, elk, you name it.
But compared to all the other vehicles on the road mostly
newer than mine, they are nothing compared to a new pickup or
SUV at eye leve with LED's and around here it seems like everyone drives with
their brights on all the time, probably since we live on the edge of town, and then there's nothing for 25 miles after our street,
and lots of deer and wildlife. Even had a baby bear in the backyard once. I'm sure mama was closeby.
Possums, skunks, foxes, deer, elk, you name it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,258
Likes: 168
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Was it working before you did that something if anything?
Always go back to the last thing you did.
Have you checked the fuses? How's the wiring connector look?
Fuse charts can be found here in the forum.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Aug 19, 2024 at 04:51 PM.
Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 119
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
For those who’ve read this far, heed the question just asked in the last post … What’d you do before all this started to happen?
Try and undo the changes made before everything went awry.
Try and undo the changes made before everything went awry.
