Tail Light Bulb Help
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Alberta
This and that.
Tail Light Bulb Help
Hi guys, need some urgent help here.
So I was driving today and suddenly I got a message on my cluster saying, 'check left side tail or brake light'. When I did that, I noticed the brakes were working fine.
I then turned the light knob all the way to the right and pulled it out all the way so as to first turn the front fog lights and then the back lights and noticed that my right rear tail light wasn't working.
I am just wondering why is the instrument cluster saying, it's left when it's actually right that doesn't seem to be working?
Also can someone please help me and tell me what kind of bulb would go there? And would I be able to replace it myself? Is it an easy enough DIY to change the tail light bulbs? If someone could kindly direct me towards where I can find that DIY it would be great. I want to do this within a day or two before I leave town so urgent help is needed.
Thanks a ton in advance.
So I was driving today and suddenly I got a message on my cluster saying, 'check left side tail or brake light'. When I did that, I noticed the brakes were working fine.
I then turned the light knob all the way to the right and pulled it out all the way so as to first turn the front fog lights and then the back lights and noticed that my right rear tail light wasn't working.
I am just wondering why is the instrument cluster saying, it's left when it's actually right that doesn't seem to be working?
Also can someone please help me and tell me what kind of bulb would go there? And would I be able to replace it myself? Is it an easy enough DIY to change the tail light bulbs? If someone could kindly direct me towards where I can find that DIY it would be great. I want to do this within a day or two before I leave town so urgent help is needed.
Thanks a ton in advance.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Hi guys, need some urgent help here.
So I was driving today and suddenly I got a message on my cluster saying, 'check left side tail or brake light'. When I did that, I noticed the brakes were working fine.
I then turned the light knob all the way to the right and pulled it out all the way so as to first turn the front fog lights and then the back lights and noticed that my right rear tail light wasn't working.
I am just wondering why is the instrument cluster saying, it's left when it's actually right that doesn't seem to be working?
Also can someone please help me and tell me what kind of bulb would go there? And would I be able to replace it myself? Is it an easy enough DIY to change the tail light bulbs? If someone could kindly direct me towards where I can find that DIY it would be great. I want to do this within a day or two before I leave town so urgent help is needed.
Thanks a ton in advance.
So I was driving today and suddenly I got a message on my cluster saying, 'check left side tail or brake light'. When I did that, I noticed the brakes were working fine.
I then turned the light knob all the way to the right and pulled it out all the way so as to first turn the front fog lights and then the back lights and noticed that my right rear tail light wasn't working.
I am just wondering why is the instrument cluster saying, it's left when it's actually right that doesn't seem to be working?
Also can someone please help me and tell me what kind of bulb would go there? And would I be able to replace it myself? Is it an easy enough DIY to change the tail light bulbs? If someone could kindly direct me towards where I can find that DIY it would be great. I want to do this within a day or two before I leave town so urgent help is needed.
Thanks a ton in advance.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,395
Likes: 26
From: Alberta
This and that.
How would that make sense though? It looks weird in the back when I pull out the knob all the way and turn those lights on. Left works and is bright, right is still on but not bright at all and seems like its burnt out.
Also the error sign popping up on the cluster instrument...? Brake lights work fine and the other lights that are always on work fine too. Only one seems like its missing is that when turned on.
Also the error sign popping up on the cluster instrument...? Brake lights work fine and the other lights that are always on work fine too. Only one seems like its missing is that when turned on.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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2011 C300 4matic sport
There are three tail/brake bulbs per side. Any one of them could be burned out. Check your owner's manual how to replace a bulb and what type it is. (If you don't have an owner's manual you can find an online version on MBUSA.com) The bulbs are arranged on a pallet that you can remove once you open the compartment in the trunk. Any auto parts store will carry the bulb you need. Easy DIY. And, as stated, there is no separate fog light, only extra voltage to the left side bulbs when "fog light" setting is selected, so there is nothing wrong with the right side in your case.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
There are three tail/brake bulbs per side. Any one of them could be burned out. Check your owner's manual how to replace a bulb and what type it is. (If you don't have an owner's manual you can find an online version on MBUSA.com) The bulbs are arranged on a pallet that you can remove once you open the compartment in the trunk. Any auto parts store will carry the bulb you need. Easy DIY. And, as stated, there is no separate fog light, only extra voltage to the left side bulbs when "fog light" setting is selected, so there is nothing wrong with the right side in your case.
Those three bulbs normally operate on a reduced voltage, not 12V. When the rear fog is selected, the uppermost light is switched to full 12V, becoming bright, it's normal condition if used elsewhere such as in the backup light socket.
When the brake pedal is depressed, the two lower bulbs (lower tail lights) are switched to full 12V, becoming bright.
Therefore, there are three taillights but only two brakelights which are in the lower half.
Since the rear fog is working, and if a bulb has truly failed according to the lamp out indicator, it has to be one of the two lower bulbs which will be revealed when the lamp holder is removed from the lamp assembly. Another thing to check is the sockets since there have been reports of corroded sockets causing the bulb to become intermittent and this can light the bulb out light, also.
All this voltage switching is provided by the rear SAM.
So when any rear light function is selected, it's really done by sending a signal to the rear SAM from a switch elsewhere.
Last edited by RLE; Apr 14, 2012 at 12:18 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,395
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From: Alberta
This and that.
That makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much, really appreciate it. It's pretty much what the service person told me. He said it's an easy DIY and can be done yourself, or he said they can do it and it will be like $30 roughly. Is there a DIY anywhere that I can follow that would show me how to pull out the brake light pallet and have a look. Once I know which bulb is burnt out, I can go to Canadian Tire and pick that bulb up and replace it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
That makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much, really appreciate it. It's pretty much what the service person told me. He said it's an easy DIY and can be done yourself, or he said they can do it and it will be like $30 roughly. Is there a DIY anywhere that I can follow that would show me how to pull out the brake light pallet and have a look. Once I know which bulb is burnt out, I can go to Canadian Tire and pick that bulb up and replace it.
This is much easier than it might sound.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,395
Likes: 26
From: Alberta
This and that.
Thank you so much. I was able to figure out when the guy at the dealership showed me. That was probably the easiest DIY ever. Thinking of putting LED bulbs in there now, just cause how easy it is to do. lol
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