Tail light connector melted
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
Tail light connector melted
Take a look.
This is the connector for my right side tail light. The left side is perfectly fine.
It looks like the brown wire melted right through the plastic. The receiver on the bulb board is toasted too. (This is the wire closest to the OUTSIDE of the car, if you are looking at the connector while it is plugged it in it is the leftmost wire.)
When I removed the brown wire and plugged in the connector nothing worked.
Update: I'll be heading to the dealer for a new bulb board and connector Monday morning. I'll try to work on it when I get home tomorrow night.
EVERYONE SHOULD CHECK THEIR TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS FOR ANY UNUSUAL SIGNS OF WEAR. They are VERY easily accessible through panels inside the trunk. The bulb board simply clicks off. This seems like a common problem and if caught early enough you can probably avoid having to get another bulb board.
Last edited by dcjwlee; Sep 30, 2012 at 08:52 PM.
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
Mine started last night. I found info from June 2011 where I went to the dealership for a bulb out message, but couldn't find a burnt bulb. When I came back to me car- 3 employees where at my trunk with a set of needle nose pliers. They said there were issues with the connector coming loose from the harness so they were "checking" them for me. I can't completely remove my harness from the light assembly because I can't get the brown wire loose. If I partially reinsert the harness- my bulbs fully illuminate. I'm at 53,000 miles (3K out of warranty) so let's see what they will do.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
I have a gut feeling that the brown wire is the power wire. We will see tomorrow.
Sigfreak, if you cannot get the harness off you can at least get the board that holds the bulbs off. It clicks off at two points very easily. Just make sure you don't pull too hard before removing the wires for the turn signals (remember which goes where).
Sigfreak, if you cannot get the harness off you can at least get the board that holds the bulbs off. It clicks off at two points very easily. Just make sure you don't pull too hard before removing the wires for the turn signals (remember which goes where).
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
Took it the dealership today. They replaced:
1 204-820-06-77 lamp carrier
1 211-545-03-28 plug
1 014-545-82-26 pin bushing
1 204-820-09-77 lamp carrier
1 211-545-03-28 plug
1 014-545-82-26 pin bushing
Out of warranty almost a year- replaced at no cost
Woohoo!
1 204-820-06-77 lamp carrier
1 211-545-03-28 plug
1 014-545-82-26 pin bushing
1 204-820-09-77 lamp carrier
1 211-545-03-28 plug
1 014-545-82-26 pin bushing
Out of warranty almost a year- replaced at no cost
Woohoo!
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 757
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
If you could scan and send me a copy of your invoice after blurring any sensitive info so I can show my dealer that it was covered free of cost... Did they goodwill it through corporate or something? Did your problem look like mine did in the frist post? The ground wire burned through the harness.
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Joined: May 2010
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2008 W204
SigFreak - Just wondering what kind of relationship you have with that dealership? I took my car to my local dealer once about a year ago for warranty repair, so I'm wondering if they would do this for me for free even if I haven't been a consistent customer.
I wish I could just buy the wiring harness cause right now on my car that's the only thing that's damaged.
I wish I could just buy the wiring harness cause right now on my car that's the only thing that's damaged.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
SigFreak - Just wondering what kind of relationship you have with that dealership? I took my car to my local dealer once about a year ago for warranty repair, so I'm wondering if they would do this for me for free even if I haven't been a consistent customer.
I wish I could just buy the wiring harness cause right now on my car that's the only thing that's damaged.
I wish I could just buy the wiring harness cause right now on my car that's the only thing that's damaged.
The parts desk guy could not find the harness for me otherwise I would have replaced it myself. The bulb holder was easy to find. Going in on Thursday so I hope they goodwill this for me too!
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
The Service Advisor told me there would be charge for the repair. I asked to speak to the Service Manager and when I spoke to him- I advised it was a Safety Issue since my brake lights were working intermittently and he said it would be covered. It had also been noted in the computer that back in May/June 2011 I had received bulb-out error messages and when the dealership checked it- they were "checking" the harness because some of the connectors were "known" to come loose. Not sure if this helped.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
The Service Advisor told me there would be charge for the repair. I asked to speak to the Service Manager and when I spoke to him- I advised it was a Safety Issue since my brake lights were working intermittently and he said it would be covered. It had also been noted in the computer that back in May/June 2011 I had received bulb-out error messages and when the dealership checked it- they were "checking" the harness because some of the connectors were "known" to come loose. Not sure if this helped.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 757
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
Sigfreak, I picked up a new connector at the stealer the other day. Did you notice it was shaped differently and does not fit all the way in?
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'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Buffalo NY
MB C300 2009
Dealer won't fix N/C :(
Any suggestions? They tell me I will have to pay approximately a "couple hundred" dollars. Been there done that with my first oil change, that isn't going to happen again. I notice on AkaSigFreak that it says "Performed Campaign 2012070002". When I had taken car in for service one time they fixed the trunk opening too fast and I was never aware of a "silent recall" to correct the issue but there was a similar campaign number listed, is there one for this and I just have to push even harder? 3.5 years old car and 74K miles but I don't know how long this has been burning up. Probably buy a fire extinguisher instead.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 757
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
Any suggestions? They tell me I will have to pay approximately a "couple hundred" dollars. Been there done that with my first oil change, that isn't going to happen again. I notice on AkaSigFreak that it says "Performed Campaign 2012070002". When I had taken car in for service one time they fixed the trunk opening too fast and I was never aware of a "silent recall" to correct the issue but there was a similar campaign number listed, is there one for this and I just have to push even harder? 3.5 years old car and 74K miles but I don't know how long this has been burning up. Probably buy a fire extinguisher instead.However, a "couple hundred dollars" seems like an unlikely answer given that the parts are hardly over $50.... $35 for the lamp carrier, $15 for the harness, and like $1 for the pin that connects to the wire. It's an easy DIY and to be honest it shouldn't take a competent mechanic more than 30 minutes.
Most dealerships are more than happy to provide an itemized estimate and it seems like you should ask for one... I'm a little surprised that a SA would give such a vague answer.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Buffalo NY
MB C300 2009
Yeah, no question I will make the repair myself and just buy the parts. I have filed a formal complaint with the NHTSB and see where that goes. Just disappointed that this has to happen. Am buying an SLK250 in the spring as a summer car and will head over to Rochester NY to comparison shop. Previously I would have stayed at Mercedes Benz of Buffalo. All over a "couple hundred dollars".
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 757
Likes: 1
From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
Yeah, no question I will make the repair myself and just buy the parts. I have filed a formal complaint with the NHTSB and see where that goes. Just disappointed that this has to happen. Am buying an SLK250 in the spring as a summer car and will head over to Rochester NY to comparison shop. Previously I would have stayed at Mercedes Benz of Buffalo. All over a "couple hundred dollars".
