Third brake light out. LED solution?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Third brake light out. LED solution?
I'm not finding much info on this. I think I've figured out how to get it out, except for the headrests. OEM looks like it might be an LED strip in the pics I have found, but I can't tell, and if it was, it shouldn't be burned out yet.
Pelican parts lists a single halogen bulb, but It can't be that simple.
Anyone been through this?
Pelican parts lists a single halogen bulb, but It can't be that simple.
Anyone been through this?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Ok, I've got the whole back interior ripped apart. The third brake light is in my hand. I can't see anything wrong. The wire is soldered on, the other end is a clean two prong plug. Is the led strip 12v so I can test it, or some lesser voltage? Any ideas will be appreciated.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Thanks. Tested it, works fine. I already pulled every fuse by the nav unit and checked them. No problems. I forgot the ones by the battery. I've been reading that it may be the rear SAM but I can't figure out if it is plug and play or if a used one will have to be programed.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Turned out to be a broken ground wire at the trunk lid hinge, even though the light isn't on the trunk lid. Makes no sense to run the ground that direction, but it's fixed.
Trending Topics
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
CLS55
Thanks in advance.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke
Verdad Gallardo
8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Pull the driver's side side cover in the trunk, (rear trim first) see the zip tie holding the bundle of wires to the trunk hinge? Look at the two brown wires. Lengthen them both by soldering in a piece and covering them with shrink tube. It will be the small one that's broken, but the bigger one is getting weak by now.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
CLS55
Pull the driver's side side cover in the trunk, (rear trim first) see the zip tie holding the bundle of wires to the trunk hinge? Look at the two brown wires. Lengthen them both by soldering in a piece and covering them with shrink tube. It will be the small one that's broken, but the bigger one is getting weak by now.
Mark
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
CLS55
He is not that handy so I might arrange on the weekend to go over and assist. It sounds like the break should be fairly easy to find and then just extend it before and after the break and then shrink wrap the connections.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Mine had just one wrap of tape and you could see between the wraps. Yes unwrap it. The break should be just past the zip tie were the wires bend. If it is not obvious, he might have a different problem.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
CLS55
I will work with him on the weekend when I have time. I might take mine apart and look as well as you say that they deteriorate over time.
He says that his warning just started to come on randomly and with greater frequency in the last two days.
Mark
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
CLS55
Starving Artist,
I was able to go over to Glenn's and take it apart with him. There was already a repair to the thickest Brown wire and it was with a butt connector. We took it apart and I soldered it together and wrapped it well.
He will see how it fairs with this repair. We tried pulling on the thin ones and they appeared to be fine.
Mark
