C36 AMG, C43 AMG (W202) 1995 - 2000

C43 malfunctioning tail light

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Old 04-29-2010, 12:33 AM
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1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
C43 malfunctioning tail light

I have a tail light that goes in and out every so often. I have read this is a common problem, has any one diagnosed this issue? Is it a wiring issue or is the housing for the tail light leaking and water is shorting out the bulb?
Old 04-29-2010, 12:39 AM
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C63 AMG P30 *EuroCharged*| Porsche Cayenne | Buell XB9SX
happened to me quite often: the bulb would go out, but if i knocked on the lens with my knuckle, it would turn back on. kept happening, so the dealership replaced the whole lighting carrier. this fixed the problem, for about 6 months. it's doing it again.
Old 04-29-2010, 02:51 AM
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12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG sold)
Check wiring for loose connections and clean the contacts. Change bulb perhaps, as could be duff.
Old 04-29-2010, 09:15 PM
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83 500SEC, 87 300D, 02 C32(x2), 02 C320T (x2), 03 C320T4, 03 C320T, 03 E55, 05 E320CDI, 06 E320CDI
heat from the bulbs melts the board they all sit in, my inner left parking light was doing this the other night and I fixed it by remelting the plastic 'guides' the stick through the potmetal and are meant to hold the metal tight against the plastic. a few of the pins near the problem bulb had reshaped from the heat and were allowing the metal to pull away and make poor contact.
Old 05-03-2010, 04:52 AM
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12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG sold)
Interesting observation due to deformation of the plastic by heat from the bulb. Wrong wattage of bulbs perhaps (or poor plastic quality)?
Old 05-03-2010, 11:15 PM
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83 500SEC, 87 300D, 02 C32(x2), 02 C320T (x2), 03 C320T4, 03 C320T, 03 E55, 05 E320CDI, 06 E320CDI
plastic quality.

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