Lamp indicator warning light
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
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250D
Lamp indicator warning light
Hey all, I have a 124 series 300 D. The lamp indicator warning light (the dash light that supposedly warns of a burnt out turn signal or brake light) started intermittingly coming on a little while ago and now it is always on. All the bulbs on the vehicle are working properly. I'm not sure how this system works so i don't know where to start looking to troubleshoot, or to bypass the system. Thanks for any help you can lend.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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1993 500E
Hey all, I have a 124 series 300 D. The lamp indicator warning light (the dash light that supposedly warns of a burnt out turn signal or brake light) started intermittingly coming on a little while ago and now it is always on. All the bulbs on the vehicle are working properly. I'm not sure how this system works so i don't know where to start looking to troubleshoot, or to bypass the system. Thanks for any help you can lend.
Are you quite sure all the bulbs are working? The indicator will light
if one of the rear license plate bulbs are bad. If not, behind the fuse box
are relays that control the bulb out warning. Remove the relays and
spray both the male prongs and the slots they fit into with electrical
contact cleaner.
hope this helps,
a'
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
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250D
More help please
I have checked every bulb and they are all working. I have also checked that all my light bulbs are the correct wattage. I took apart the fuse box and cleaned or replaced all the fuses and housings. I also cleaned the terminals on the relays that are located in the fuse box area. During this entire process, even when the relays were unplugged, and at no point since carefully examining every part of the fuse box, has the dash light turned off. I really don't even value the feature, I mean I can get out of my car or use reflections to tell if any of my bulbs are out. At this point I'd be happy to just turn off the warning light. Can anyone tell me where I could look, or what I should do next in my attempt to either repair or disarm the system?
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Youngtimer
did you check your brake lights? i usually jam something between the brake pedal and the seat to keep the pedal pressed when i need to check. might be one of them?
or maybe you have a short somewhere...?
or maybe you have a short somewhere...?
Almost a Member!
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From: NJ
E320
I burned two bulbs in a one month period (brake bulbs)... no more Sylvania LL bulbs for me.
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From: Boston
is a German Tank
you may want to double check to see if any of your lights/tailights/corner markers are put on correctly.
I had a loose tailight and my indicator was coming off and on randomly, turns out one of my tailights was loose and once I "popped" it back in place it was all good and no more indicator light.
I had a loose tailight and my indicator was coming off and on randomly, turns out one of my tailights was loose and once I "popped" it back in place it was all good and no more indicator light.
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1994 E320 Dragon Wagon
You can disable it by yanking the warning bulb out of the console. This is the last ditch effort.
Hang in there, it may still be a bulb deal. There is a comparator that monitors the current load of all lamps in the circuit - when operated. So, if you turn on the headlights does the error lamp trip? Does it trip when you step on the brake? The selected function will tell you which set of lamps has the failure. Roll through the parking - headlights - brake slowly and watch for the trip.
The bulbs of course have to work but they need to be the absolute factory value. Current higher or lower than the original value will trip the light. Shadow points out aftermarket headlights may trip it as the load changed.
The third brake light is often overlooked. My car had too bright of a lamp in the third brake housing. It was a 1156 some owner thought would be fine as it fit. The factory called out a different number. Switched the bulb, error light stayed out. It would trip the first time you touch the brake after starting.
Hang in there, it may still be a bulb deal. There is a comparator that monitors the current load of all lamps in the circuit - when operated. So, if you turn on the headlights does the error lamp trip? Does it trip when you step on the brake? The selected function will tell you which set of lamps has the failure. Roll through the parking - headlights - brake slowly and watch for the trip.
The bulbs of course have to work but they need to be the absolute factory value. Current higher or lower than the original value will trip the light. Shadow points out aftermarket headlights may trip it as the load changed.
The third brake light is often overlooked. My car had too bright of a lamp in the third brake housing. It was a 1156 some owner thought would be fine as it fit. The factory called out a different number. Switched the bulb, error light stayed out. It would trip the first time you touch the brake after starting.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Australia
300E
I have the same problem when I turn my lights on. I bought a new battery the other week cause mine died, but when the guy checked the voltage while the car was running it dropped significantly when I turned the headlights on.
The guy said to get the voltage regulator checked on my next service and I'm fairly confident that’s why my warning light turns on and off while driving.
Worth a look rather than hiding the problem.
The guy said to get the voltage regulator checked on my next service and I'm fairly confident that’s why my warning light turns on and off while driving.
Worth a look rather than hiding the problem.
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From: Long Beach, Ca
lots of cars
I wouldn't worry about the light indicator being turned on. Mine is turned on all the time too but that's because i did some mods to the rear tail lights and my front turn signals. If it really bothers you that much just remove the dash and take out the bulb. You would know if you have a problem if you blow a fuse but if you don't then there is nothing to worry about.
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1986 300E
If it started when you drive (stop and go) my two bits go to a loose wire.
I had my radio going on and off... ended up opening up the fuse box (under the fuses) and checking all the wires and all that mess. Jiggled stuff around, figured out wich wire it was.. cleaned, tightend... works all the time now.
my light indicator does that too though, but not allways... ive learned to ignore it.
I had my radio going on and off... ended up opening up the fuse box (under the fuses) and checking all the wires and all that mess. Jiggled stuff around, figured out wich wire it was.. cleaned, tightend... works all the time now.
my light indicator does that too though, but not allways... ive learned to ignore it.
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1987 300e
I have all the parking lights ONLY just go out on the right side. I thought it a bit weird that both bulbs went out, and when I went to replace the bulbs with new ones, the lights still don't work. Any thoughts?? Short? It has just rained a lot recently and usually that gives me problems with the rear right bulb, which just needs to be fiddled with briefly to start working again. Now nothing brings it or (now) the front one back. The blinkers work on the right just fine.
hmmm. . .
Lui
hmmm. . .
Lui
Last edited by Lui; May 28, 2009 at 07:27 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2009
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1993 300D 2.5L
My bulb failure light comes on sometimes when I step on the brakes. It goes out when I release the brakes. I have replaced both the brake lights so I know they are good. The third light works but the idea to check it anyway for the correct bulb is good one. I'll do that. The manual says the check light will go on, and stay on, once lit. I am a little confused as to why mine tuns off.
I do have one front fog light burned out and I have the part ordered. Once I get that replaced and check the third brake light I'll have to troubleshoot further if the problem still exists.
I do have one front fog light burned out and I have the part ordered. Once I get that replaced and check the third brake light I'll have to troubleshoot further if the problem still exists.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Old wolf, make sure its the orange indicator for the lights being out, and not the orange light for the brake pad lining sensor... they look similiar and people sometimes get the confused. Also, The gauge cluster on these older cars has a series of the same bulbs for the indicators, sometimes people dont put them back in in the correct order and cause the new owner to go on a mouse chase trying to solve the problem... when it turns out its just the bulb from the washer fluid in the SRS indicator slot.... damn you PO!
