CCMcC

1993 300D. Wonderful car.

So, after I turn the headlights off, the illumination in the center console and dash flicker. When I turn the headlights back on, they burn bright and steady.

Does anyone know if this is a headlight switch issue?

Many thanks.

Caleb

CCMcC

I realized that the flickering only happens when the brake pedal is applied and the lights are off.

I found a thread on the peachtree site that makes reference to the #3 fuse providing power to the console, dash and brake lights:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...d.php?t=183340

A post to this thread by "bodhibenz1987" points to a short in the brown ground wire in the taillight assembly that causes these lights to flicker when the brake pedal is applied and the lights are off without blowing the fuse.

This seems to give me a place to look at any rate.

CCMcC

One of my first posts on the forum was to inquire about how to replace the remote mirror switch. The control knob was broken off when I bought the car.

After receiving the part from www.thepartsbin.com (competitive price, free fast shipping), it was installed tonight. The mirrors work fine and the flickering console and dash light issue also appears to have been cured!

...update: Spoke too soon. The flicker is back. Guess I'll see if my mechanic can help me figure this out.

ocpanther

If you haven't figured this out yet ... I will add my clue.

I just tore down the front of the engine to replace the fan bearing bracket and as I was replaceing anything that moved while I was in there I discovered the tensioner was totally bad. That and the shock, together I think made my dash lights flicker at low idle or high load. Maybe this will help.

Chappy

Check rheostat too

CCMcC

That is interesting about the tensioner and the rheostat. I'll check both. The flicker seems to have gone away again. It only happens with the brake pedal applied.

Caleb

CCMcC

No more flickering

Turned out to be a loose ground connection. I checked/cleaned/snugged the grounds near the battery, in the trunk (left and right side), behind the instrument panel, and under the center console. My guess is that it was the connections under the center console (two of them in front of the gear shift) that were the culprit.

The exact symptoms were that the center console, headlight switch, and vent lights flickered when the brake pedal was depressed and the headlights were OFF. Also, the "bulb out" dash light would illuminate intermittently when the brakes were on.

Things that didn't work: replacing the stoplight switch and replacing the dash rheostat.