Third Brake Light repair on '97
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 17
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2004 E320 4matic
Third Brake Light repair on '97
Third brake light repair
I failed inspection because my third brake light was out. I changed the bulb and it worked for a few days and then went out again. I took a multi-meter and tested the bulb and it was still good, so I knew the problem was with the fixture. I finally figured out how to remove the fixture and I found that one of the contacts was burned and pitted. As a temporary fix to pass inspection I cleaned the contact and bent it so it would make better contact with the base plate. I had some time today so I took everything apart and did a better job with the repair. This time I removed the bad contact and put a blob of solder on the pitted area and filed it down so that it would make a better cleaner contact with the base plate. The attached photos show some of the steps in the repair process.
Just a note. I never got any lamp out message, so I didn't know it was out until I failed inspection
I failed inspection because my third brake light was out. I changed the bulb and it worked for a few days and then went out again. I took a multi-meter and tested the bulb and it was still good, so I knew the problem was with the fixture. I finally figured out how to remove the fixture and I found that one of the contacts was burned and pitted. As a temporary fix to pass inspection I cleaned the contact and bent it so it would make better contact with the base plate. I had some time today so I took everything apart and did a better job with the repair. This time I removed the bad contact and put a blob of solder on the pitted area and filed it down so that it would make a better cleaner contact with the base plate. The attached photos show some of the steps in the repair process.
Just a note. I never got any lamp out message, so I didn't know it was out until I failed inspection
Junior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 46
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From: Queens ny
06 e350 4matic/2000 e320 4matic wagon
I had the same problem...i think all 96-97's have this problem...i think the 98 model got the different upgraded third brake light and the problem was corrected...when i tried to remove the plastic cover it shattered into small pieces...it took me 3 months to find another one on ebay (brown)...when i got the one from e bay,it also had one of the metal tabs burned...so finally i got fed up and filed it clean and reinstalled it...so far it's working ok
