brianbonedoc

About every other day I get an intermittent Lamp Defective message. I check all the lights, I think, including the license plate lights but none seem out. Usually if I turn the car off, and back on, the message goes away.

I just assume it is the typical problem w/ the tail lamp assemblies, but I still never seem to have a defective bulb.

Any ideas, or should I just upgrade to 2000+ lights.

Thanks

99 E430 Sport
Graco Baby Seat
Baby on Board Bumper Sticker (just kidding. . .)

cabby850

Hi,

I have the same problem with my 97 E420. It happens everytime when I turn on my foglight. Even after I changed my fog light bulbs, it would still show up everytime if I turn on the foglight.

Dunno how to solve this problem either.

Ed

MARK CUMMINS

Please check all Lites..Even the Side markers/license plate also..
Make sure if you have replaced any bulbs the bulbs Match!!
Because the difference in wattage will cause a bulb check lite.
Also please check the rear tail lite bulb holders ..the connection have been known to melt and cause a check lite also
Its a start..good luck

6.3

I was getting the same message also and all lites seemed ok than I traced it to bad brake lite. Whenever I was about to put in drive and pressed on brake pedal after start up the message would comeup.

brianbonedoc

6.3 - thanks, you know very often when I get the message it is when I first apply the brake. So the question is, is it a bad bulb, or connector? hmmmm. . . .

6.3

If you're really fast.... apply the brake and run to see if the lite is on

Or just ask someone to check it for you...
:p

Lightman

I had the same problem on my '99. My front foglight wiring was loose, and eventually caused it to go out. I was very surprised when my lamp defective message didn't go away. Then I noticed 1 of the 2 lights that light up the license plate was out

brianbonedoc

Ok - I think I solved the problem. Upgraded to E55 tail lights. . .

dcc

if it's a foglamp wiring problem mb knows about it and apparently isssued a tsb regarding upgraded wiring units. i had the intermittent lamp warning would see one or both fog lights out. tapped the light(s) and they'd come back on, no warning lamp on restart. took it to dealer which replaced both sides based on what service rep said was the tsb regarding updated wiring units.

cabby850

Dcc,

Thats exactly what I have been experiencing with my 97 E420!!!

SInce my car already have 90000 miles on it its out of warrenty. Will MB still fix the problem for me free of charge? How did you get them to admit the problem and fix it for free?

Thanks

Ed

dcc

they didn't fix it for free. new fog wiring was $90 per side. as for the service advisor, he's gone. they probably let him go for being honest.

PA28150

I just had the one-fog-light-out scenario crop up last week (driver's side). Changed the bulb after getting the warning, but the light still wouldn't come on. It's nice to know I'm not the only one experiencing this problem, and that MB has an apparent fix for it.

Rich

dcc

service advisor told me mb was seeing fog wiring deteriorate far to quickly and was recommending replacing with upgraded wiring whenever the problem was presented at the dealership. he said many just decided not to use fogs and declined the upgrade. i always drive with parking lamps/fogs on during the day so i had the work done. no problems over the past 10 mos.

nathanso

My 97 E420 has had both rear tail light assemblies replaced with new MBZ parts, and all tail light bulbs replaced with the correct matching parts yet I still get constant Lamp Defective messages. This is during daytime running, without any headlights or fog lights. It almost always happens when I first push the brake pedal, and often happens when I first put the car in reverse (yes, I've checked the reverse lights). And I've checked the 3rd brake light. And three separate independent MBZ repair shops have tried and failed to fix it.

Question: Does the above mentioned faulty fog light wiring cause the Lamp Defective message even when the fog lights are off? If not, what's the answer to my car's problem?

Top Jimmy

Sounds like just exactally what happend to me. Ended up replacing the entire light housing. My only regret was not upgrading to the 00+ versions.

You can read more interesting opinions on "Lamp Failure", including my experience, here:

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w210/106103-lamp-failure.html

Best of luck!

ghaffar23

I had the same exact thing happen to me yesterday, except it was my passenger's side light. I tapped it and restarted the car...no errors. However, I have noticed that I have moisture in both of my foglights, causing some rusting and discoloration. I was thinking about installing the aftermarket euro-clear's floating around on eBay...any thoughts?

IMIEIW

I see this is an old post but my fogs are driving me crazy(er). My passenger side will go on and off several times in a short ride. Each time it will give me a lamp out warning. I like my fogs so I want them to work. Has anyone ever really found the problem/fix? I've removed the passenger fog and cleaned all the contacts. Made sure they are all tight and replaced them. Where is the weak spot in the harness?
Thanks for any insight.
Meanwhile, I leave you in the dark: crazy:

raymond g-

you say you cleaned the contacts but that's a generic description. did you verify
and clean the ground and checked all these for continuity?

also, the fog wiring harness is a known weak spot so you should carefully examine
them for deterioration. again, check for continuity / resistance.

C230Ak

Seems like this is a longer running issue than I thought. Just got myself an 06 CLK350 and I intermittently get a failed right side parking lamp message in the multifunction but all the lights are working. Hmmm, you'd think dealer service departments would know what's up if this is as common as it seems. Couldn't find any TSBs regarding it though...

Ethomasm

If I sand the plate, will that help? I've replaced both the bulb and the socket. I'm trying to avoid the tail light housing.