I noticed that my brake lights on my 1997 E320 donot illumanate when I press the brake peddle. The thrid light works perfectly. I've check the bulbs the fuse (in the cabin) and all are good. anyone have any suggestion of what might be that problem?

Thanks

 

Replace your bulbs, they all run from the same fuse. You can also check for power and ground at the rear lights, although it's rare sometimes the circuit will rust and develop poor connections, give it a good look and clean up if necessary, also take a look at the sockets for proper connection to the bulbs, these cars are notorious for burning out bulbs...

 

Will do, thanks

 

Yep///i constantly have brake light failure..whether it be bulbs or that the connection between housing & bulb socket dont make a good connection. NO-TORRRRIOUS!

 

I haven't explored it as I only got the car recently and didn't have the problem yet, but if you look closely at the socket the protruding metal pin, which makes contact with the center of the bulb is angled(look at the socket sideways with bulb inserted), in my opinion grabbing a pair of long nose pliers and bending the tip of that pin in a fashion that it would be parallel to the base of the socket should increase contact surface area and reduce temperature.

 

well known problem is poor electrical contact between bulb holder 'wing' contacts
and the taillight circuit board/tracing. when there is high resistance, the bulb
area incurs heat build up (as well). i think there is a DIY to this on Benzworld
in STICKY .....though it bears mentioning that this may not be the cause of the
OP's problems.

in my head, lights don't usually go out in pairs unless something higher upstream
is the cause