"defective lamp" 1997 E420
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Joined: Nov 2014
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E420
"defective lamp" 1997 E420
My dash tells me every so often and I think more so when I hit the brakes that I have a "defective lamp" except I do not. All brake lamps are working. All lamps are operative when asked.
I hit clear and it does not come back for days or every 20 minutes.
Anybody got any ideas on the cause?
I hit clear and it does not come back for days or every 20 minutes.
Anybody got any ideas on the cause?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 19
From: SoCal
98 Brilliant Silver E320 Wagon
MB uses a special bulb socket which gets it's power from contact tabs on the socket instead of a wire protruding from the back. Over the years the contact points can become corroded or just loose. A trick that worked well for me is to seat (rotate fully) the socket and then back it off a little (~ 5 degrees) to create a new contact point. For some reason the left rear brake light is the most common culprit but others could be the problem as well.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
some techniques used: clean oxidation off the winged contacts on the bulb
holder, clean the metal surface of the tail light panel which serves as the
contact board/circuit, screw/solder a hard wire from the board over to the
bulb holder
holder, clean the metal surface of the tail light panel which serves as the
contact board/circuit, screw/solder a hard wire from the board over to the
bulb holder
