Brake light woes...Please help!
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Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 207
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From: Houston, TX
MY2004 E320
Brake light woes...Please help!
Hi everyone. I have a 97 e420 that is doing something strange. the pass side rear brake lamp does not come on when brakes are pressed. Parking lights work fine. I swapped the bulbs and holder from other side (driver rear brake) and they work fine on the driver side. Is there a separate fuse for rear right brake lamp? am I doomed and need new taillight assembly? The annoying "defective lamp" indicator is coming on the dash. I took a multimeter and tried to check for good conductivity (should have also checked voltage ... but alas its at work now). Also took a mild sandpaper and cleaned off the contacts on the taillight to no avail. Any ideas guys?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 405
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From: Sacramento, CA
W204 C300 2010
I know that non-OEM tail light housings have some problems with the contacts between the light socket assembly and the tail light housing. I recall a previous post about soldering wires from the socket assembly to the tail light housing. This would work providing you are getting voltage to the problem tail light.
Also, with the cheapie Asian replica tail lights, I too had the same problem. I sanded the contacts too. I also had to bend the metal tabs from the bulb holder to provide more physical contact.
Also, with the cheapie Asian replica tail lights, I too had the same problem. I sanded the contacts too. I also had to bend the metal tabs from the bulb holder to provide more physical contact.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
You can get a taillight assembly on ebay for $20 or less for the old style pre 99. A lot of people change to the 2000+ taillights so they are available. See if you have voltage at the plug to make sure that you don't have a broken wire going to the assembly.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 207
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From: Houston, TX
MY2004 E320
Thanks guys
Lemme try the multimeter tomorrow to see if I am getting any voltage there because without that its pretty much guesswork. I appreciate the point about used tallamps on ebay - that would be my last resort to replace the whole thing
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Murrieta, Southern California
Late Built 2005 W-211 E-320 CDI
Tail light problems?
Originally Posted by mobinakhtar
Lemme try the multimeter tomorrow to see if I am getting any voltage there because without that its pretty much guesswork. I appreciate the point about used tallamps on ebay - that would be my last resort to replace the whole thing
I had the same problem, and the agency told me that I needed an entire inner taillight assembly replaced.
Their quote was only $260! Never mind says I.
Went home, and hard wired mine, and it still wouldn't work correctly.
Found out I had two bad bulbs at the same time. One bulb had the brake light element side B O and the other bulb on the other side of the car had a the taillight element B O. So for about $5 worth of bulbs (Sylvania 7225 [P21/4W]) everything works correctly, and no more messages blocking the dash. Took me hours, but there is satisfaction in doing it yourself and saving over $250.
HTHs
Last edited by Green E-300 DT; Jul 28, 2004 at 11:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 207
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From: Houston, TX
MY2004 E320
Problem Fixed!!!!!! Loose contact on brake light
Thank you everyone for your great help. I took a multimeter and tested for voltage and theyre was 11.8V coming in when brakes were pressed. It is then I realized that the contact plate on the brake light had loosened up and got pressed inwards and was not making good contact with the holder. I bent it outwards slightly and it worked.
Someone earlier mentioned that aftermarket lights have this notorious problem, but this one seems to be a genuine mercedes light. In any case - problem solved.
I also sanded the contacts and tweaked the holder for better and tighter contact. Thanks everyone for your help again, my e420 and I are happier than ever.!
Cheers!
Someone earlier mentioned that aftermarket lights have this notorious problem, but this one seems to be a genuine mercedes light. In any case - problem solved.
I also sanded the contacts and tweaked the holder for better and tighter contact. Thanks everyone for your help again, my e420 and I are happier than ever.!
Cheers!
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