Headlights work as brake lights!
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
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2003 Mercedes s500 4matic
Headlights work as brake lights!
I Have a 2001 e430 4matic and when I step on the brake the front headlights function as if they are brake lights? I checked the rear brake lights and they work.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 301
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1997 E300D
Generally, when your light system acts like it is possessed, you have a ground problem. In this case I would suspect one or more of the brake light grounds are bad. You probably have a ground for each tail light and one for the center brake light. The head lights are involved because the brake light is using their grounds.
Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 248
Likes: 36
From: L.A., Moscow, NYC, San Diego, Baja
1998 E320 Wagon, 2003 W211 E500, 2003 W211 E500, 1999 W210 E55 AMG
Generally, when your light system acts like it is possessed, you have a ground problem. In this case I would suspect one or more of the brake light grounds are bad. You probably have a ground for each tail light and one for the center brake light. The head lights are involved because the brake light is using their grounds.
Are the ground wires for lighting brown as well? Do the headlamps, tail lamps, and turn indicator lamps share common grounds, i.e. will I find more than one wire attached at a ground point?
20 questions. Thanks for further input.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,975
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
I have posted electrical schematics for the w210. It is for a 2001 version but the electrical ground points as indicated in the schematics should be approximately the same. Use advanced search with my username and the w210 and w210 AMG forums and do a search for w210 electrical schematics.
Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 248
Likes: 36
From: L.A., Moscow, NYC, San Diego, Baja
1998 E320 Wagon, 2003 W211 E500, 2003 W211 E500, 1999 W210 E55 AMG
I have posted electrical schematics for the w210. It is for a 2001 version but the electrical ground points as indicated in the schematics should be approximately the same. Use advanced search with my username and the w210 and w210 AMG forums and do a search for w210 electrical schematics.
I also dug out the ground locations for various components:
