center brake light
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio
E320
center brake light
Lamp defective warning came on today and i found it to be the center brake light. Problem though, I only get the message when lights are on. Does the center brake light bulb have two fillaments? when headlights are off i dont get this message.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 2
From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
How do you know it is the center brake light? You replaced it and still get the warning? It sounds like one of your parking lights are bad? The center brake light only comes on when you step on the brake.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio
E320
Whaasup E!
After getting the message I turned car off, then restarted stepped on the brake no error msg. turned lights on then stepped on the brake then msg appeared. Had my wife get in and step on the brake while i observed and sure enough it was the center brake light! error msg only when lights on.
After getting the message I turned car off, then restarted stepped on the brake no error msg. turned lights on then stepped on the brake then msg appeared. Had my wife get in and step on the brake while i observed and sure enough it was the center brake light! error msg only when lights on.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Malaysia
Mercedes W210 E280
Had the same problem with my center break light. But the thing is, after a while, the lights out signal comes out once in a while, kinda like a reminder cycle after 2 years of not changing my rear light. :P I got sick and tired of it, and changed it recently..had to get a new break light housing, cause my old one was gone, and apparently the connectore underneath the housing also melted due to the heat, so i had to replace that too!..total replace for MB parts was about US120 converted I think..
however, once in a while now i STILL get a lights out msg, and was told that rear lamps connectors are already gone, and i was advised to change it to the updated tail lamps :p Good excuse to change em now ay>? LOL
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
MY2004 E320
Could be bad connectors on the brake lamp assy
Hi,
I had a simmilar annoying problem of "lamp defective" that was interminnent, yet only happened when lights were on. (You can search for the details on that post). However the culprit was a loose connection on the brake assy on drivers side. There is a metallic plate with fingers that makes contact with the bulbs and that tends to bend backwards with extended use (heat?) all you have to do is to bend it back forward to ensure proper contact.
The interminnent nature of bulb not being in contact causes system to believe i has a defective lamp, in actuality there is bad connection.
my 2c
I had a simmilar annoying problem of "lamp defective" that was interminnent, yet only happened when lights were on. (You can search for the details on that post). However the culprit was a loose connection on the brake assy on drivers side. There is a metallic plate with fingers that makes contact with the bulbs and that tends to bend backwards with extended use (heat?) all you have to do is to bend it back forward to ensure proper contact.
The interminnent nature of bulb not being in contact causes system to believe i has a defective lamp, in actuality there is bad connection.
my 2c
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,464
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
Got same problem, replaced bulb, msg went away.
Originally Posted by Shane C
Lamp defective warning came on today and i found it to be the center brake light. Problem though, I only get the message when lights are on. Does the center brake light bulb have two fillaments? when headlights are off i dont get this message.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 2
From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
If you want to try a different center brake light assembly Shane, I will sell you my original one cheep. I think I still have it from when I upgraded to the 2000+ rear shelf and center brake light. Yours might be shorting out. The fault shows up when there is more of a load on the circuit.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio
E320
Ok I changed out the center brake bulb which was out. now it works fine but i still recieve the error message. i will double check the tail light assembly's to make sure there is good contact between them and the bulb connectors.
E if all else fails I will pick up that third brake light from you! I have been thinking of retrofitting a led brake light assembly in. Have been unsuccessfull finding the rear shelf and light 99+
E if all else fails I will pick up that third brake light from you! I have been thinking of retrofitting a led brake light assembly in. Have been unsuccessfull finding the rear shelf and light 99+
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