Hello fellow MB enthusiasts. I have a 2003 E500 that I love. However, I’m having a few minor problems that I’m hoping one of you can help me with. My problems include the center brake light and the license plate lights not working. These issues are reported as malfunctions on the MFD. The center brake light (3rd stop light) is reported as soon as I press the brake pedal. The license plate lights show as a malfunction when the lights come on. In addition to this, the trunk doesn’t open. It doesn’t open via the remote, via the switch on the driver’s door, or using the handle over the license plate. I can use the mechanical key to open the trunk.

I can’t help but think all these items are related. It seems like there is an electrical problem affecting the trunk deck. This weekend, I removed the liner on the trunk deck to check all the electrical connections. Everything was securely fastened and when reassembled the liner and closed the trunk everything was working normally again. That is, until last night the symptoms returned.

Anyone seen anything like this before?

I’ve recently seen another error in the MFD. It is a picture of a battery with a message that says something “Switching off electrical consumers”. I’ve seen this message twice in the past 30 days and each time it comes on and goes off within a few seconds. I’m not sure if this is related to the items above or not. Could it be that I have a low auxiliary battery causing all these problems?

 

Have both batteries checked. In addition, have a MB dealer run a VMI (vehicle master inquiry) to see if all service campaigns and recalls were done. Could be the battery control module Service campaign 211.070 (e500) 2005060008 VIN range A400339 – A607461 and/or alternator 2005070017 A042945 – A773521.

 

Having the same exact problem with my 03 E320 Sport. No power to anything on or in the trunk lid. No plate lights, no center brake light, no trunk open warning light on the door panel trunk switch, emergency open button inside the trunk does not work or light up, no trunk lid interior light, no smart key auto trunk open, no door panel trunk open, and worst of all the stupid trunk handle itself will not open the trunk lid unless I put the little metal key in the manual lock and turn it all the way to the left and pull the handle.

I took the liner off and checked the connections and everything was tight. I disconnected and then reconnected everything just to make sure but it did not fix the problem. I searched the manual for a solution. I have looked at all the fuses and they are fine. I thought about following the wiring bundle to whatever it connects to just to make sure it had not come loose but was too tired to take half the freaking car apart.

I have only had the car about six months and it has just a tick over 80k miles. I am not familiar with the wiring system at all so I am searching for a diagram. I have had my 2001 C320 for almost six years now and I have had the electronics in it apart so many times I could rewire the thing in my sleep but the E seems to be setup totally differently.

I have not gotten the power usage warning that the original poster described and really cannot imagine that a bad alternator or auxiliary battery would effect ONLY the trunk and not other electronics in the car. The batteries in my smart key are brand new and everything else works fine.

Does anyone know if there is a separate control unit for the trunk lid or where the wire bundle connects to the rest of the car?

This is driving me nuts!

Any help would be great. I loath going to the dealer and spending $$$$ just to have some guy in a silver and blue shirt pop open a panel and reconnect a loose harness in about 10 seconds.

Thanks.

 

Any indication of water getting “inside” the lid, check and clear the drain plug sometimes it clogs and does not drain properly. In addition, inspect the plate recess panel https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....86&postcount=3

 

konigstiger,

Thanks for the fast response and the great diagram, that helps quite a bit. Stupid me, in my frustration I did not even think to look behind the license plate to see if the panel could be removed. I just took apart everything I could find on the inside of the trunk lid and did not go any further. I did not notice any evidence of moisture on the inside cover that I removed or on any of the other parts that I could get too or see without taking off the plate recess panel. I did however notice later today that a tiny little corner of the center brake light lens has somehow broken off so maybe water got into the center brake light housing itself and shorted something out. I will take off the plate panel tomorrow and remove everything again to make doubly sure that there is no water getting in there and see if I cant figure this out.

If there is water damage shouldn't there be a fuse blown somewhere? If there is no fuse what would be my next step in the repair process? Is there some kind of control unit somewhere that handles all of the trunk lid functions?

Thanks again for the help!

 

I had the exact same problem. Mb said it was because of a wire pinch, which caused the brake light, license plate lights, and the trunk to not open. They charged $250 to fix it, now everything works.

 

Usually the wires are broken at the pivoting point on the left side trunk hinge.

 

Wow. This just happened to my 2005 E55 I'm having the same exact problem. The 3rd brake light stopped working 2 day's prior to the rest of the power options in the trunk. No power to anything on or in the trunk lid. No plate lights, no center brake light, no red trunk open or lock switch, emergency open button inside the trunk does not work or light up, "That's not good, I would of thought it was mechanical." no trunk lid interior light, the smart key won't open or close the trunk, the door panel switch is nonfunctional, and the trunk handle itself will not open the trunk lid unless the key is in the manual lock.
I see that someone stated that there could be a pinched wire on the left side of the trunk lid hinge. Is it possible that this would of popped a fuse somewhere, and if so were would it be located?

 

Try 88 at the rear prefuse box located in front of or beside the battery in trunk.

 

Thanks konigstiger I give it a try.

 

The problem on my 2005 E320 was frayed/broken wires going from the rear fuse panel up into the trunk lid. The wires were rubbing on the driver’s side trunk lid support when opening and closing the trunk. I tore the entire trunk apart before I checked behind the trunk carpet on the fuse panel/drivers side. No fuses blew because nothing was shorting out but nothing on the trunk worked because it was no longer connected. Before you take your trunk apart check the wires coming out of the fuse panel even if all the fuses are still good.

I think there was actually a "Star Bulletin" about the rubbing problem on the W211 cars. There answer was to reconnect the wires and then wrap them like crazy with non abrasive felt tape.

Good luck and let us know what it was when you figure it out.

 

Thanks for the help. It was the wires located next to the left trunk hinge. 7 in total were cut.
It appears that it was repaired once before. since the car only has 38000 miles it must have been repaired by the previous owners MB warranty. I wonder why MB does not show that the car came in for that service?
From what I understand this car was assembled by machines, the only part installed buy human hands was the wiring harness. This should be a recall even it is a simply repair. What if the emergency escape button was the only wire to be pinched and a kid locked him self in the trunk?

 

Quite annoying I'm having the same problem. Can we fix the wires ourselves or a pretty big job?

 

Yes it's easy. You need wire crimp tool, Heat shrink tube, but connectors, Electrical tape, and zip ties.
I purchased this care used. It was a lease return. and someone repaired the wires previously. I assume it was covered by MB Warranty, but no mention of it in the car fax, or Mercedes inspection prior to the purchase.

 

Thanks, brought it to the dealership they fixed it in no time.

 

CLS 55 amg - Trunk won't open, 3rd light out, plate lights out

 

https://mbworld.org/forums/3694210-post1.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/4047470-post13.html

 

Humm...I have the same exact issue wityh my 06 CLS500...trunk, plate and 3rd break light are all out... I followed the wire all the way from the release botton to the fuse box....all wires seem to be in good shape, so im a bit confused...any suggestions..... I will try to post photos for others...thx in advance

 

Look at the 2nd picture posted from konigstiger. This is located on the Driver side trunk hinge https://mbworld.org/forums/4047470-post13.html

 

Thanks for the info/links, helped me resolve my issue..!! I owe you a drink..!!

 

Gentlemen,

Thanks a bunch. I was having intermittent issues - the wires must have been touching sometimes and not at other times. Off to Radio Shack to buy some connectors.

Also off to te forum to find out about the SRS warning on the dash. Seem to remember yet another broken wire!

 

THANK YOU so much for this post. You saved me so much hassle trying to figure this out. My problem matched your posted picture almost 100%. Once I got everything out of the way it was pretty easy. I have the auto trunk opener option and I took the "opener arm" off so my trunk is manual now. That opener has caused me more problems in the 9 years I have owned this wonderful machine then the rest of the car combined !! You, (and the original poster), are the BEST !!

 

+1 for this thread. Seeing the aforementioned photo really helped dial in on the exact breakage spot.

 

Resolved my exact issue on my 2007 CLS350 thank you for the photo helped heaps.

 

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH PPL! U solved my problem!

Had same problems: to open the trunk in any way, no center brake light, no plate lights.

In my car MB E 220 CDI 2008, the negative cable had been torn apart.