Need some help and advice with noise from steering column and low beam lights

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Aug 7, 2009 | 09:58 PM
  #1  
First of all I would like to thank the people who moderate and maintain these forums. They have done a wonderful job creating such a helpful forum.

I have a 2003 E500 with 58000 miles. Sometimes after starting up the car when the steering wheel is moved very slightly while the car is stationary I hear a sound from the front right side. Its sounds like a pump starting up or something and this happens for only 1 or 2 seconds and then goes away. Never happens when the car is in motion. Is this something to worry about?

I have after market Xenon 8000K installed. When I turn the light switch to Auto or Low beam, sometimes my left low beam light doesn't turn on. The right low beam turns on and after a while the left low beam turns on. Sometimes, my left low beam refuses to come on and at other times the right low beam flickers and turns off. I know my xenon bulbs are just fine. The weird thing is when the engine is turned off and I turn the light switch to low beam, the right low beam always comes on. Its only when the engine is running and on days when the right low beam decides to harass me it flickers and goes out. Today when I turned on the switch to Auto in the parking lot, left low beam never turned on, right low beam flickered and went off and I got a "BRAKE visit workshop warning". It almost seems like the brake stop switch malfunctioned there for a sec. My Brakes are just fine and I turned the car on and off several times and I don't see the "Brake visit workshop" warning any more.

Seems like some electrical problems. Some of the people here are extremely knowledgeable and I know I'll get some very good advice

Thank you once again.
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Aug 7, 2009 | 11:15 PM
  #2  
Could it be the SBC pump? (Right side of car just behind the headlight.)
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Aug 7, 2009 | 11:39 PM
  #3  
I am not sure. But its only for a second or two and then goes away and that too only if I move the steering wheel when stationary. I don't know if this normal

Thanks
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Aug 7, 2009 | 11:44 PM
  #4  
On second thoughts it could be the SBC pump. Doesn't the noise indicate that pressure is being supplied to the breaking system?
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Aug 9, 2009 | 12:46 PM
  #5  
I think that after a certain amount of times of hitting the BRAKE (sp! LOL), the SBC will self calibrate. I think it's either 5 or 10 and maybe different after startup. The SBC is warrantied for 10 years so if you have a complimentary problem with your brakes, you should check it out.

Since you say the car is stationary, you most likely are on your brakes.
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Aug 9, 2009 | 02:51 PM
  #6  
Yes that is correct, this happens after startup and when I have my foot on the break pedal. So it does seem like the SBC after all.

I will have it checked out just in case. A local Mercedes repair shop said it would cost me around 100 bucks to diagnose the light problem. Is that too much?
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