MTEC Voltage Sabilizer?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 872
Likes: 0
2009 W211 E350 AMG Sport PKG
MTEC Voltage Sabilizer?
Ok, so I've been having a problem with my license plate lamps and aftermarket LED's. I was told by the LED vendor that it could be that my car has voltage problems or some other electrical problem. Well my car's out of warranty now, and I have no idea how to diagnose something like that on my own, nor do I know where to take the car to for that type of service.
My question is, would something like this, MTEC Voltage Stabilizer, possibly fix my problem? I was thinking about going with full license plate lamp replacements, but I dont think that's going to fix the problem either since I've already had my stock housings replaced by the dealer and that didn't seem to fix the problem.
MTEC Voltage Stabilizer
http://www.mteclighting.com/product_d.php?id=4&pid=6
Any help is appreciated!
My question is, would something like this, MTEC Voltage Stabilizer, possibly fix my problem? I was thinking about going with full license plate lamp replacements, but I dont think that's going to fix the problem either since I've already had my stock housings replaced by the dealer and that didn't seem to fix the problem.
MTEC Voltage Stabilizer
http://www.mteclighting.com/product_d.php?id=4&pid=6
Any help is appreciated!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 25
What problems are you having exactly? The way I read your post it's:
- You have non-standard aftermarket electrical parts on your vehicle.
- You are having electrical issues with those aftermarket parts
- The vendor of said parts says your car must have an electrical issue
- You propose perhaps fixing the "issues" with another non-standard aftermarket electrical part
Please give us more information on symptoms and other observations.
- You have non-standard aftermarket electrical parts on your vehicle.
- You are having electrical issues with those aftermarket parts
- The vendor of said parts says your car must have an electrical issue
- You propose perhaps fixing the "issues" with another non-standard aftermarket electrical part
Please give us more information on symptoms and other observations.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
That box is mostly solidified snake oil!
There are three things that can cause "Voltage Problems";
A bad battery
A bad voltage regulator
Bad or loose grounds.
Find a shop that understands car electronics and have them take a quick look.
Probably worth the hour.
Of course an hour or two of labor is most of a new battery, so if you are hand it may pay to replace the battery yourself, and while you are at it check the condition of the battery cables (both ends), the engine ground strap, and the wiring and mounts of the alternator and voltage regulator (looking for anything loose or corroded.)
There are three things that can cause "Voltage Problems";
A bad battery
A bad voltage regulator
Bad or loose grounds.
Find a shop that understands car electronics and have them take a quick look.
Probably worth the hour.
Of course an hour or two of labor is most of a new battery, so if you are hand it may pay to replace the battery yourself, and while you are at it check the condition of the battery cables (both ends), the engine ground strap, and the wiring and mounts of the alternator and voltage regulator (looking for anything loose or corroded.)
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 872
Likes: 0
2009 W211 E350 AMG Sport PKG
What problems are you having exactly? The way I read your post it's:
- You have non-standard aftermarket electrical parts on your vehicle.
Yes, running aftermarket canbus LED's in the inside and aftermarket canbus HID kits for my lowbeam and fog lights.
- You are having electrical issues with those aftermarket parts
Only having problems with the aftermarket license plate lights. All my other lights work perfectly fine. Aside from my license plate LED's, none of my other aftermarket canbus LED's have burned out.
- The vendor of said parts says your car must have an electrical issue
Yes, vendor said it's probably my car, not his bulbs. Don't want to bother the vendor anymore with replacement/warranty bulbs.
- You propose perhaps fixing the "issues" with another non-standard aftermarket electrical part
Correct. I have no idea when it comes to electrical problems. I was looking for complete LED lamp replacements when I came across this Voltage Stabilizer from MTEC.
Please give us more information on symptoms and other observations.
To be more specific, the only problem I'm having is that my license plate LED's keep burning out. None of my other aftermarket LED's are causing problems at all. Not sure if there is anything else to say...
- You have non-standard aftermarket electrical parts on your vehicle.
Yes, running aftermarket canbus LED's in the inside and aftermarket canbus HID kits for my lowbeam and fog lights.
- You are having electrical issues with those aftermarket parts
Only having problems with the aftermarket license plate lights. All my other lights work perfectly fine. Aside from my license plate LED's, none of my other aftermarket canbus LED's have burned out.
- The vendor of said parts says your car must have an electrical issue
Yes, vendor said it's probably my car, not his bulbs. Don't want to bother the vendor anymore with replacement/warranty bulbs.
- You propose perhaps fixing the "issues" with another non-standard aftermarket electrical part
Correct. I have no idea when it comes to electrical problems. I was looking for complete LED lamp replacements when I came across this Voltage Stabilizer from MTEC.
Please give us more information on symptoms and other observations.
To be more specific, the only problem I'm having is that my license plate LED's keep burning out. None of my other aftermarket LED's are causing problems at all. Not sure if there is anything else to say...
That box is mostly solidified snake oil!
There are three things that can cause "Voltage Problems";
A bad battery
A bad voltage regulator
Bad or loose grounds.
Find a shop that understands car electronics and have them take a quick look.
Probably worth the hour.
Of course an hour or two of labor is most of a new battery, so if you are hand it may pay to replace the battery yourself, and while you are at it check the condition of the battery cables (both ends), the engine ground strap, and the wiring and mounts of the alternator and voltage regulator (looking for anything loose or corroded.)
There are three things that can cause "Voltage Problems";
A bad battery
A bad voltage regulator
Bad or loose grounds.
Find a shop that understands car electronics and have them take a quick look.
Probably worth the hour.
Of course an hour or two of labor is most of a new battery, so if you are hand it may pay to replace the battery yourself, and while you are at it check the condition of the battery cables (both ends), the engine ground strap, and the wiring and mounts of the alternator and voltage regulator (looking for anything loose or corroded.)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 16
From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Please let me know how you work this out, I was considering doing the LED swap for my rear license plate since it looks very high-end but I know several forum members have had issues with this conversion.
What exactly is the issue? Are the LEDs burning out often or something?
What exactly is the issue? Are the LEDs burning out often or something?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 25
I wonder if the confined space of the license plate LEDs is causing heat buildup issues that cause them to burn out.
I really am bothered by the way some vendors describe their lights as "CANbus LEDs" or "CANbus Lights". What exactly does that mean? Do the lights somehow communicate as a registered device on the CAN-high or CAN-low data bus? If so, what information do they communicate?
Or is it more appropriate to say "compatible with electronic filament monitoring systems"?
I really am bothered by the way some vendors describe their lights as "CANbus LEDs" or "CANbus Lights". What exactly does that mean? Do the lights somehow communicate as a registered device on the CAN-high or CAN-low data bus? If so, what information do they communicate?
Or is it more appropriate to say "compatible with electronic filament monitoring systems"?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
"Carefully designed to waste enough extra energy to look like incandescent bulbs to the monitoring system
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 16
From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Did you have any electrical issues previously? Because I doubt you have a problem with your 2009 magically after you installed these unrelated to the LEDs themselves. Do the voltage stabilizers have a type of return policy or warranty you can take advantage of? If they don't help and do what they advertise, then return the unit simple as that.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 872
Likes: 0
2009 W211 E350 AMG Sport PKG
@AMG: No electrical problems prior to installation of license plate LED's that I know of. It's not that I'm having problemS out of the blue, the only problem I'm having is with my license plate LED. As far as the warranty/return policy, I haven't looked into it, so I wouldn't know. That is something to consider though.
@force: Have you tried different brand of LED's? Also, which gen S4 do you have? I've seen plenty of S4's with updated license plate LED's.
I think I should mention that the vendor is AZN Optics. I'm not trying to put AZN Optics or Mike on blast here at all. He went out of his way to take care of me and provided me with options and replacement bulbs without questioning me. I just don't want him to have to keep sending me replacements and warrantying the faulty ones. I'm also running his LED city lights and those work flawlessly. Perfectly color matched, no error, works as advertised, and I'm more than satisfied with that set.
Perhaps Mike can jump in and shed some light on the matter. Maybe he came up with another possible solution.
@force: Have you tried different brand of LED's? Also, which gen S4 do you have? I've seen plenty of S4's with updated license plate LED's.
I think I should mention that the vendor is AZN Optics. I'm not trying to put AZN Optics or Mike on blast here at all. He went out of his way to take care of me and provided me with options and replacement bulbs without questioning me. I just don't want him to have to keep sending me replacements and warrantying the faulty ones. I'm also running his LED city lights and those work flawlessly. Perfectly color matched, no error, works as advertised, and I'm more than satisfied with that set.
Perhaps Mike can jump in and shed some light on the matter. Maybe he came up with another possible solution.
Last edited by 09W211; Feb 21, 2013 at 12:44 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 594
Likes: 8
05 E55, 06 Audi S4
Well from my previous statement. I have a b7 s4. And its a hit or miss with liscence plate LEDs. Some people can use the same brand as another guy on same year car and one works the other doesn't. It's very simple to add a resistor to trick the system a bit more than the error free bulbs do. I got lucky on my 05 e55. I ordered the eBay 18pc led kit and the festoon bulbs provided did not creat bulb out warning. The same ones do in my s4 so I added resistors.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 872
Likes: 0
2009 W211 E350 AMG Sport PKG
@AMG: http://aznoptics.com/index.php?main_...ndex&cPath=1_4 one of those, I forget which one I got. Just don't get anything too blue...looks way too ricey. Stick with a 5000k or 5500k if you can.
@force: well i would add load resistors but my problem isn't that it's throwing error codes. it's burning out or something. it just goes out. do you think resistors would help dissipate the heat (if that is indeed what the problem is)?
@force: well i would add load resistors but my problem isn't that it's throwing error codes. it's burning out or something. it just goes out. do you think resistors would help dissipate the heat (if that is indeed what the problem is)?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 18
From: Blaine, WA
07 E320 Bluetec
Some of the following may sound complicated to few, but I can explain in detail should anyone want to know.
1. Check air flow around the LEDs/heatsink (improve air flow if possible)
2. Measure inline current draw (unless this is stated on the product), or watts stated and not driving too hard (in watts or current)
3. Last Resort (assuming 1 & 2 are fine or unknown or cannot be determined), install a series resistor (current limiting power resistor). Do you know how many LEDs are there in your circuit?
4. A Suggestion: Install a 20-30ohm 3W-10 Watt resistor. I gave that range because you may find it easier to get 3 Watt Silicone-coated Wirewound resistors from Radio Shack for a buck something each. I think they sell 3,5,15,20,25 ohm resistors. If you cannot measure the LED current draw (let me know if it was on the packet) then start with say 20 ohm series resistor. If resistor heats up (to burning point) but light output looks good, you need to double the resistor watts; take two 20 ohm resistors in series, then parallel with another two 20 ohm resistors in series; equals one 20 ohm 6 watt resistor.
Use a lower value resistor (series/parallel combination) if light output drops too much.
You get the idea. The above is a cheap an easy option to try out.
5. Lastly you could use a voltage regulator (probably costs more)
Let me know if you have any questions, need more information or if anyone needs formulae etc.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 16
From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Pinebaron where have you been all my life (time in this thread) lol. My question though i that will any of those methods cause a warning because of lowered current?
