Mikchek

I have a 2007 GL450 and I had to replace the pax side mirror. The moment I fired back up the car the dash says

3rd brake lamp
reverse lamp right

i get home and check it and sure enough it is out. I leave the house later that evening and in addition to those lights being out the dash now also says

Turn signal rear left

I called my mechanic and asked is there something that he could think off off the top of his head that would be causing this. He said no so since there was nothing I could do at the time as it was a Sunday I left it alone. I jump in the car to make a quick run and now TWO more lights are out.

license plate lamp left
license plate lamp right

i was somewhat ok chalking this up to a crazy coincidence but now I’m not so sure. I’ve never had 5 lights just randomly go out at the same time.

Mikchek

Yesterday I checked my reverse bulbs and they looked fine.

Today I left the house and when I got to my destination I could smell electrical burning. It was coming from under the hood.

i also forgot to add I replaced the headlights and added a illuminated star about a week or 2 ago but everything was fine until recently.

espensen

Have you checked your charging voltage?

Mikchek

no how would I do that?

i pulled out all the bulbs and tested them...they all work but I still get the same messages

Mikchek

Is it possible it’s an issue with my rear SAM?

espensen

Okey, so your bulbs is fine, just warning messages? To check the charging voltage you need a voltmeter, just measure on your battery terminals when idle and when you rev it.

dhurley

The GL is VERY sensitive to bulb changes. The "light out" system measures the current draw of the bulb on one side compared to the other.

For instance if you replace a brake light bulb on the drivers side that has a slightly different current draw then the existing bulb on the passenger side, it will show one of them as bad even though they are fine.

I've adopted the procedure of replacing the same bulb on the opposite tail light at the same time even though its still good.

Another protip is to use the exact spec bulbs as indicated in the owners manual. They are readily available at any auto parts store. Substitute equivilent bulb numbers will cause issues.

Mikchek

Did the volt Meter and those specific sockets aren't getting voltage.

Mikchek

Just to be clear the bulb does NOT work when installed in the vehicle but when taken out and tested the bulb works fine...so the messages are correct in at least thinkin the bulb is out.

Mikchek

Just a quick side note as well...a few months ago my fuel gauge stopped working for about a week. I thought it was the fuel pump but it eventually started working again.

PSDCampervan

Rear SAM can build-up moisturized corrosion over time & that can cause cascade of intermittent bulb IC messages & probably fuel guage too is controlled by that but also where bulb contacts lock into housings, corrosion & non-conductive residue can build-up there. With many bulbs intermittently effected, borescope around rear SAM from all angles to see if corrosion is building up on top or underneath PCB & components. If it exists, water source must be determined & corrected.

Mikchek

I wanna cry....

I just got the report back from the dealership and it is not good....

Pinch Protector screws and clips missing
Retaining Screws missing
Water leaking in through Taillights so they need to be resealed
replace left and right bulb holders due to corrosion
They want to reinstall wiring Grommets (WTF is a Grommet)
To top is off they say the rear SAM is corroded and needs to be replaced
oh yeah reseal the tail lights too.


This Can't be life!

pavulon

Grommets line openings. When considering car wiring, they are often made of rubber intended to protect the wire insulation from premature wear (and resultant shorting) as the wire passes through openings in sheet metal, fixtures or other tight, insulation-unfriendly areas.

Mikchek

sooooo they wanna charge me $450 to reinsulate my wires?

Mikchek

does anybody have a video or diagram to remove the read rear sam?

pavulon

I don't think so.. It seems that they want to replace the rubber grommets in hopes of avoiding trying to track down worn and shorting wires. If the wires start to short, you could be looking at a wiring harness replacement and grommet replacement. Of course, there is a chance that they are being dishonest too.

Mikchek

I honestly think it is all in the rear sam

Mikchek

if I take the Rear SAM out can the car still operate?

Mikchek

So I sent my Rear SAM to G7computers and they fix it up and send it back. Pop it in and everything works EXCEPT my Tail Light on the right. I go back and look at it and its on...I pop out the bulbs and one if them is dimer than the other. I attempt to take it out and put it back it and now it won't light back up. grrrr

I attempt to put a new light bulb in and it lights up for 1 second and then won't light up again. I'm lost on this one.

The funny thing is the message on the dash is sporadic. Sometimes its there but sometimes its not. I haven't seen the bulb working in some time though and just my luck it is raining today so I can see that something is still leaking. Doesn't seem like the tail light though.