wannawagon

I am getting a left turn Front signal error, It just started last night.

Curiously the bulb in the headlight assembly flashes 3 times (at normal interval) then it stops (every time I try it) all the other bulbs on left hand side behave normally all the time.

It does not switch to any other bulbs bulb at all - there is just no indicator at all (headlight unit) after the 3 flashes.

I have pulled out the bulb and changed it over - still the same - I cleaned the contacts at both connectors (plug and socket) and still no change. I have also tightened the contacts a bit with a probe and still nothing.

The bulb works perfectly in hazards, if I switch to left indicator while hazards on it starts flashing quick but left bulb turns off.

Inside the car I get the quicker interval ticking and the error code. It seems to do one tick at normal interval , then goes quick and error comes up. While outside bulb flashes 3 times at normal interval and then goes out totally.....

The battery is probably a little low but starts car fine (just notice it goes down to about 9.5v on start) but when running the volts are 13.7 so not sure if it is that. Obviously I am going to change the battery before our winter (Australia)

Any thoughts?

wannawagon

just a note.

Changed the battery and the same thing occurs

wannawagon

err - more issues

The car is normally driven by my kid so I doesnt see it much.

As soon as the engine is started the headlights come on no matter if the headlight switch is off/on auto or parkers only..

It is dark here so I don't know of this will not happen in daylight (something with the daylight sensor or what) - I will check in 12 hours when it is daylight...

BUT in any case it should turn off

Also with the engine running and the headlights on - when I put hazards on the left front indicator now flashes three times and goes off - but with the headlights off the hazards work ok to all indicators (including the left front)

JUST A NOTE - I AM CALLING INDICATORS THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS....

Maj. Dundee

With the key out of the ign., you must first start by removing the Headlamp Sw. and see if it is burned or not properly connected.

wannawagon

many thanks, I will do it tomorrow morning and report back

Maj. Dundee

If things do not work out with the switch you will have to manually remove the appropriate bulb and holder to see if it is damaged, Small hands and arms are necessary........hint....female.

If you cannot remove the bulb manually, you will have to remove the bumper to access the headlamp.

In any event, I strongly suggest that you purchase the bulb and holder prior to removing them, especially if you have removed the bumper.

wannawagon

I have not got the car yet but I had the E1e6 out yesterday (which was blinking the 3 times) , with the E1e5 how does that pull out - is it a bayonet? (like the E1e6) or something else

The car should be back in 30 minutes and I will do switch then

wannawagon

good news with indicators, it was the bulb on the main indicator - E1e5 - bayonet type - just a bit confused with why it would just use the outer wedge for three blinks and stop. Not leave it running permanently with error warning saying using surrogate bulb?\

BUT

bad news with headlights - The switch looked fine , I also have a 2008 GL320 (my car - just purchased - only 118,000km) and I swapped the switches over and the switch behaves perfectly in the GL, and the GL switch in the ML still has same problem with the headlights on all the time the engine is running ---- so the fault is in the car.

I have seen a "W164 headlight control module - 211 870 87 26 " on the internet.. Could that be the issue? Where is it? What does it do?

Maj. Dundee

The codes must be read with a scanner.

wannawagon

That seller doesn't seem to sell to Australia

Will that scanner do body codes as well as engine transmission codes etc?

airmatic?

I go on to local ebay and there seems to be two versions of the scanner,

I have borrowed a snapon scanner in the past but it didn't do much with the body - would really like to get one of my own