Stock HID Intermittent Outage
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Northeast US
2003 C320 4Matic
2003 C320 4Matic 4 Door - Stock HID Headlamp Intermittent Outages
Hi, all.
Vehicle Make - Mercedes Benz
Vehicle Model- C320 4Matic 4Door
Vehicle Year- 2003
Options the vehicle has- cd changer, ESP, auto transmission, moonroof, rear sunshade, multicontour seats, HID, heated seats
Approximate mileage- 50000
Our W203 C320 with stock HID leveling headlights has been showing "1 Malfunction" on occassion when starting the car and turning on the headlights. When this happens, 1 of the headlights will be out. Here is what I know:
- The problem is intermittent.
- It is sometimes the driver side, but mostly the passenger side.
- When the outage occurs, the display reads "1 Malfunction".
- Very rarely, toggling the headlights off and then back on will correct the outage, but the display will still read "1 Malfunction".
- Toggling a second time after the outage is corrected will clear the "1 Malfunction" message.
- Sometimes, after I have driven the car, I will toggle the lights and the side that was out will come on.
- The leveling motors work fine consistently regardless of outage.
This is weird. Is it something physical or something with the computer? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Vehicle Make - Mercedes Benz
Vehicle Model- C320 4Matic 4Door
Vehicle Year- 2003
Options the vehicle has- cd changer, ESP, auto transmission, moonroof, rear sunshade, multicontour seats, HID, heated seats
Approximate mileage- 50000
Our W203 C320 with stock HID leveling headlights has been showing "1 Malfunction" on occassion when starting the car and turning on the headlights. When this happens, 1 of the headlights will be out. Here is what I know:
- The problem is intermittent.
- It is sometimes the driver side, but mostly the passenger side.
- When the outage occurs, the display reads "1 Malfunction".
- Very rarely, toggling the headlights off and then back on will correct the outage, but the display will still read "1 Malfunction".
- Toggling a second time after the outage is corrected will clear the "1 Malfunction" message.
- Sometimes, after I have driven the car, I will toggle the lights and the side that was out will come on.
- The leveling motors work fine consistently regardless of outage.
This is weird. Is it something physical or something with the computer? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Last edited by SOC320; May 21, 2008 at 09:23 PM.
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
07' E350, 71' DATSUN 510
Either the control module or the bulb.
The way I tell the difference is to check for codes for a bulb in the headlamp control module. If theres a code in the control module it's probably the bulb. Kinda hard to do without a DAS laptop.
What you're describing sounds like a bulb. Usually a faulty control module causes a flickering condition.
The way I tell the difference is to check for codes for a bulb in the headlamp control module. If theres a code in the control module it's probably the bulb. Kinda hard to do without a DAS laptop.
What you're describing sounds like a bulb. Usually a faulty control module causes a flickering condition.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Northeast US
2003 C320 4Matic
I appreciate the responses...
Interesting. So, a bad bulb in one of the lights can cause outages in that light and sometimes the other?
I had not seen any flickering.
Would you recommend the diagnosis time at the dealer? For the most part, I am not aware of anyone else near Great Neck, NY who has a DAS.
What color temp are the D2S stock bulbs?
Interesting. So, a bad bulb in one of the lights can cause outages in that light and sometimes the other?
I had not seen any flickering.
Would you recommend the diagnosis time at the dealer? For the most part, I am not aware of anyone else near Great Neck, NY who has a DAS.
What color temp are the D2S stock bulbs?
Last edited by SOC320; May 22, 2008 at 09:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Northeast US
2003 C320 4Matic
Bump for follow-up questions. Thx.
1) So, a bad bulb in one of the lights can cause outages in that light and sometimes the other?
2) Would you recommend the diagnosis time at the dealer or other? For the most part, I am not aware of anyone else near Great Neck, NY who has a DAS.
3) What color temp are the D2S stock bulbs?
1) So, a bad bulb in one of the lights can cause outages in that light and sometimes the other?
2) Would you recommend the diagnosis time at the dealer or other? For the most part, I am not aware of anyone else near Great Neck, NY who has a DAS.
3) What color temp are the D2S stock bulbs?
Last edited by SOC320; May 28, 2008 at 09:25 AM.
