Front turn signals not working after replacement
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2000 s430
Front turn signals not working after replacement
Hi all! Just bought an 00 s430 w.118k the other day.
00 s430. PO upgraded to the projection headlights. Noticed front turn signal was out. Other bulb was missing completely. As well as one fog bulb being burned out. Replaced fog h7s no problem. Then I replaced the turn signal bulbs. (Filament)
The problem I have is that front turn signals still don't work after replacing the bulbs. The ones in the mirror work just fine. Tails are a go and the blink rate on the dash is normal not rapid. I have no idea where to go from here.
Any advice?
00 s430. PO upgraded to the projection headlights. Noticed front turn signal was out. Other bulb was missing completely. As well as one fog bulb being burned out. Replaced fog h7s no problem. Then I replaced the turn signal bulbs. (Filament)
The problem I have is that front turn signals still don't work after replacing the bulbs. The ones in the mirror work just fine. Tails are a go and the blink rate on the dash is normal not rapid. I have no idea where to go from here.
Any advice?
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 780
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From: Dallas, TX
Range Rover
Thats weird. If the blinker is flashing at a normal rate that means there is no open circuit.
Right bulbs?
Wiring inccorrect?
When you turn the parking lights on what bulbs come on? if any?
the parking light and flahing light are the same bulb( back to correct bulb?)
Right bulbs?
Wiring inccorrect?
When you turn the parking lights on what bulbs come on? if any?
the parking light and flahing light are the same bulb( back to correct bulb?)
Thread Starter
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2000 s430
Wiring should be correct since its just a factory harness. I found no evidence of fraying, melting etc on the wires or wraps leading up to the harness and housing.
Should've mentioned the parking light results too, sorry. the side marker light(located on the bumper), as well as the standing lights (small bulb inside high beam area) and the tails light up when i turn on the parking lights.
EDIT: In case its relevant: the bulbs are 12v 25watt 1.9amp
Last edited by nanu13; May 20, 2014 at 10:04 PM. Reason: adding bulb info
Thread Starter
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2000 s430
Re: parking lights sorry for the confusion I thought the owners manual had them listed as the standing lights. Im still learning the model. What a weird term anyway.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Dallas, TX
Range Rover
I think you have the wrong bulbs my friend. I not 100% sure but im 99% that i think you need 2357.. There are two contacts points on the bottom not just one. one point for the "standing beam" and the other for the turn signal. Its all in one bulb.. I agree, weird name...
Found this, hope it helps
Found this, hope it helps
Last edited by vmystikilv; May 21, 2014 at 04:52 PM. Reason: added info
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Thread Starter
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2000 s430
I think you have the wrong bulbs my friend. I not 100% sure but im 99% that i think you need 2357.. There are two contacts points on the bottom not just one. one point for the "standing beam" and the other for the turn signal. Its all in one bulb.. I agree, weird name...
Found this, hope it helps
Found this, hope it helps
The bulb holder I have has one contact point on the base and two on the outside edges.
Last edited by nanu13; May 22, 2014 at 08:10 AM. Reason: image link not working
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
The 2357 has offset side pins. When I replaced a front turn signal bulb, it seemed really odd that the Workshop Manual called for a double-contact 2357 for a single-contact socket - but it works.
Last edited by wallyp; May 22, 2014 at 08:08 AM.
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2000 s430
Here, i updated my image link, didn't realize it wasn't working. Did you mean offset like that or something different?
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2000 s430
Something I wanted to point out for everybody who chooses to help me, thanks btw!, is to please note that i mention in my first post these are NOT the original 00 stock headlights, the PO upgraded to the later year projection style. I'm pretty sure it poses some relevancy just wanted to make sure you guys caught that. 
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
The 2357 pins would be offset in the left image - the side view - not the end view. I don't know what year your headlight units are, but my 2003 projector units use the 2357 bulbs.
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2000 s430
Took an examination and noticed that they are NOT benz oem as stated by PO, but in fact stamped by a company called eagle eyes. However I looked inside and the wires are in EXCELLENT condition no signs of wear. There is no adaptation, factory harness minus the auto level harness.
…which makes me think, but the turn signal wires wouldn't be located in that harness right? Assuming the PO was truthful and I believe he is/was for a few reasons, but he did say they had been working at one time.
My cousin (non benz owner) dropped by today to see the new ride and asked why the turn signals (dashboard) were blinking fast. I didn't think they were and i have seen some do that in non benz autos. Tomorrow I'm going to take a short video and post it to youtube for you guys to see and give me an educated judgment compared to your own. If it turns out they ARE blinking fast, that is indicative of a short?
…which makes me think, but the turn signal wires wouldn't be located in that harness right? Assuming the PO was truthful and I believe he is/was for a few reasons, but he did say they had been working at one time.
My cousin (non benz owner) dropped by today to see the new ride and asked why the turn signals (dashboard) were blinking fast. I didn't think they were and i have seen some do that in non benz autos. Tomorrow I'm going to take a short video and post it to youtube for you guys to see and give me an educated judgment compared to your own. If it turns out they ARE blinking fast, that is indicative of a short?
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2000 s430
If you want get the short version skip to the paragraph in blue
So after testing I got 0 ohms between 3 and 6 but the bulbs are brand new and tested. So I knew that couldn't be, and the internal assembly wire coating is still shiny, no signs of heat, stress pints etc. This caused me to examine more closely and I realized that for whatever reason the "snap" point in which that bulb holder snugs couldn't possible be allowing the contacts to contact. Once I realigned everything, the passenger side turn signal worked perfectly without a hitch.
The driver side turn signal however, was a different story. It turned. I mean on constantly, so for the hell of it I tried both the turn signal and hazard switches and ever so faintly it would pulsate but always go back to constant on no matter what. The passenger continued to operate normally. This caused me to go back to the loom harness and sure enough, no matter what I do and regardless of key position i have a little less than 12v. i believe it was around 11.7x
This would explain why the PO took the bulb out smh. This would lead of course to a dead battery.
In summary: for some reason I have a constant 12v power going to the driver side turn signal regardless of whether the key is in my pocket or in the car in ANY position. It is pin 6, grey with white tracer. Now what? I'm stumped.
I've think I've been able to trace the wire back to the SAM on the passenger side and found where it plugs into the SAM if thats relevant.Does the SAM act as a flasher module or is that a separate component? All I can think is maybe the flasher box got stuck in the on position and could simply be replaced?
So after testing I got 0 ohms between 3 and 6 but the bulbs are brand new and tested. So I knew that couldn't be, and the internal assembly wire coating is still shiny, no signs of heat, stress pints etc. This caused me to examine more closely and I realized that for whatever reason the "snap" point in which that bulb holder snugs couldn't possible be allowing the contacts to contact. Once I realigned everything, the passenger side turn signal worked perfectly without a hitch.
The driver side turn signal however, was a different story. It turned. I mean on constantly, so for the hell of it I tried both the turn signal and hazard switches and ever so faintly it would pulsate but always go back to constant on no matter what. The passenger continued to operate normally. This caused me to go back to the loom harness and sure enough, no matter what I do and regardless of key position i have a little less than 12v. i believe it was around 11.7x
This would explain why the PO took the bulb out smh. This would lead of course to a dead battery.
In summary: for some reason I have a constant 12v power going to the driver side turn signal regardless of whether the key is in my pocket or in the car in ANY position. It is pin 6, grey with white tracer. Now what? I'm stumped.
I've think I've been able to trace the wire back to the SAM on the passenger side and found where it plugs into the SAM if thats relevant.Does the SAM act as a flasher module or is that a separate component? All I can think is maybe the flasher box got stuck in the on position and could simply be replaced?
