nanu13

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?

vmystikilv

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?)

nanu13

Should be the correct bulb unless there's some volt or wattage requirement that has to be met?, which is why i chose not to use the LED style bulb that would need resistors but rather a filament bulb.

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

vmystikilv

The "small bulb in the high beam area" aka the parking lights. What was the excact number model of the bulb you used to change them?

nanu13

7507 quite possibly with the LL designator. I'll have to see if I still have the packaging to be sure about the designation.


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.

nanu13

Update:

Found the bulb packaging.

Sylvania 7507LL.BP2

13.5v, 25W

vmystikilv

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

nanu13

I had found that image before in my searches for a solution. But I'm quite positive of the bulb because as I said that's what was there before and they have an offset of the side pins so nothing else would fit there. Ive included a pic so you could see what I mean



The bulb holder I have has one contact point on the base and two on the outside edges.

wallyp

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.

nanu13

Here, i updated my image link, didn't realize it wasn't working. Did you mean offset like that or something different?

nanu13

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.

wallyp

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.

nanu13

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?

nanu13

I don't think this is considered fast blinking but Id like to hear from u guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41zvflgwm8I

wallyp

That is fast blinking. Think an old clock - tick, tock, tick, tock...

nanu13

damn. I've definitely seen worse and thought i was ok.

So if memory serves from all my surfing, the fast blink indicates a short? or something else entirely?

wallyp

Nope - not enough bulbs flashing. A short is usually shown by a blown fuse...

nanu13

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?

ctravis595

for anybody reading this in 2019 or later, this is usually the sign of a bad sam