SL/R230: 2004 SL500 R230 Headlights Outs
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 5
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From: South Florida
2004 SL500
2004 SL500 R230 Headlights Outs
I have been having a problem with the headlight builds failing. I have replaced both the low beam and high beam builds, however I still can not get them to illuminate. Could someone please direct me to the location of the fuse(s)/fuse box for the headlighting? Additionally could there be another issue causing that type of failure and if so where should I look next?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,326
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From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
Can you clarify the problem a bit? Are you having issues with both high and low beams, but only on one side? If that is the case, I would start by checking the ground on that side. Find the brown wire(s) coming from the headlight assembly and trace them back to the chassis ground point. Make sure that this connection is clean and tight. Also check the rest of the wiring in the headlight assembly, there are issues with this getting overheated and insulation fraying. If all that checks out and the fuse is okay, it is probably time to get a scan done and see what codes you have. The system is fairly complex: headlight switch is read by driver's side SAM, signals sent over CAN to the passenger side SAM which controls all of the front lighting. There could be issues with the switch, either SAM, communication problems, or wiring issues.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
2004 SL500
Thank you for your help/information regarding my current issue. I will follow all of your recommendations/suggestions per your post. Just to give you a little more information. The inner bulb of the driver side headlight had initially started flickering, then eventually went completely dead. I did replace that bulb, but to no avail as it did not illuminate. Now recently the passenger side low beam headlight failed which had been indicated on my dashboard notification. The other day i went to start my car and there was absolutely no illumination for the passenger side headlight at all. Not sure what's causing these inconsistencies with either side at this point. I see that this is an issue with this model(SL500) and it appears that the ballast(s) do fail causing this issue to persist. If there is any other information/recommendations, then by all means please advise.
Thanks again
Michael
Thanks again
Michael
