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Hi can anyone help My rear/tail lights leds after heavy rain I got a message on dash saying using substitute bulb light r gone out and rear led was flickering then died , the next day the passenger led was off also so now using substitute bulbs , would have something shorted out a fuse ? I don't know where too look its an 03 plate sl500 , any help much appreciated .
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Your brake lights are leds that also serve as tail lights. Both left and right failing on the same day seems to be a bit of a coincidence, but I suspect you got water in the lamp housings (alternatively, perhaps a short on one side (after water ingress) triggers an electronic signal that cuts out both sides).
If you have water or moist in there, I would dismount the housing, dry thoroughly, clean connectors and reassemble, making VERY sure the thick gasket is seated perfectly. Broken leds can be individually replaced. Note that testing the strip of leds should be done at 2,5V not 12V.
Last edited by Frederick NL; Oct 28, 2022 at 03:56 PM.
Thanks for your reply the only sign of moisture was in one light the right hand side drivers, and I watched it flicker and go out then the next time I started the car the left side was out also , so I'm thinking connector on right needs dried and cleaned as has caused a short as you said ? all leds were working fine up till then. Is it OK.to run on substitute lights till hopefully leds fixed ?
And when you say connectors do you mean the back of led boards or plug into light cluster or both and what would you advice to use just normal contact cleaner ? Again thanks for your help .
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
I can't answer all your questions. If I remember correctly the strip with leds has one connector to the assembly, the assembly has one connector to the loom in the car. So that is where you to would want to check for shorts and/or corrosion. If you managed to see if all leds were flickering simultaneously then I would suspect the led strip itself to be okay. A simple scanning tool should tell you more about he reason the car switched to substitute lamps. The substitute lamp is you fog lamp. I don't know how the car manages to emulate tail lights and brake lights with it, probable by varying intensity (you'd see that in your mirror, standing close to a wall).
I can't answer all your questions. If I remember correctly the strip with leds has one connector to the assembly, the assembly has one connector to the loom in the car. So that is where you to would want to check for shorts and/or corrosion. If you managed to see if all leds were flickering simultaneously then I would suspect the led strip itself to be okay. A simple scanning tool should tell you more about he reason the car switched to substitute lamps. The substitute lamp is you fog lamp. I don't know how the car manages to emulate tail lights and brake lights with it, probable by varying intensity (you'd see that in your mirror, standing close to a wall).
Same thing happened to me. I went ahead and updated the taillights all together. One taillight continued to fill with water. no matter what i tried to seal it, I couldn't figure out how water was getting in the tailight. Mechanic thought it could be frame damage and the headlight wasn't sealing properly. We tried everything. Took that damn taillight out like 6 times.
Finally I just drilled 3-4 holes under the taillight for any standing water to drain out. whatever
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Yes, it looks bad. But the single electronic components should be reasonably easy to replace. AFAIK MB and other sellers only sell full lamp units. Perhaps you can try your luck with buying a damaged unit.
Yes, it looks bad. But the single electronic components should be reasonably easy to replace. AFAIK MB and other sellers only sell full lamp units. Perhaps you can try your luck with buying a damaged unit.
I've ordered a second hand whole working unit £165 uk pounds so hopefully when fitted that should cure it how would water get in light ? Could it travel from c piller ? Or just the light unit itself ?
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
My tail lights never got damp inside. I (carefully) wash manually in a wash box with among other a high pressure gun - never a problem. Leakage must be an abnormal fault. Perhaps someone who solved leakage can chime in.
So I ordered a right tail light and have been sent the left hand side , can the led strip be taken from the left light and put into right hand side light ?
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Boy that's an interesting question. Perhaps the led strips identify themselves to canbus as L and R. Then what would happen... As for physical fit I don't know. Interesting...
Boy that's an interesting question. Perhaps the led strips identify themselves to canbus as L and R. Then what would happen... As for physical fit I don't know. Interesting...
so finally got 2 new lights got them installed within a week water in right hand tail light same side as before
Same issue I faced. LED's burned out, I replaced both tailights with brand new units (I was cool with this since it gave me the opportunity to go from the all red taillight to the taillight with the white strip) and water got inside after a rain storm. Took it to my mechanic, they resealed it, put additional seal around the frame of the car where the tailights sit, and guess what? Water still got in. His thinking was the car had frame damage and is out of alignment in the rear- yea I dunno.
In any event, I pulled both lights and drilled 3 holes under each taillight so the water can drip out instead of having a pool of water sit in my taillight. No more water and no more condensation
Same issue I faced. LED's burned out, I replaced both tailights with brand new units (I was cool with this since it gave me the opportunity to go from the all red taillight to the taillight with the white strip) and water got inside after a rain storm. Took it to my mechanic, they resealed it, put additional seal around the frame of the car where the tailights sit, and guess what? Water still got in. His thinking was the car had frame damage and is out of alignment in the rear- yea I dunno.
In any event, I pulled both lights and drilled 3 holes under each taillight so the water can drip out instead of having a pool of water sit in my taillight. No more water and no more condensation
Not sure what else to do. I gave up
that is what my mechanic suggested drill holes so water can get out
Yes, it looks bad. But the single electronic components should be reasonably easy to replace. AFAIK MB and other sellers only sell full lamp units. Perhaps you can try your luck with buying a damaged unit.
are all the led strips the same prefacelift and facelift?
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