Have encountered an electrical problem with my 300TD that may have it's roots in a problem I've had for a couple years...

For about the last two years, the exterior lamp failure dash light has been illuminating the instant I turn my parking lights on. I have checked outside countless times and there were not any exterior lights blown.

Fast forward to a week ago- the dash cluster nighttime illumination lights stopped working. Initially I thought the rheostat was broken. Then I noticed the right side front and rear marker lights AND the headlight wipers had stopped working. Aha!...must be a fuse...lo and behold the #3 fuse was blown. I replace it and confirm the dash cluster and side marker lights work properly...for about 10 seconds...and the fuse blows again. I replace the fuse a second time, and this time it blows immediately with a flash.

Is there a relay in the lamp monitor system somewhere that could possibly be causing ALL these problems??

J.G.