One headlight, both brake lights not working

[mbzr4ever]

This is for the 79 240D, W123.

Headlight/bulbs are relatively new, changed within the last 9 months.

Did have the tires rotated yesterday, but nothing else new.

Checked the fuses, and all seemed ok.

Is this a wiring problem or what else can I check?

[t walgamuth]

Did you check the bulbs? Newness does not guarantee goodness.

Next would be to check your connections for broken or corroded parts.

[vstech]

apply the brake, and test for power at the bulb connection.
ditto with the headlights, corrosion is a pain, and it'll kill plenty of bulbs.

Originally Posted by mbzr4ever

Checked the fuses, and all seemed ok.

... the fuses in these cars are near impossible to tell condition from a look...
you need to test them, best is to just replace them with fresh new COPPER with ceramic body fuses from our buy parts link. pull the fuse out, if there is corrosion on it, clean it off, and try again.

[mbzr4ever]

Corrosion? This island is a corrosion petri dish, LOL!

Good project for this coming holiday weekend, thanks for the tips.

Have ceramic fuses w/ the copper strips.

Will report back on findings,

[mbzr4ever]

Now the other headlight went out tonight. Had to use the foglights (?) to get home.

Both front headlights, both back brake lights out.

Has to be a wiring problem. BWDIK?

Gotta wait till this weekend to check further.

[mbzr4ever]

apply the brake, and test for power at the bulb connection.

would this test work with the parking brake?

Since I am working by myself, it is impossible to apply the brake and also be behind the car at the same time.

[TnBob]

The $5 dollar store mirrors work great for things like this.

Your emergency brake wont activate the lights.

[mbzr4ever]

Ok, so I used a 2 by 4 and wedged it against the brake pedal as if I was stopping, and it turned out to be burnt out bulbs.

I changed one headlight with an older headlight (wagner) that I had saved from the last time I changed the headlights. IT WORKED!

The NAPA brand headlights I used did not last 9 months. Sad.


I'm happy it was nothing wrong with the 240D. 193K and still going strong. (fingers crossed)!

[mbzr4ever]

n/m

[Renntag]

Head lights inop.

Originally Posted by mbzr4ever

This is for the 79 240D, W123.

Headlight/bulbs are relatively new, changed within the last 9 months.

Did have the tires rotated yesterday, but nothing else new.

Checked the fuses, and all seemed ok.

Is this a wiring problem or what else can I check?

Rotate the tires back to the original positions and check again.

[jay_bob]

Check your running voltage with a meter at the battery, if you are eating bulbs you could have high voltage. Should be in the high 13's or very low 14s on dc, if higher the regulator is bad. Then try reading ac across the battery while running, should be less than a few hundred millivolts, otherwise it's bad diodes in the alternator.

[charmalu]

This is from a yr ago and her last activity was 9-29-12.



Charlie

[jay_bob]

Didn't notice that, well I guess he just hit a run of bad luck on his bulbs

But I would still check my voltage straight away if I lost more than 1 bulb simultaneously.

[charmalu]

He is a she. noticed that in another thread. she might live in Hawaii.


Charlie

[mbzr4ever]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Many times the "problems" with my 240D do not turn out to be major issues, at all.

What a great car!