Any idea why my ABS light comes on when I turn on the headlamps. There is about a 2 second delay.

The owners manual says something about the circuit being deactivated when voltage falls below 10 volts......it must have been an important point if they include it in the operating manual.

Any advise on diagnosis steps and order of steps to take?

I've installed new wiring harness and OVP during last year.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

My 91 has been doing the same thing since I removed my instrument cluster for bulb renewal. Haven't had the time to track it down...

__________________
Mine: 1987 MB 420 SEL - 62K (Dec 2019)
Mine:1991 MB 350SDL - 244K (Aug 2011)- Totalled 9/14/2016
Mine:1981 MB 300SD - 326K mi (July 1997)-sold
Wife's: 2008 MB C300 Sport - 92K mi (April 2009)

I have noticed, that when the alternator fails, and the battery voltage drops below 10v, the abs light does come on... not sure why your headlights would cause the light to come on unless the harness has a problem, or your battery is weak...
possibly a ground issue on the dash?

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

John - could very well be a harness / ground issue. Have replaced the battery and voltage regulator within the past year... Just need time to track it down... Thanks for the input...

__________________
Mine: 1987 MB 420 SEL - 62K (Dec 2019)
Mine:1991 MB 350SDL - 244K (Aug 2011)- Totalled 9/14/2016
Mine:1981 MB 300SD - 326K mi (July 1997)-sold
Wife's: 2008 MB C300 Sport - 92K mi (April 2009)

Noticed left tail light back and right rear tail side light were out when I turned on headlights. Found that if I get out and jiggle left tail light housing with headlights on, the ABS light goes out and tail lights come back on.

Retired IBM mainframe tech told me it is a ground issue and I need to track down where it is occurring. He said to start at left taillight housing. May be corroded contacts.

Funny how a ground issue can create problems in different systems or locations.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

There's a ground point near the ABS pump at the front of the car too. I'd check there.

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

The taillamp housing has a vertical metal strip connecting the two horizontal pieces that hold the bulbs. The vertical strip is spring-connected and over the years can become loose or corrode/rust due to moisture. This can affect the brake lamp circuit and all of its relatives (lamp fail module, alarm, cruise, etc.). When I get a moment I'll post photos of that failure in my '95 E300.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Photos would be helpful. Thanks!

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Just a thought, but does this car have a "bulb out" warning light like my 87 does? Perhaps it was switched with the abs light when someone was mucking with the harness or changing bulbs.

It does have a bulb out light on dash next to ABS. I'll try disconneting a bulb and see which illuminates.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Any news on this?

Yes, ABS light does come on when I remove any light so perhaps the light bulb out indicator light is reversed with the ABS light.

All indicators illuminate during start up process.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

I think the fix is pretty strait forward, remove the cluster and swap the lights. But who knows if only those 2 were switched.

There are tools to remove the cluster, but I can pull mine with finger friction.

I'm just going to leave it. Now I know the ABS light is bulb out

I do need to fix the loose taillight bulb though. Dielectric grease may resolve the intermittent connectivity issue.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Make sure the metal is clicked in to the plastic surround where the bulb plugs in.