'02 ML 320 Running Board Illumination & Interior Lights

[jgl1]

'02 ML 320, 11K miles, with optional M-B illuminated running boards.

Vehicle was T-boned and required replacement of the left running board, among other things. Repair shop neglected to check condition of the light strip prior to installation of new running board and was at a loss to explain why neither illumination strip was functional after completing repairs.

Upon further investigation, 6 volts were found to be present at the harness plug for the left strip and 0 volts at the plug for the right. Shop decided that shorting the harness plug for the left side would cause the right side strip to illuminate, which it did not, and now the interior lamps fail to operate when the doors are opened, the central locking system is activated or when the light switches are pressed manually. The interior lamps are not listed on the engine compartment or interior kick panel fuse box covers; inspection of all fuses revealed no faults. Shop now declines to pursue the illumination strip repairs, due to lack of qualified personnel.

Any idea as to what happened here? Are the interior lamps controlled/protected by the AAM?

[Gilly]

You get in a situation like this and it's hard to tell exactly where the fault is. Possibly a wire pinched either in the accident or during repairs? Yes the AAM controls interior lighting AND the runnin boards, sorry I don't have any specific circuit info.
Is the bodyshop one that was recommended to you by the dealer? I would always ask the dealer who they recommend.
At this point, assuming repairs are completed and the B/S has been paid, I'd say you need to contact your insurance company and tell them that you are dissatisied with the repairs on the truck and you need to take it back to the dealer to get things squared away.

Gilly