81' 380sl Headlight help - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

warviking · #1 08-16-2006, 07:55 PM

I have an 81' 380sl with headlights not working. Brights work fine but both headlights are out. Sadly I know very little about this car and the manual is currently missing. Can somebody tell me where I should start trying to fix this problem? Searching the forum I thought maybe it would be the fuses. They look ok. I could use some help on just how you check the headlight bulb. Is the light completely replaced or can you just change the bulb? Also are there any books out there that would help with maintenance? Thank you.

warviking · #2 08-20-2006, 11:11 AM

Well I even switched a few fuses and they still didn't work. Changed one of the bulbs and that wasn't the problem. Can anybody give me some help on what else I could try?

page62 · #3 08-21-2006, 09:37 AM

I'm surprised no one has responded yet. There may be a burned-out relay that controls your headlights.

Shop manuals and wiring diagrams are available from Mercedes-Benz. $19.95 for the service manual on CD-ROM, and about $4 for the wiring diagram. Cheap!

Go to www.mbusa.com, click on Classic, and find the link for Technical Literature.

coleyjf · #4 08-21-2006, 11:08 AM

HI

Are they Euro or US model headlight units - makes quite a difference. (Euro are a single reflector with replaceable bulbs - the US ones I believe are twin reflectors from the pic's I've seen and I don't know whether you can replace individual bulbs or not)

Some Ideas:

you could meter (for resistance) the connector across the wiring to check for continuity across the bulb elements and also (voltage setting) whether there is 12V when the Headlamps at the headlight unit plug/connector when they are switched on

Although the fuses may look OK the fuse mounting "sockets" and the fuse "spades" often get a bit corroded so taking them out and using a bit of contact cleaner can work wonders

There is a relay operating the headlamps (it also is used when you "flash" them) and the contracts pon the socket for this can also get corroded so same as the fuses (sorry I'm not sure where this relay is mounted though the handbook could tell you)

Hope this helps

Cheers

Jim

warviking · #5 08-21-2006, 05:50 PM

Thanks a lot guys. I must have the Euro headlights. The bulb was a 9003 in the headlight. At the parts store they had a number for some little round lights that didn't use bulbs?

The fog lights also don't work. Does that tell anything? I see the headlight switch for sale a lot in my searches, does that go bad often?