Hi,

I am stumped on this one, and to boot didn't seem to have any luck with the search function either.

Car is a 1997 E420.

I am getting the "LAMP DEFECTIVE" indicator on the console display.

All lights save for 1 seem to function. The one that does not illuminate is the center-mounted rear stop light - the one that is mounted on the rear "deck" behind the rear-seat headrests on the inside of the car.

First question: I checked proper operation with the engine OFF and the key in position 2. Is this center-mounted light supposed to illuminate when car is OFF? All other lights do.

Secondly, the owner's manual does not make mention of this light ANYWHERE, most certainly not in the section on replacing bulbs . Has anybody had to replace this bulb and if so, how did you do it?

If this has been discussed in another thread, feel free to re-point me there.

Thanks in advance.

/alex

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1997 E420

Alex, on our MB vehicles the brake lights don't work unless the key is in position 1 or the car is running. To replace the center brake lamp use 2 small screwdrivers to simultaneously lift the tab on each side of the plastic housing and slide the housing forward. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the tabs or you will break them off. Replace the lamp with an Osram/Sylvania European lamp of the same wattage and slide the housing back into place until the tabs latch. The Owner's Manual should list the proper lamp or call your local MB dealer. Pep Boys sells the European replacement lamps ... less expensive than dealer prices.

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Fred Hoelzle

Hi,

I replaced the lamp in the center stop light with a known good lamp and I am still getting the "Lamp Defective" indicator I also do not get the center stop light to illuminate.

What is rather particular, which I failed to point out in my first post, is that the Lamp Defective indicator comes on only after a short time of driving. The first time I hit the brakes after the car has sat overnight the Lamp Defective indicator does NOT come on. Only after I have been driving for a few minutes and hit the brakes does the Lamp Defective indicator come on.

HOWEVER, I have verified that the center stop light itself does not illuminate at all - not the first time I hit the brakes and not after driving for a while.

Where do I go from here?

I have felt around from below, in the trunk area, in the hope of locating, well, I actually don't know what - a loose wire??? I'll try hooking up a voltmeter and checking whether there is voltage across the 2 terminals on the center stop light.

Does anybody know the answer to the following?

- where are the 2 wires for the center stop light routed to?

To recap:
- left / right brake lights work
- all other lights work
- center stop light does not work
- Lamp Defective indicator comes on after car is warmed up.

Many thanks in advance

/alex

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1997 E420

results from the voltage meter:

#1: with key in position 2, measuring voltage across the 2 connectors to the center stop light: ~11V

#2: resistance test across connectors for bulb socket: ~ 0 ohms

Yet, bulb no lighty

I will try and get an EXACT OEM bulb - the one I replaced it with makes good contact in the fitting and IS a 12V / 21W Sylvana bulb

/alex

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1997 E420

Alex, the stop lamps are 21W/4 cp. Check that the contacts are applying pressure against the base of the lamp. You may want to apply a thin coating of dielectric grease to the base of the lamp.

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Fred Hoelzle