Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-21-2008, 09:42 PM
pmizell's Avatar
Benz Zealot
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 838
No high beams and reverse lights '98 C280

I've been chasing down some electrical issues since I purchased this car recently. As the title says, no high beams from the stalk, both flash and regular setting ... and both reverse lamps don't light (bulbs are ok). I've checked all of the associated fuses but they're good. The blue high beam cluster light doesn't come on when key turned to 2.

I'm having some other convenience lighting issues -- lights blink when remotely locked, but not when unlocked, and the interior lights come on when unlocked but don't turn off after door closed --- somewhat annoying but I'll leave those for another day.

Any help is greatly appreciated! TIA

__________________
-Paul-
'01 E430, Sport 72,000 mi
'98 C280, 126,500 mi
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-22-2008, 01:14 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,971
If the lights stay on after the door is closed you will have a dead battery another day... I wonder if the blinking on unlock is configurable? Is this a flood car? There are lots out there.
__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-22-2008, 08:08 AM
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Tucker, Ga USA
Posts: 12,153
Do you get power (12V) to the high beam fuses when the lights are supposed to be on?
IF not then the combination switch is most likely the problem.
__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-22-2008, 06:25 PM
pmizell's Avatar
Benz Zealot
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 838
Quote:
Originally Posted by M.B.DOC View Post
Do you get power (12V) to the high beam fuses when the lights are supposed to be on?
IF not then the combination switch is most likely the problem.
DOC, yes, I'm getting 12v at fuses 33/34 (L/R high beams) so I guess that rules out the combo switch .. could it be possible both high's are burnt out?

mpolli: I've turned off the interior lights for now and it is not a flood car AFAIK
__________________
-Paul-
'01 E430, Sport 72,000 mi
'98 C280, 126,500 mi
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-22-2008, 08:45 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,971
Well that's a lot of different things wrong. I assume the reverse lights are controlled by the trans. And I can guess the high beams are controlled by a relay. The no blink on unlock is kind of strange as is the lights not turning off. The headlights are easy to access so you can check those. Do you get a bulb out indicator? I think you should on the high beams but I am not positive. You will probably just have to chase these down one at a time. Maybe M.B.Doc has some other ideas on some of these.
__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-22-2008, 11:53 PM
pmizell's Avatar
Benz Zealot
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 838
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpolli View Post
Well that's a lot of different things wrong. I assume the reverse lights are controlled by the trans. And I can guess the high beams are controlled by a relay. The no blink on unlock is kind of strange as is the lights not turning off. The headlights are easy to access so you can check those. Do you get a bulb out indicator? I think you should on the high beams but I am not positive. You will probably just have to chase these down one at a time. Maybe M.B.Doc has some other ideas on some of these.
After some research I got the brights to faintly blink a couple of times by 'vigorously exercising' the stalk back and forth which leads me to believe the combo switch is bad. Tommorrow while replacing the evap temp sensor I'll spray some contact cleaner into the switch to see if it helps. Thanks guys for the suggestions.
__________________
-Paul-
'01 E430, Sport 72,000 mi
'98 C280, 126,500 mi
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-23-2008, 08:01 AM
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Tucker, Ga USA
Posts: 12,153
if the fuses are powered when you are asking for hi-beams then the combi switch is GOOD.
That suggests the problem is either the "lamp monitor" computer OR at the lights themselves.

Possibly the lamp monitor computer is floating in water.

It is located under the door sill plate on the drivers side at the point whwer the front door meets the front side panel.
__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-24-2008, 03:56 AM
pmizell's Avatar
Benz Zealot
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 838
I went back to the fuse box today to check the voltage and had zero (0) at both fuses! Checked again a couple of mins later and had 12.1 at both Put both fuses back in and both sides high beams lit so I obviously have a combo switch that's heading (went) south.

After replacing the evap temp sensor today it looks like I'm cleaning up after the previous owner and still not done.

Thanks DOC for the spot on advice....

__________________
-Paul-
'01 E430, Sport 72,000 mi
'98 C280, 126,500 mi
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page