Looking for some help. I'm the new owner of a '80 450sel, in good condition ( 7.0 on a 10 scale). One of the few problems I have is that the left side headlights are not working. It's not a bulb issue, as they have been replaced. The headlight assembly isn't getting juice. I can't find any loose wires, and nothing suggests that there is a short in the wiring. All other lights work, interior and exterior. Any thoughts for a newbie to the forum and to the venerable w116?

Hmmm.Very intresting . What happens if you activate the bright lights ? Are there still no lights at all on the left side ? And if not maybe you have a problem a the headlight switch.keep us posted

Check your fuses. The left and right sides are separate, if you blow a fuse you only lose one side (unless both blow). Not sure on the 116's, but on the 108's the low beams are fuses 11(R) and 12(L), high beams are 9 (R) and 10 (L).

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Thanks for the quick responses. Starfighter, flipping to the brights doesn't bring the left side up either. They stay off regardless. I recheck my fuses and see what I come up with.

I did not know that there 2 seperate circuits for the liht system like mike said but it makes sense I give credit to the engineers who thought to design it that way so your no completlely left in the dark sorry it was to easy . but anyway if the fuses check out ok and I am assuming that you are useing a test light .I would still start my checks at the headlight switch.

I forgot to mention that with these fuses, even though they may look good, there may be a hairline crack. Best to just change the fuse out if you suspect the fuse is the problem. Also, after twenty years there may be some corrosion of the prongs that hold the fuses in place. Might be worth a cleaning.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.