I'm having a problem with an INTERMITTENT Defective Bulb indication on the dash display in my 1999 E300 turbodiesel (W210). The car has 66k miles on it since I bought it new in January 1999.

I can drive for a long way with the headlights on with no problem.
However, on a random basis the Defective Bulb notification comes up in the instrument cluster display. Once it indicates Defective Bulb, it stays that way as long as I continue operating the vehicle. If I stop the engine for a brief stop and shut everything down, the problem resets to normal operation when I start the car and turn on the headlights again. This has been going on for a few months. I have checked many times and there are no defective bulbs on the car. The dealer tech checked too with no trouble found.

On Monday this week, the display signaled "Defective Display" and stayed that way. Then I stopped for coffee and shut everything down. After coming out to the car about 5 minutes after shutdown, everything on the display worked fine and I haven't had another "Defective Display" notification come up again after several hundred miles of driving.

Any recommendations on what to do to solve this problem ?

Thanks,

Ken

I have a friend with a 99 E430, his display said DISPLAY DEFECTIVE a number of times, totally random, just as you indicate.
Well he took it in to the dealer, and they just replaced the instrument cluster under warranty because there is a known error of some sort with them.
Good luck...

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

David,

Thank you. I do have the extended warranty to 100k miles. Hope the display is covered.

Thanks,

Ken

Ken,

During the first year or so after I got my 1998 E320 new, I would get defective bulb warnings but couldn't find any bulbs out. Eventually we tracked it down to the tail light housing. Mercedes really came up with a cheap way of designing these assemblies. The individual bulbs aren't wired, so the bulb gets its juice from the housing. I think the bulb holder contacts wouldn't always make a good connection with the tail light housing, causing the defective light message. The dealer replaced both tail light housings under warranty with a supposedly better engineered version. I haven't had any problems since, but I think as the car ages this cheap design will again cause problems.

Bob I.

1998 E320
1995 E420

I'll do you one better. My 97 E320 also shows defective bulb intermittently, but I have on occasion have my left and sometimes right hazzard lights go out. However, when I re-enter the car later on, the bulb will be working. This is probablly due to some dirty contacts but a real pain in the ass.

David,
Did your friend say if the dealership told him why the cluster had to be replaced or what the problem was? I'm not trilled about having original parts replace by the dealership because it has been my experience that it's never the same afterwards.

I've had a similar issue with rear tail-light bulbs and the defective bulb on my display. Last week I went through all the bulbs in the rear and lubed them up with di-electric grease ($2.00/ tube @ NAPA or wally-world).

All the lights are back to normal and no more defective bulb errors.


Still have a defective display error with the little boxes though. Anyone else here have any more input on this without a full replacement? What I would really like is someone who just cracked up a 98-99 e300td with 60k miles and wants to part out a dashboard!!

PMU

__________________
Phil
Previously loved
variety, but I miss the 99 F350 PSD- 37k, traded, damn

Current stable
98 E-300 TurboDiesel, 253k
http://www.facebook.com/people/Philip-Underwood/762882374

Phil,
What specific boxes are showing defective in your dash display?

Also noticed in your signature that your E300 is leaking fuel @ 133k miles.
That is about the same mileage mine had when I had to replace the fuel shutoff valve (where all of the plastic fuel lines originate). This is located on the driver's side near the front of the engine. Of course, you may have already corrected this problem.

Ken

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2014 E250 Bluetec 4-Matic
2014 GL350 Bluetec 4-Matic
1996 Chevy Tahoe 4 x 4
2009 ML350 (sold)
2005 SLK350 (sold)
1999 E300 Turbodiesel (sold)
1998 ML320 (sold)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbodiesel (sold)

The little boxes are actually "pages". They mean that there is more than one message. You push the reset button (possibly on the earlier cars it's the clock or trip meter button) and it will show the other messages one at a time.
On the bulb defective display, an incorrect wattage or "cheap" bulb may throw this warning. You have to be very methodical in checking the bulbs, example the 2 inner clear oval running lights are common, the amber side ones on the front bumper, both license lights, etc. Yes the "bulb plates" for the taillights are a common failure too.
On the display defective, yeah it's usually a bad cluster, I agree there. On the 96-97, outside chance it's the ignition switch.
Gilly

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I replaced the shutoff valve last year. It looks to be ok right now, but threw a code when it malfunctioned. The new leak is from the 2nd and 3rd delivery valve on the IP. Still waiting on parts and tools from fastlane. Hopefully tomorrow.

PMU

__________________
Phil
Previously loved
variety, but I miss the 99 F350 PSD- 37k, traded, damn

Current stable
98 E-300 TurboDiesel, 253k
http://www.facebook.com/people/Philip-Underwood/762882374

Another thing that can help with the intermittant bulb outages: use a round wire brush on the socket before using the dielectric paste.
A brush similar to a battery post cleaner does wonders at taking off any oxidation in the socket and helps get a positive connection between the bulb and socket.
Applying the dielectric paste helps to keep from having it oxidize again.

__________________
-Josh
Testing the cheap Mercedes axiom, one bolt at a time...

Isn't this going to cause dust to be accumulated on the bulb?

These is a common problem with the rear tail light cluster on the W210. The issue is where the plastic that holds the circuit board fails and as a result shorting the bulb. Moving the bulb around a bit will fix the problem temporarily but eventually you'll have to replace the cluster. I just did so with mine after dealing with moving the bulb around for 2 years or so.

The cluster is not that expensive.

__________________
With best regards

Al

Yup, both my E320 and dad's E430 have had this same issue for a couple of years. Looks like we will have to buy new clusters.

Same tail light out problem with my '96 W210 for many years (used to switch the bulbs from side to side to fix the problem until it comes back a few months after). No evidence of heat damage on mine. I eventually cleaned the contact areas with a fine sand paper, problem gone for a while now.

Similar problem on my 98 C230. Indicator showed a bad bulb and I did see a tail light was out. However, the bulb was good. It turned out the little metal "finger" contact in the bottom of the socket was not making good contact. Also the little solder bump on the bottom of the lamp was worn a bit. I cleaned the contact and bent it up a bit and solved the problem for now.

Mike

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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