Hey,

Last year I replaced the Becker stereo on my 1987 300E with great results, and of course with the immense assistance of this incredible site. Took me quite some time to try to use the fader until I finally decided to re wire the entire system (all except for front left, I didn't want to remove the entire dash).

Something I noticed while I was in there was that the wires to the lighter were cracked and had fallen down. Since I had already wasted so much time on the stereo already I simply connected the wires as shown in image 1. (Brown to Brown/ Black/Yellow to Black/Yellow)

Today I wanted to replace the bulb in the shifter gate that had blown (before the stereo swap) and noticed that there was no power to socket (tested with a multimeter). Could this be a result of the wiring problem on the lighter? Regardless I need to re-wire the cigar lighter and I hope that someone can help me through it. I've included a couple of other images that may help in indentification. In addition the light on the glove box does not work as well.

Thanks in advance,

DB87300E

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Also could you identify this wiring harness?

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And here is the back of the lighter. I imagine there was a harness here, but I did not find one. I am fairly capable at soldering however. I imagine Z is the location that the bulb harness is inserted.

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Going from memory, I think that harness in question is actually the bulb socket. See if it snaps into the square hole (location Z).

I wonder if those wires wrapped in tape (C) used to be attached to the lighter plug. Perhaps they were reused to power something else, like an audio component?

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

yes, z is where the bulb harness goes. And I believe that the wiring harness in your hand in the second post is the harness for this bulb. You just put the bulb in the harness and push the harness into the hole until it clips into place. I believe the hole and harness are rectangular, so it can only go in one (well actually 2/4) ways. It is one of those very tiny clear bulbs that light up numerous things on the dash.

I just replaced that bulb and the ones that light up the air vent adjusters in my 300e (same bulb). my cigar lghter was working, so I did not have to mess with it, so unfortunately I am of no use to you on that subject.

Oddly enough, my glove box light is not working either, and it happened right when I replaced the other bulbs. I am not getting any voltage to the bulb now for some reason. I was thinking that the wires for the glove box bulb and for the ashtray bulb are connected or effect each other somehow. Anyone know if this is true?

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headrivenoise... listen.

I believe that all 4 wires were connected to the lighter but I am not sure how. Man, reverse-engineering really sucks.

As I recall, there are 4 wires because there are things downstream (in series) on the lighter circuit. That means that one pair is positive, and one pair is negative. Odds are good that they are spliced in pairs right now. All you need to figure this out is a voltmeter or test lamp.

Basically, someone cut off the lighter plug, and spliced the wires to keep the rest of the circuit going.

My car was like that too. Wires cutoff and spliced. My aunt (PO) had requested the lighter be disabled so that she could 'encourage' business associates to not smoke in her car. Why she didn't simply remove the lighter mechanism, I can't say.

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

I really appreciatethe posts so far and yes the harness I took a picture of is the ashtray light. Today I purchased the bulbs for both the ashtray and the shifter at MB. The ashtray light works but neither the shifter nor the glove box which inclines me to believe that the wiring at the lighter may be the culprit. By the way, all the other interior lights in my car work including the vents and rear seat window switches.

Another idea would be that the fader switch is the culprit as i do believe it receives power as well, if someone could clear this up for me. I cut the fader wires when I was trying to wire the rear speakers to my new deck. I'll check now if there is a positive and a ground that need to be reconnected.

It would really help if someone had a picture or a description of how a functioning lighter setup looks, as I could make mine look like that. I'd rather not fiddle with the electrical as I may blow something important up or downstream.

So if anyone could take a look at theirs and point me in the right direction that would be great.

DB87300E

Here's an update.

I took apart the pair of brown wires only to find that the were not stripped or connected. I connected the grounds together and voila! The light was now on in my glove compartment.

However the shifter and window lights still did not work. So I connected the power and ground wires from the fader to see if this was causing an incomplete circuit but this resulted in no change.

If I could get an idea of the wiring in the console I might better be able to troubleshoot this.

DB87300E

Fader is not powered, except from amp output. It cannot be the culprit.

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

Okay here is yet another update as the drive last night corrected my belief as to which lights are working. The following lights DO NOT work:

Centre Vent
Headlamp switch
Shift Console
All Window Switches (Console AND Rear Seats)
Headrest Retractor Switch
Rear Seat Light Switch (on centre Console)
Antenna Switch

From what I know all the switches have built-in LEDs which means that they will probably NEVER blow. Which leaves the Centre Vent and the Headlamp Switch as the only two of these with bulbs that can be changed.

My question is can a blown bulb be the reason that the rest of the lights above have gone out? I know that the centre vent is tough to access so I would rather not go in unless I have to.

As a side note it seems as though my buzzer is going south. If the AC/Heater blower is active when I turn the key the buzzer changes pitch from normal to low as if someone is choking it. If the heater is not on the buzzer is fine. All this seems to indicate to me that there must be a bad ground somewhere. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Man I need a wiring diagram.

You've got mail .....

Maybe this will also help

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

There is a fuse on the instrument cluster that powers the dashbord light ( it has red cap)

have you checked it?

i have a 86 300e i was wondering if anyone can tell me why the cigarette lighter is all the way in having trouble trying to get it out. Also can anyone help me figure out why my hazard work but not my left turn signal nor my brake lights. Any help i can get i would really appreciate it.