Picked up '98 E300D - Minor electrical issues help?

[rackley]

Hello all,

I just picked up my first Mercedes, a 98 E300D. Coming from a VW 1.6TD there is simply no comparison. However, there are a few electrical quirks I'm hoping I could get some help with.

First and most annoyingly, whenever I turn on the lights it says "Lamp Defective" in the message center. I went around and checked every external light and as far as I can tell they're all working just fine. What causes the computer to think a light is bad? Might it be so kind as to indicate WHICH light it thinks is bad? Are there any "hidden" or small lights around I should check for?

Next up is the driver's seat forward-and-back switch. You can hit forward and it goes forward. You can hit back and it goes forward. As I'm sure you can imagine, this gets rather uncomfortable for the legs very quickly. Luckily there was a preset that was set ALL the way back so I can move it back with the preset. Any helpful hints for this one?

Thanks,
Ray Ackley

[TMAllison]

Try cleaning the seat door switch with electrical contact spray.

The lights: You've prob got one out somewhere. It helps sometimes to note "exactly" when the warning comes on (ie: only in reverse?, when steping on brake?, when head lights are turned on? etc) and then look at those components. I find the message appears a couple seconds after you attempt to use the bad light.

[OMEGAMAN]

WD-40 works great on MB seat switches when they do that. I used to do that on Land Rovers all the time and they use MB seat switches. Your gonna need a wiring diagram to figure out the bulb problem. It's probably a bulb check module.

[RLGDiesel]

Hello. I have experienced this seat quirk on both my 1999 E320 and 1998 E300. Both times I have corrected the problem by moving the seat all the way forward until it stops...this seems to reset something. The seat and steering wheel will then move in the correct direction. Be sure to set your memory controls for your current position in case this "fix" doesn't work for you, so you won't be stuck in the full forward position.

[raMBow]

Originally Posted by TMAllison

The lights: You've prob got one out somewhere. It helps sometimes to note "exactly" when the warning comes on (ie: only in reverse?, when steping on brake?, when head lights are turned on? etc) and then look at those components. I find the message appears a couple seconds after you attempt to use the bad light.

This is how I tracked mine down. If it is with the running lights you can also use the left and right side parking light option, turning the knob to the left, instead of the normal right.

License plate bulbs, side marker bulbs, or the little lights inside the "center smaller headlights". Check when dark, makes it easier.

I really like mine.

[rackley]

Thanks for the help everyone, I found the bulb, but I had to wait until it got dark out. It's one of the rear license plate bulbs, and as luck would have it one of the screws for that little trim piece is stuck into the socket. I PB Blaster'd all three (they all seemed stuck) and let them soak for a few hours, returned and 2 of the 3 came loose. The third "came loose" but it was really the socket part spinning. So I'm thinking I may have to totally disassemble the trunk trim to get to the back of that guy with a vice-grip or something. Ugh.

Same exact thing with one of the license plate screws when I tried changing plates. I manged to pry the plate off over the screw head, then get the vice grips on the socket and tried turning the screw but no dice. Still stuck in there super good.

I'll try the seat movement & electrical cleaner trick soon. That's a heck of a lot cheaper than a switch replacement :-)

[POS]

CRC makes an Electronic Cleaner that acts/looks like brake cleaner, but it's made to clean terminals. Works great, should be found at most auto parts stores.