Do window switches on 300SDL light up? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

julio.garcia.fc · #1 09-27-2011, 11:51 AM

I am still learning my way around my 300 SDL I am not sure if the window switches are supposed to light up when the headlamps are on. The bulb that lights up the shift labels (P, R, N, D, 3, 2 1) went out and I replaced it, when I did that, the two window switches for the front windows in the center console lit up. But the rear window switches in the console and the on the rear doors do not light up. Is this expected behavior? If not, is there another undiscovered bulb that needs to be replaced? Any help is appreciated. I am on a mission to clean the switches in this car. Doing so has cleared up several random behaviors. Here is what my center console looks like:

Also, the rubber seal around the shifter is disintegrating. I could not find a part number for that. It is not an urgent item, but I will need to replace it. Do you know where I can get one?

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sixto · #2 09-27-2011, 12:33 PM

All the window switches should light up.

Sixto
87 300D

LandYaghtLover · #3 09-27-2011, 12:35 PM

On my 560 the window switches light up, the mirror switch lights up and the speaker for the volume control lights up (but not the dial itself).

compu_85 · #4 09-27-2011, 01:05 PM

I don't know if the early Gen2 cars have the light up fader dial or mirror switch (or sunroof switch for that matter), but the window switches and headlamp switch escutcheon should light up at night. In my car the window switches are LEDs, I'd think they are LED in the older car as well. The headlamp switch escutcheon has a frosted 1.2w filament lamp. A clear one works fine.

-J

julio.garcia.fc · #5 09-27-2011, 06:50 PM

So the switches themselves have the 1.2w bulbs in them? I have not opened up the switches to clean them. I have just soaked them in cleaner. and dried them. That has worked well.

In any case, I plan to remove them and swap them around to see if a particular switch is at fault. The lights seem to be in series (??).

compu_85 · #6 09-27-2011, 10:02 PM

The lights are not in series. It's possible your earlier car has 1.2w bulbs in each switch. My car has LEDs.

-J

SD Blue · #7 09-27-2011, 10:03 PM

I'm not sure about your year/model but the earlier W126's had a fiber optic "spider" , with a single common bulb, that fed light to those switches. IIRC, it is located behind the right side of the instrument cluster.

julio.garcia.fc · #8 09-27-2011, 11:34 PM

Interestingly, I just discovered that when the child lock is on, the rear switches do not light up. When I turned off child lock, the rear switches on the rear doors came on. So, I am left with troubleshooting the switches on the console. Also, I was wrong about the front v.s. rear. It is the front door switches on the console that do not light up. I will swap them around later this week or over the weekend and see what I find out. I am still curious about how changing that one, seemingly unrelated 1.2w bulb, made the console rear window switches start working. Anyway, I will report whatever I find out. Thanks for all your help.

compu_85 · #9 09-28-2011, 07:48 AM

The spider only does the switches on the front of the dash I think.

-J

LandYaghtLover · #10 09-28-2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

I don't know if the early Gen2 cars have the light up fader dial or mirror switch (or sunroof switch for that matter), but the window switches and headlamp switch escutcheon should light up at night. In my car the window switches are LEDs, I'd think they are LED in the older car as well. The headlamp switch escutcheon has a frosted 1.2w filament lamp. A clear one works fine.

-J

My 91 only has LEDs in the accessory switches, such as rear window shade, heated seats and fanfare horn. All the window switches have regular little lamps.

compu_85 · #11 09-28-2011, 03:27 PM

Good to know. Perhaps I was confusing them with the other switches

LandYaghtLover · #12 09-28-2011, 03:35 PM

I actually made a thread about it a little while back wondering if LED was he norm. And wondering why they did not do LED on all the switches. Seemed odd to me. Also helped explain why on full dim certain switches were so much brighter still. Goofy of MB.

julio.garcia.fc · #13 10-01-2011, 06:19 PM

I took the switches apart and the lights are just fried. I hope it was not a short of some sort, but they are both dark/brownish. The other two LED/lights looked clear. I guess I will just order another pair in the near future. In case anyone cares, here is what the switches look like inside. As many others have said, be careful when taking these apart. The little springs and ball bearings can easily disappear. Sorry it is a little blurry: