The #1 fuse is for the dash lights and the right tail light. The fuse is fine but all the lights are out. There is no voltage at the tail light socket.

I do not know where to start looking. Please help.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

The fuse card for the W123 lists the #1 fuse as also powering the license plate lamp, the instrument cluster lamps, the hazard and other switches illumination, and the key-out warning buzzer. Do any of these work? If so it is not a fuse problem

Have you actually removed the fuse, held it in your hand, checked it with a meter? These fuses can have hairline cracks that are almost invisible. The ends can corrode so they don't make good contact. The fuse looks good but is not. Try replacing the fuse with another, as an experiment. Check for voltage to ground at both ends of the fuse.

Are your fuses aluminum or copper? If they are aluminum, consider replacing all of them with copper.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

none of these work. i have replaced the fuse with a new one.

i am scratching my head as to how to proceed. i just have no idea where to start looking.

logically, i am looking for a cut wire but the thought of looking for it in the car is daunting.

Please help if you have any ideas

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

bump.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Your multimeter is your friend. I suggest you start checking if you are actually getting voltage at the fuse box, that you have continuity across the fuse, and that you are getting voltage readings at the instrument cluster.

In the past I have had the exact same problem. It is usually a bad connection in the fuse box. Bad connections are usually 99% of all electrical problems.

Good luck!

PE

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83 240D - 4 speed manual - Manilla Beige
189K miles, Tachometer mod, cool wooden shift knob from PeachParts, CocoMats, Original factory paint, manual windows, manual sunroof. Starting to add AudioWrap to this car too!

New radio recently? If so, you messed up the grey/violet wire.

Try turning the headlight switch to the left with the ignition off, this checks a different power path to the R standing light and isolates all the other components off fuse 1 (they get power when the headlight switch is in Park/Head). If the park lights work, then the problem is not in the park/tail lights but in one of the other locations.

Commonly, a botched radio install will cause this.