I have a 1986 560Sl with electrical problems

One problem recently started with me intermittantly blowing fuse #13 which protects the car alarm, all interior dash lighting,the right rear tail light & the plate lights. After unsuccessfully tracing the problem and eliminating plate lights and tail light and that wiring, the intermittant fuse blowing stopped, but I now have no light in the left gauge cluster, the outside air temp gauge, the A/C control buttons, the hazard warning switch or the row of switches above the radio. I DO have gauge lights working for the tach and the speedo, but dimmer control will not change brightness from full bright. Right tail light and plate lights work fine now also.
I would like to get all interior lighting working again. Looking at the MB electrical troubleshooting manual, it appears that my problem MAY be in the instrument cluster wiring itself, but don't want to go there if it is not necessary.

My other electrical problem revolves around the right high beam headlight. It does not work. I have disassembled the headlight electrical looking for problems after determining that the fuse for that light was not blown. I can find nothing amiss except that I have no voltage going to that headlight on high beam. Someone suggested the dimmer switch may be bad. Is that possible? Does anyone have any knowledge of other components that I should first check? How do I get to the dimmer switch to check for voltages?

Thanks for your help.

Rick, looks like a number of problems. about the only thing I see that can be common are the groung circuits at W1 located on the righ footwell. This is the gound for Hazard Flasher, Insterument cluster, dome lights, and other stuff.

On the head light, if your left high beam works the dimming switch is good.

I suggest that you check Fuze 17 and pin 3 and 4 of the Lamp monitor unit N7. If you have 12V at Pin 3 and no voltage on pin 4 , N7 is bad. If you have 12V on pin 4 check pin 3 of the high beam plug if you have 12V check the ground. If you have 12v from pin 3 to ground the lamp is bad.
I hope this is helpful

dave
86 560SL

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Dave

Thanks for the input.................will check those points out this weekend

Rick

I've got a similar problem with my 190e. The left headlamp does not work on low beam, but works when I pull on the high beam forward. The right lamp does not work on high beam when pulled forward, and goes out totally when I turn on the high beams.

Any ideas on where to start?

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Chris
93 190e 2.6 147k
81 240D 265k
89 Range Rover 165k

I want to save money by buying a replacement switch online and replacing myself. Does anyone know where I can find guidance, without buying an expensive service manual, on how to go about removing and replacing the switch. I'd like to avoid unnecessary disassembly, complications and problems. Any help would be greatley appreciated.