The car is a 97 C280 and around 60,000 miles the light bulb that lights up the automatic climate control push button module at night burned out. It was changed then burned out and changed and burned out yet again. Any new bulb put in does not seem to make it more than a few days.
Has anybody experienced this before or does anyone have any idea what may be causing this?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!


- Ali Al-Chalabi

This may sound silly, but are you using the factory or OEM bulb.? I think these are those little bulbs in a small socket. Be wary of aftermarket replacements, they sometimes don't quite make the grade

Actually, it is my dad's car and I am currently in Florida while he is in New Jersey, so I am 1,000 miles away. The dealer is the one that changed the bulb, so I am assuming that they probably did use OEM bulbs? The bulb has been changed three times now and I do not believe that the problem is with the bulb. Maybe its shorting somewhere or there some type of power surge is causing it to blow?

I learned to avoid the ASS U ME thing a long time ago. If you have had three burnouts nad the dealer is doing the replacing, HELLO, are they just rotating old stock or has someone there picked up on a problem. The bulbs are rated for 12 volts, so unless that circuit is running at a regulated voltage, you have an overvoltage problem, bad socket or there is more than 1 bulb fried and they are wired in a strange fashion. BTW, did this just start happening??

Yes, it did just start happening all of a sudden. I would NOT suspect the dealer of rotating old stock, as they are very reputable and have never given us anything but 100% honest service. The dealer has determined that there is problem, I was just thinking of saving some money if this a relatively simple and/or common problem. I do not believe he has brought the car to have the problem diagnosed, I will ask him tommorrow.
Thanks for the input.
-Ali Al-Chalabi