Tail/Stop Light Error Message!

[Mercious]

2000 E320 CDI Estate.

I've had the "Lightbulb Failed" or whatever it says, come up on the dash and I've finally started sorting it out.

Firstly, because I was also getting the "ESP Fail", I assumed it was the switch activated by the brake pedal. This has been flagged up as a common fault so, I went with it and replaced the switch.

Still the problem remains.

So, I took the cover off the spare wheel, removed the spare wheel so I could get a good view of the bulb holder and to see what actually happens.

What happens is the bulb works fine and then you get this situation where it doesn't.

So, I replaced the bulbholder. In my case it's the nearside.

The bulbholders are sold as per side.

I thought this had cured it but no, the problem came back within about five minutes of driving.

But the bulb never blows.

And I've tried different working bulbs and they never blow but the stop light fails.

So, it's either the lens fitting into which the bulbholder fits or it's a wiring problem -but a wiring problem would surely blow the bulb unless it's a loose connection.

At first I thought it might be the weight of the spare wheel lying over or near the wiringthat was causing a pulling on a connection.

I've taken the spare out and cleared the wheelwell and still the problem occurs.

Any ideas?

(I know -Get the codes read etc, etc.)

 

[DSM10000]

There is no real substitute for a short circuit test with STAR, it may be a fault with the rear SAM unit.

 

[Mercious]

What's a SAM unit and where is it located please?

If I was building the car I'd just have a battery, the rear light units and the switch triggered by pressure on the footbrake.

I'd string these together with some wires and bingo, you've got brake lights!

Why is life so complicated and full of acronyms?

I still don't know what OEM stands for!

Is it Original Engineered . . .

People also speak of this thing MAFF. Mass Airflow thing is it. Why 'Mass'?

Philosophy, English, American, French and Russian literature, Aesthetics, Poetry and Art is so much easier.

But thankfully the car is not a Volvo.

A Not Haynes Workshop manual off Ebay for me.

This car's got the lot and if I played with every button I'd go insane.

 

[DSM10000]

Hi
SAM = Signal Aquisition Module, they may be fitted front and rear each with different duties in terms of signal processing.

OEM =Orignal Equipment Manufacturer, i.e. who made the parts for Mercedes.

Mass Air Flow Meter meausures the flow of air into the engine and the engine computer uses this to calculate the mass of the air entering so the correct amount of fuel can be injected.

It is possible that the connections at the SAM are corroded causing your symptoms.

 

[GordonTarling]

Try cleaning all the connections with some very fine sandpaper and perhaps bend them slightly in the direction to make firmer contact. Did this with my old S210 after a recurring problem and it stayed good for over a year until I sold it.

 

[Mercious]

I took the nearside rear light unit off the car and had a look at the state of the area around where the bulb-holder twists in.

So, I've replaced the foot-pedal switch and the bulb holder and the bulb and I've looked at all the wiring to the light fitting and I've not found any loose wires or bad connections and I've wound black pvc tape round all the wiring to the rear light (it looks very smart) and I've made sure the wiring isn't being crushed or trapped anywhere and that all the little lugs are tucked safely into their holes and holding the wiring to the designated route.

And, the state of the area around where the bulb-holder twists in is 'damaged' in that the very spot where one of the bulb-holder contacts meets with the plate on the back of the light fitting is burnt and blackened and pitted.

And, it can't be cleaned up or sanded down because it's a sort of plastic sheet with a veneer of metal on it.

So, I think I've found the cause of the problem.

Anyone else ever had this problem with the rear light fitting on a W210 E320 CDI Estate?

Thankyou everyone for your input and help.

I really appreciate it that you've taken time to help me.

 

[BlackC55]

Yes. A really common fault. The rear light clusters are a nightmare on 210's. The ESP fault will need plugging in to see what the cause is.

 

[Dieselman]

W210 rear lights had a problem with poor contact causing overheating so warping of the plastic.
Unless the metal is really pitted the burn should sand out OK.

 

[Mercious]

It seems to be a veneer of metal onto plastic and I can see it's shot so it's a new cluster because I doubt there are any decent second-hand ones about.

The lacquer on the indicator bulb is coming off as well so it's heat.

But then bulbs do get hot.

I'll look into the ESP problem when I have the codes read.

The garage say they have a machine but it's not a STAR diagnostic machine.

Does it have to be a STAR diagnostic machine/equipment?

 

[BlackC55]

No, but it helps if things get complicated. Fault codes are only half the info.

 

[andy27168]

I seem to recall that the rear bulbholders on a 210 were subject to a free replacement due to the overheating issue from MB, this was mentioned to me by my dealer when buying one for one of my 202s, besides even if they don,t replace FOC, they are because of this issue very cheap from the dealer.