W203 RH low beam fuse location?

[DSM10000]

Whilst driving yesterday evening the warning for the RH Low beam lamp came on, as we were only 2 miles from our destination, in a well lit area and I was hungry and looking forward to a G&T followed by supper with friends I left it until today to check it.

Assuming it was the bulb (the LH low beam lamp having failed last month) I changed it but to no effect, I then swapped over the known working LH bulb , also to no effect. I am assuming therefore it will be a fuse, the cigarette lighter socket also having stopped working.

Having checked the fuse boxes at the end of the dashboard, engine bay and boot I find that not one has a list of which fuse is used for which circuit, the handbook does not list this either.

Would anyone kindly be able to let me know where the relevant fuse is located? a quick visual check on those in the dash did not reveal an obviously blown one but I know they can appear intact but still have failed.

As the fire is lit and a fresh lemon drizzle cake is ready I have decided that it is too cold to check now so I will go out with the multi-meter tomorrow.

Thanks in advance and a good weekend to all!

 

[Auto-mobile]

Cig lighter is in the front Sam, back row 3/4th in from the right I think.
Headlamp fuse if there is a seperate one will be in the dash, unsure of the number though.

 

[DSM10000]

Cig lighter is in the front Sam, back row 3/4th in from the right I think.
Headlamp fuse if there is a seperate one will be in the dash, unsure of the number though.

Thanks, where is the front SAM located?

Does anyone know if the headlights have separate fuses?

 

[Dec]

This is for US cars so probably opposite locations, see… W203 C32 fuse chart? - MBWorld.org Forums

On my W202, each low beam has its own fuse and each high beam has its own fuse so probably the same for the W203.

Dec

 

[Ted]

Pretty sure it won't have a fuse.
Current is limited electronically by the front SAM.

 

[DSM10000]

This is for US cars so probably opposite locations, see… W203 C32 fuse chart? - MBWorld.org Forums

On my W202, each low beam has its own fuse and each high beam has its own fuse so probably the same for the W203.

Dec

Not sure this is the same as mine from memory but thanks

 

[DSM10000]

Pretty sure it won't have a fuse.
Current is limited electronically by the front SAM.

Thanks

That was something I had thought I had read somewhere!

Do I need to look for a short circuit somewhere? Sounds likely I will need the front SAM replaced

 

[Ted]

I would test it back at the sam with a testlight - not a dvm.
Pretty sure the two dip wires will be yellow or yellow with a tracer. They may also be heavier gauge than (say) sidelights which will be grey/black and grey/red.
If one of the dip beam outputs is dead i would strongly suspect the sam.
If the sam is good but there is a break in the wiring, i would expect that circuit to be 'pulsing' as it tries to detect bulb failure. If you see that, I would suspect a break in the wiring and trace that through.
Good luck - hope it is simple.

 

[DSM10000]

I would test it back at the sam with a testlight - not a dvm.
Pretty sure the two dip wires will be yellow or yellow with a tracer. They may also be heavier gauge than (say) sidelights which will be grey/black and grey/red.
If one of the dip beam outputs is dead i would strongly suspect the sam.
If the sam is good but there is a break in the wiring, i would expect that circuit to be 'pulsing' as it tries to detect bulb failure. If you see that, I would suspect a break in the wiring and trace that through.
Good luck - hope it is simple.

Where is the front SAM?

 

[Ted]

On the 209 it is front offside under the bonnet. Right under the windscreen, covered by a splash panel. Guessing it will be similar on the 203.

 

[DSM10000]

On the 209 it is front offside under the bonnet. Right under the windscreen, covered by a splash panel. Guessing it will be similar on the 203.

There is a box with wiring, fuses and relays in the place you describe (tucked under the wiper arm on the drivers side), I assume this is the SAM?

I did drive through some flooding last night, the cover on the front SAM (if it is as described above)was not secured when I looked earlier but had no obvious signs of water ingress.

 

[Ted]

Pretty sure that will be it

 

[Ted]

Struggling to see those images on my mobile.
Pretty sure i have some schematics at work but won't be in till Monday.

 

[DSM10000]

Struggling to see those images on my mobile.
Pretty sure i have some schematics at work but won't be in till Monday.

Thanks Ted.

My electrical skills are limited, I have an MB specialist very nearby, If it is nothing obvious I will be dropping it in for a diagnostic and repair

 

[Ted]

Just remembered i have a 203 haynes manual with schematics.
The wiring colour for rh dip IS yellow and is supplied from plug 5 pin 6 on the sam.
Don't ask me which one is plug five though!!

Manual is now to hand. Ask away if you have any q's tomorrow

 

[DSM10000]

Just remembered i have a 203 haynes manual with schematics.
The wiring colour for rh dip IS yellow and is supplied from plug 5 pin 6 on the sam.
Don't ask me which one is plug five though!!

Manual is now to hand. Ask away if you have any q's tomorrow

Thanks Ted!

A prime example of how good this forum is!

 

[DSM10000]

A quick check this morning did not reveal any obvious wiring problem, I assume that the lighter socket failing as well is coincidence?

Assuming a new SAM is required, does anyone know if they are readily available or do they need to be ordered from Germany?

 

[DSM10000]

Solved!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Ted and his really helpful advice I re-doubled my efforts and went through the pins and plugs in the SAM methodically. One felt less secure than the others so I gently re-seated it and now all is working!

Ted, I owe you a beer or several!

 

[grumpyoldgit]

This may be useful for future reference. I assume you don't have a copy. (Click on images to enlarge and then click on the 'magnifier' bottom right hand corner again to enlarge them a bit more, then double click on it again to view original size).

 

[DSM10000]

Oops. Wrong thread, sorry.

Good afternoon anyway