[W126 Coupe] dim bulb

[calvin young]

thanks guys.  I will try to work on this on Tuesday as I am working on an 
Audi I just sold.  I did have the alternator and battery checked and they 
are OK.  I have a bad ground, hot wire, or bad light switch.  I plan to try 
the ground first.

Any issues with wiring the two sides of the lights together.  Might overload 
the fuse is the only issue I can see.

Cal


>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>

> I have not had just one head lamp do this but when my alternator started

> to fail and did not adequately charge the battery both headlamps went dim.

> Along with that, my seatbelt presenters started cycling during driving

> and my hazard flasher started.

> You might want to test your battery and alternator.

>

> Rick

> ====

>

>> Hi guys,

>>

>> I could use some help with a light problem.  It seems my left headlight

> is

>> glowing dim.  the light is half of what it should be.  This problem

> seems to

>> come out of nowhere although the mechanic is changing out the driver's

> door

>> and working on the wires.  He may have shorted out something, perhaps

> this

>> caused a relay to malfunction.

>>

>> Changing driver's bulb for passenger bulb changes nothing.  Anyone had

> or

>> heard of this problem before?

>>

>> Cal

> -------------- next part --------------

> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...

> URL: 

> <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20110219/d7f055d0/attachment-0001.htm>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 2

> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:41:12 -0500

> From: Dick Spellman <dick.spellman at gmail.com>

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Passenger headlight bulb only glowing at

> half strength and it is not the bulb

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <4D6000B8.2030709 at gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

>

> Hi Cal,

>

> When the mechanic started on your driver door work, did he need to go in

> behind the instrument cluster to navigate the harness that flows to the

> door column?  If so, the headlamp harness and a significant ground block

> reside behind there.  Could have tugged on a wire or two possibly?

> Otherwise, check your ground post on the front chassis adjoining the

> headlamp to the driver's side.  Should be right next to the

> receiver/dryer.  As Mike Ramay suggested... check and update the fuses

> if they have oxidized or are the originals that are known to heat up and

> let go on the tips.  You could check for current drain on the battery

> with the car off, all systems off to see if there is an active short

> too.  That would at least let you know on a system wide level of

> something is shorted.

>

> Just a thought or 2.

>

> -\Dick

>

> On 2/18/2011 4:54 AM, calvin young wrote:

>> Hi guys,

>>

>> I could use some help with a light problem.  It seems my left

>> headlight is glowing dim.  the light is half of what it should be.

>> This problem seems to come out of nowhere although the mechanic is

>> changing out the driver's door and working on the wires.  He may have

>> shorted out something, perhaps this caused a relay to malfunction.

>>

>> Changing driver's bulb for passenger bulb changes nothing.  Anyone had

>> or heard of this problem before?

>>

>> Cal

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

>

> -- 

> The information contained in this e-mail and the attachments, if any, is

> legally privileged and CONFIDENTIAL. It is intended solely for the use

> of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and others

> authorized to receive it. If you are not the intended recipient you are

> hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or taking

> action in reliance of the contents of this information is strictly

> prohibited and may be unlawful.

>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 3

> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:13:45 -0500

> From: "calvin young" <calvinyoung at cox.net>

> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Light Problem

> To: <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <01EE0869413645E1A8CB73D8D31867DD at calvinPC>

> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";

> reply-type=original

>

> Thanks Guys,

>

> I did switch the bulbs and that did not correct the problem.  The mechanic

> switched entire light assembly (driver light to passenger and vice versa)

> and that still not correct the problem.  So, the first place to look is 

> the

> ground wire.  I checked, but will replace the fuse.

>

> Second, this car is a euro and has the complicated light system that 

> allows

> one to switch on the parking lights on either side of the car.  Lots of

> places in Europe have narrow streets, so they have this unique system that

> allows you to switch on the parking and front turn signal lights

> independently of each other, depending on which side of the street you are

> parked on.  This switch, being made in 83 just might have developed a

> problem.  First, I will replace the ground and see what that does.  I 

> might

> just rewire the darn thing to have the light work like American lights 

> since

> this particular feature is not needed.

>

> I will keep you guys informed.

>

> Cal

> ----

>> Cal,

>> If the problem is not a maginal fuse, you have a poor ground from that

>> light.     -Bellamy

>>>

>> First, check the fuse to make sure it's making proper contact.

>>

>> Second, have you tried replacing the bulb?

>>

>> Third, if the bulb is OK, you may want to get a multimeter and measure

>> voltage at the connector at the back of the headlight.  At the same time,

>> check the connector (make and female sides) for signs of corrosion or

>> other crud and clean with a wire brush if you find anything.

>>

>> Fourth, check your battery terminals to make sure they are clear and not

>> causing any issues with poor or intermittent contact.  Measure your

>> battery voltage with the car both running and off.  Should be 12-13.5V

>> ish.

>>

>> Fifth, check your ground point behind and below the headlight (typically

>> brown wires going to a single screw) to make sure that it's making proper

>> contact and there is no corrosion there.

>>

>> Let us know what you find.  One of these solutions should identify the

>> problem.  If it doesn't, then you may have another issue like a voltage

>> regulator or even an alternator not generating the proper output, but

>> that's a more serious bridge to cross if everything else checks out OK.

>>

>> Cheers,

>> Gerry

>>

>> Hi Cal,

>>

>> Most likely a poor ground connection,

>>

>> Carl Hansen

>>

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 4

> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:36:04 +0000

> From: Mister McGoo <eelploot at hotmail.com>

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Light Problem

> To: MB COUPES <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <SNT123-W85A65001500A3DBD01C34CBD70 at phx.gbl>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>

>

> If you have a european model 1983, the bulbs are H4's.  pop the back from 

> the offending light plug and have your mechanic check continuity from the 

> brown wire pin (socket) to a known ground, like the engine or whatever. 

> Make sure the socket of the plug for the ground (brown) wire is clean as 

> that plug connection can be a problem.  If the ground wire is the problem 

> somewhere else in the system it may be easiest to splice in another ground 

> wire at the bulb plug and connect it to another ground, perhaps on the ABS 

> assembly or whatever is handy (and fairly inconspicuous).  A mechanic 

> should be able to check this in a few minutes.  - Bellamy

>

>> From: calvinyoung at cox.net

>> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

>> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:13:45 -0500

>> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Light Problem

>>

>> Thanks Guys,

>>

>> I did switch the bulbs and that did not correct the problem. The mechanic

>> switched entire light assembly (driver light to passenger and vice versa)

>> and that still not correct the problem. So, the first place to look is 

>> the

>> ground wire. I checked, but will replace the fuse.

>>

>> Second, this car is a euro and has the complicated light system that 

>> allows

>> one to switch on the parking lights on either side of the car. Lots of

>> places in Europe have narrow streets, so they have this unique system 

>> that

>> allows you to switch on the parking and front turn signal lights

>> independently of each other, depending on which side of the street you 

>> are

>> parked on. This switch, being made in 83 just might have developed a

>> problem. First, I will replace the ground and see what that does. I might

>> just rewire the darn thing to have the light work like American lights 

>> since

>> this particular feature is not needed.

>>

>> I will keep you guys informed.

>>

>> Cal

>> ----

>> > Cal,

>> > If the problem is not a maginal fuse, you have a poor ground from that

>> > light. -Bellamy

>> >>

>> > First, check the fuse to make sure it's making proper contact.

>> >

>> > Second, have you tried replacing the bulb?

>> >

>> > Third, if the bulb is OK, you may want to get a multimeter and measure

>> > voltage at the connector at the back of the headlight. At the same 

>> > time,

>> > check the connector (make and female sides) for signs of corrosion or

>> > other crud and clean with a wire brush if you find anything.

>> >

>> > Fourth, check your battery terminals to make sure they are clear and 

>> > not

>> > causing any issues with poor or intermittent contact. Measure your

>> > battery voltage with the car both running and off. Should be 12-13.5V

>> > ish.

>> >

>> > Fifth, check your ground point behind and below the headlight 

>> > (typically

>> > brown wires going to a single screw) to make sure that it's making 

>> > proper

>> > contact and there is no corrosion there.

>> >

>> > Let us know what you find. One of these solutions should identify the

>> > problem. If it doesn't, then you may have another issue like a voltage

>> > regulator or even an alternator not generating the proper output, but

>> > that's a more serious bridge to cross if everything else checks out OK.

>> >

>> > Cheers,

>> > Gerry

>> >

>> > Hi Cal,

>> >

>> > Most likely a poor ground connection,

>> >

>> > Carl Hansen

>> >

>>

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

> -------------- next part --------------

> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...

> URL: 

> <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20110219/46ae35af/attachment-0001.htm>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 5

> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:07:52 -0500

> From: Jay Hirsch <J.Hirsch at mac.com>

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Light Problem

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <50D05FD5-5241-4339-A950-D5AF4C28D771 at mac.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

>

> Mercedes has the parking light switch on their US  models also.

> My two "American" Mercedes  have the parking light switch

>

> keep cruisin

> Jay H

> On Feb 19, 2011, at 2:13 PM, calvin young wrote:

>

>> Thanks Guys,

>>

>> I did switch the bulbs and that did not correct the problem.  The

>> mechanic switched entire light assembly (driver light to passenger

>> and vice versa) and that still not correct the problem.  So, the

>> first place to look is the ground wire.  I checked, but will

>> replace the fuse.

>>

>> Second, this car is a euro and has the complicated light system

>> that allows one to switch on the parking lights on either side of

>> the car.  Lots of places in Europe have narrow streets, so they

>> have this unique system that allows you to switch on the parking

>> and front turn signal lights independently of each other, depending

>> on which side of the street you are parked on.  This switch, being

>> made in 83 just might have developed a problem.  First, I will

>> replace the ground and see what that does.  I might just rewire the

>> darn thing to have the light work like American lights since this

>> particular feature is not needed.

>>

>> I will keep you guys informed.

>>

>> Cal

>> ----

>>> Cal,

>>> If the problem is not a maginal fuse, you have a poor ground from

>>> that light.     -Bellamy

>>>>

>>> First, check the fuse to make sure it's making proper contact.

>>>

>>> Second, have you tried replacing the bulb?

>>>

>>> Third, if the bulb is OK, you may want to get a multimeter and

>>> measure voltage at the connector at the back of the headlight.  At

>>> the same time, check the connector (make and female sides) for

>>> signs of corrosion or other crud and clean with a wire brush if

>>> you find anything.

>>>

>>> Fourth, check your battery terminals to make sure they are clear

>>> and not causing any issues with poor or intermittent contact.

>>> Measure your battery voltage with the car both running and off.

>>> Should be 12-13.5V ish.

>>>

>>> Fifth, check your ground point behind and below the headlight

>>> (typically brown wires going to a single screw) to make sure that

>>> it's making proper contact and there is no corrosion there.

>>>

>>> Let us know what you find.  One of these solutions should identify

>>> the problem.  If it doesn't, then you may have another issue like

>>> a voltage regulator or even an alternator not generating the

>>> proper output, but that's a more serious bridge to cross if

>>> everything else checks out OK.

>>>

>>> Cheers,

>>> Gerry

>>>

>>> Hi Cal,

>>>

>>> Most likely a poor ground connection,

>>>

>>> Carl Hansen

>>

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Coupes

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

> End of MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19

> ****************************************

>