High mount brake light W210 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

VW1300 · #1 05-10-2015, 01:00 AM

My left brake light bulb bracket seems to have suffered damage or melted, the brake light removable socket piece does not want to stay in anymore, the tab on the bracket looks like it melted away. I managed to duct tape the socket and bulb in so they make contact for now, but I have to find a replacement piece I think. I was alerted to this situation the other day by the message display in the instrument cluster.

Anyway - when I was originally trying to find out which bulb made the warning message come on, I discovered my center high mount brake light was not coming on either. Even after I duct taped the left taillight socket and it worked again, the high mount still does not work. The bulb is new, and I put a multi meter on the leads to its bulb socket - no voltage with the car on and the brake applied.

I don't see any fuse reference for this particular brake light - always assumed it was part of either the right or left brake taillight circuit, but maybe that isn't so. Apparently it's not checked by the light bulb diagnostic the car runs when its started, since I duct taped the brake light socket the warning message went away, but the center high mount light is still dead.

Does anyone have any ideas on where to start troubleshooting? I'd like this light to work, and state inspection is coming up in June.

Thanks,

Charlie

VW1300 · #2 05-10-2015, 06:04 PM

Argh, it took me a while but I kept on searching the archive with different words for that center brake light - came upon this:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/261365-no-power-3rd-brake-light-w210-1997-e320-2.html

Indeed, I didn't remember that the whole assembly unclips - one of the springy contacts on the base had corroded. I was able to bend up enough or the remaining metal tab to re-establish contact with the mount, but it looks like I might need to fashion something more permanent or find a good replacement unit.

I'm still on the hook for the left taillight socket bracket, and now know the third brake light is not on the bulb check diagnostic.

KarTek · #3 05-10-2015, 08:29 PM

I have an entire tail light assembly that I will give you for the cost of shipping. Let me look at it tomorrow night and I will let you know if it's in good shape.

TMAllison · #4 05-10-2015, 08:32 PM

In the best of times, you have to hold your breath just right to get the rear light sockets to connect and not have them disconnect when they are touched/vibrated. It was a pretty common issue when they were much closer to new too. Now they are 16-17 y/o.

Get a new bulb holder socket (and a spare or two), try to determine why the old one arc'd and melted and move on..

*Stuff* happens.

nelbur · #5 05-10-2015, 08:37 PM

I was able to solder a blob on the overheated and corroded contact on my high brake light on my '97. The added length caused by the solder blob pressed on the contact plate on the package shelf solving the problem. You can likely do something similar on the contacts on the lower brake lights. Look carefully at the points where the bulb holder contacts bear on the metal strips on the tail light assembly. You may be able to see a dark spot where overheating has made for poor contact. If so, scratching off the discoloration and putting extra metal solder on the problem bulb holder contact might solve that problem.

VW1300 · #6 05-10-2015, 09:57 PM

@ KarTek - Thanks! That would be great!

@ Nelbur - Good suggestion on the solder blob on the 3rd brake light, I'll try that. I do want the taillight socket seated solidly in its bracket - it's not right now - so I'm going to pursue a good replacement bracket.

KarTek · #7 05-11-2015, 10:43 PM

OK, I checked my old tail lights and the left one is in perfect condition. The right one has a little damage which is probably why I replaced it.

This is the damage on the right side. Sorry for the fuzzy picture, for some reason my camera on the phone has a tough time focusing at times.

If you want the left one, you're welcome to it. I upgraded to AMG style housings so I can't even use it for a spare. When you get it, you may have to transfer some of the screws and mounting studs from your assembly to the new one as I found some differences in the mounting style between the AMG style and my originals.

VW1300 · #8 05-11-2015, 11:47 PM

PM sent. By the way - can you take a picture of the AMG lights? Not sure I know what they look like.