From owner-diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Mon Jan 25 16:36:49 2010 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Tuesday, January 26 2010 Volume 01 : Number 3234 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: RE: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 RE: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request@digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:38:24 -0500 From: Steve Morelen Subject: RE: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 If your car is wired per the schematic I have, I can see how one broken wire could produce the symptoms you describe. Do you have the schematics for the car? Does the left rear exit lamp (in the door bottom) work properly? Steve > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:52:16 -0800 > From: john@wagoneers.com > To: smorelen@hotmail.com > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > Subject: RE: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > > w124, '91 300d > > > > ----- > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold > http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum > http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > On Sun, 24 Jan 2010, Steve Morelen wrote: > > # John- > # Which car has the rear dome light problem...W123 or W124? > # > # Steve > # > # > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:25:50 -0800 > # > From: john@wagoneers.com > # > To: bkc-benzlist2@dreamfire.com > # > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > # > Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > # > > # > agree with bruce, but we're also both having some weird electrical > # > stuff with our trunk lights... and back seat lights, or at least I am. > # > I damaged the wire on the driver's side trunk that killed my license > # > plate lights... but now the back light only works with the rear driver's > # > door, but not the switch on the dash or the right rear door.... > # > > # > haven't had time to look for it... but not having that rear light > # controlled > # > from the dash is annoying... > # > > # > john > # > > # > > # > > # > ----- > # > - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > # > Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold > # > http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum > # > http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us > # > - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > # > > # > > # > On Sun, 24 Jan 2010, Bruce Caruthers wrote: > # > > # > # With Mercedes, I would always start with the fusebox for "odd" > # > # electrical issues. Reseat them, make sure they are not partially > # > # burnt, etc. Don't just look at the ones specific to the problem > # > # areas, either. It can be a side effect from elsewhere. > # > # > # > # Good luck! Electrical stuff can be some of the hardest to track. > # > # > # > # -bkc > # > # Lynnwood, WA > # > # (his) '76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] > # > # (hers) '92 Toyota Celica GT > # > # (ours) '93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] > # > # > # > # On Sun Jan 24, 2010, Marc Z wrote: > # > # > Hello Everyone, > # > # > > # > # > I've been working with an odd electrical issue. My dash lights have > # > # > been coming on, intermittently, when the ignition is turned on, not > # > # > when the light switch is turned on. I also noticed that when I open > # > # > the rear, left, door that sometimes they'll flash and/or stay on. > # > # > > # > # > Yesterday, I removed the cover on that rear door and didn't see any > # > # > issues concerning the wiring. I'm now thinking that I need to remove > # > # > the driver's seat and then remove the pillar cover to check the wiring > # > # > there. Concerning that they come on with the ignition, I replaced the > # > # > switch on the back side of the ignition lock and nothing changed. > # > # > > # > # > It matters not when they come on, I'd just like to have them on when I > # > # > need them. : - ) > # > # > > # > # > Any ideas on what else I should be checking? > # > # > > # > # > Thanks, Marc Z in NC > # > # > # > # _________________________________________________________________ > # Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. > # http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390708/direct/01/ > # _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390707/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:18:17 -0500 From: Marc Z Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 Hello Steve, The gear shift illumination does come on with the light switch. The ashtray does not but that may be a bad bulb or connector. The radio is a Blaupunkt aftermarket and does not use the lighting wire. I can remove the instrument panel and check the main plug for power, from the switch. That should tell me where it is. I'll then go from there. I appreciate reading your information. Thanks, Marc Z in NC Steve Morelen wrote: Hi Marc, If the dash illumination was working properly before the dimmer started going bad, the main lighting switch is probably OK. I would suspect something in the neighborhood of where the soldering work was performed. Do the following lights come on properly? gear shift illumination ashtray radio If so, the main lighting switch should be OK. These lights are fed directly from the switch...they are not fed from the dimmer potentiometer. My comments are based on documentation for the 1983-85 300D/CD/TD models. BR, Steve > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:38:13 -0500 > From: marcz@pobox.com > To: smorelen@hotmail.com > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > > Hi Steve, > > Once the feed-back situation is fixed, where power isn't coming from > elsewhere, I'll need to figure out why the dash lights aren't getting > power from the light switch. One of the last things that I did before > this current situation is the solder the connection in the instrument > panel to circumvent the dimmer. Perhaps there is an issue there or in > the light switch itself. > > Marc Z in NC > > > Steve Morelen wrote: > > Marc- > > > > When you say "no power otherwise" what do you mean? > > > > Steve > > > > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:14:03 -0500 > > From: marcz@pobox.com > > To: smorelen@hotmail.com > > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > > Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Steve, > > > > > > > > That makes sense as the button is lit. It certainly sounds like I > > need to remove the driver's seat and then the pillar cover to get to > > that site. > > > > > > > > Ever since I massaged the rubber cover of the wiring between the door > > and pillar, the lights have been off....... Then, the question is, why > > no power otherwise..... Perhaps a bad light switch or connection in > > the dash panel.... > > > > > > > > Thanks, Marc Z in NC > > > > > > > > > > > > Steve Morelen wrote: > > > > Power window (rear door) switch illumination conductors can intermingle > > with > > +12V supply lines that feed the rear door window motors as a consequence of > > failed insulation on the conductors. This allows the window motor supply > > line > > to back-feed the illumination circuit and light up things in the front of the > > car even though the main lighting switch is in the "off" position. The > > cross-connection that I have seen occurs in the wiring bundle as it passes > > from the chassis B-pillar into the door. > > > > Steve > > > > > > > > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:19:11 -0800 > > From: bkc-benzlist2@dreamfire.com > > To: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > > Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > > > > With Mercedes, I would always start with the fusebox for "odd" > > electrical issues. Reseat them, make sure they are not partially > > burnt, etc. Don't just look at the ones specific to the problem > > areas, either. It can be a side effect from elsewhere. > > > > Good luck! Electrical stuff can be some of the hardest to track. > > > > -bkc > > Lynnwood, WA > > (his) '76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] > > (hers) '92 Toyota Celica GT > > (ours) '93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] > > > > On Sun Jan 24, 2010, Marc Z wrote: > > > > > > Hello Everyone, > > > > I've been working with an odd electrical issue. My dash lights have > > been coming on, intermittently, when the ignition is turned on, not > > when the light switch is turned on. I also noticed that when I open > > the rear, left, door that sometimes they'll flash and/or stay on. > > > > Yesterday, I removed the cover on that rear door and didn't see any > > issues concerning the wiring. I'm now thinking that I need to remove > > the driver's seat and then remove the pillar cover to check the wiring > > there. Concerning that they come on with the ignition, I replaced the > > switch on the back side of the ignition lock and nothing changed. > > > > It matters not when they come on, I'd just like to have them on when I > > need them. : - ) > > > > Any ideas on what else I should be checking? > > > > Thanks, Marc Z in NC > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft^Rs powerful SPAM protection. > > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/ > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. > > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390709/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:26:01 -0500 From: Marc Z Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 Hi Steve, When the left rear door opens the light over the rear seat does come on. There is no light in the door bottom. I have a Haynes manual which has diagrams in the back of the book, but they're not the best. Marc Z. Steve Morelen wrote: If your car is wired per the schematic I have, I can see how one broken wire could produce the symptoms you describe. Do you have the schematics for the car? Does the left rear exit lamp (in the door bottom) work properly? Steve Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:52:16 -0800 From: john@wagoneers.com To: smorelen@hotmail.com CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Subject: RE: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 w124, '91 300d ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Sun, 24 Jan 2010, Steve Morelen wrote: # John- # Which car has the rear dome light problem...W123 or W124? # # Steve # # > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:25:50 -0800 # > From: john@wagoneers.com # > To: bkc-benzlist2@dreamfire.com # > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net # > Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 # > # > agree with bruce, but we're also both having some weird electrical # > stuff with our trunk lights... and back seat lights, or at least I am. # > I damaged the wire on the driver's side trunk that killed my license # > plate lights... but now the back light only works with the rear driver's # > door, but not the switch on the dash or the right rear door.... # > # > haven't had time to look for it... but not having that rear light # controlled # > from the dash is annoying... # > # > john # > # > # > # > ----- # > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ # > Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold # > http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum # > http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us # > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ # > # > # > On Sun, 24 Jan 2010, Bruce Caruthers wrote: # > # > # With Mercedes, I would always start with the fusebox for "odd" # > # electrical issues. Reseat them, make sure they are not partially # > # burnt, etc. Don't just look at the ones specific to the problem # > # areas, either. It can be a side effect from elsewhere. # > # # > # Good luck! Electrical stuff can be some of the hardest to track. # > # # > # -bkc # > # Lynnwood, WA # > # (his) '76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] # > # (hers) '92 Toyota Celica GT # > # (ours) '93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] # > # # > # On Sun Jan 24, 2010, Marc Z wrote: # > # > Hello Everyone, # > # > # > # > I've been working with an odd electrical issue. My dash lights have # > # > been coming on, intermittently, when the ignition is turned on, not # > # > when the light switch is turned on. I also noticed that when I open # > # > the rear, left, door that sometimes they'll flash and/or stay on. # > # > # > # > Yesterday, I removed the cover on that rear door and didn't see any # > # > issues concerning the wiring. I'm now thinking that I need to remove # > # > the driver's seat and then remove the pillar cover to check the wiring # > # > there. Concerning that they come on with the ignition, I replaced the # > # > switch on the back side of the ignition lock and nothing changed. # > # > # > # > It matters not when they come on, I'd just like to have them on when I # > # > need them. : - ) # > # > # > # > Any ideas on what else I should be checking? # > # > # > # > Thanks, Marc Z in NC # > # # # _________________________________________________________________ # Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. # http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390708/direct/01/ # _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390707/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:38:24 -0500 From: Steve Morelen Subject: RE: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 Sorry for the confusion Marc. The left rear exit lamp question is for John and his W124 rear dome lamp problem. BR, Steve > Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:26:01 -0500 > From: marcz@pobox.com > To: smorelen@hotmail.com > CC: john@wagoneers.com; diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > > Hi Steve, > > When the left rear door opens the light over the rear seat does come on. > There is no light in the door bottom. > > I have a Haynes manual which has diagrams in the back of the book, but > they're not the best. > > Marc Z. > > Steve Morelen wrote: > > If your car is wired per the schematic I have, I can see how one broken wire > could produce the symptoms you describe. Do you have the schematics for the > car? > Does the left rear exit lamp (in the door bottom) work properly? > > Steve > > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:52:16 -0800 > From: john@wagoneers.com To: smorelen@hotmail.com CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Subject: RE: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > > w124, '91 300d > > ----- > - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum > http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > On Sun, 24 Jan 2010, Steve Morelen wrote: > > # John- > # Which car has the rear dome light problem...W123 or W124? > # > # Steve > # > # > Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:25:50 -0800 > # > From: john@wagoneers.com # > To: bkc-benzlist2@dreamfire.com # > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net # > Subject: Re: [db] Odd electrical issue, W123 > # > > # > agree with bruce, but we're also both having some weird electrical > # > stuff with our trunk lights... and back seat lights, or at least I am. > # > I damaged the wire on the driver's side trunk that killed my license > # > plate lights... but now the back light only works with the rear > > driver's > > # > door, but not the switch on the dash or the right rear door.... > # > > # > haven't had time to look for it... but not having that rear light > # controlled > # > from the dash is annoying... > # > > # > john > # > > # > > # > > # > ----- > # > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > # > Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold > # > http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum > # > http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us # > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > # > > # > > # > On Sun, 24 Jan 2010, Bruce Caruthers wrote: > # > > # > # With Mercedes, I would always start with the fusebox for "odd" > # > # electrical issues. Reseat them, make sure they are not partially > # > # burnt, etc. Don't just look at the ones specific to the problem > # > # areas, either. It can be a side effect from elsewhere. > # > # > # > # Good luck! Electrical stuff can be some of the hardest to track. > # > # > # > # -bkc > # > # Lynnwood, WA > # > # (his) '76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] > # > # (hers) '92 Toyota Celica GT > # > # (ours) '93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] > # > # > # > # On Sun Jan 24, 2010, Marc Z wrote: > # > # > Hello Everyone, > # > # > > # > # > I've been working with an odd electrical issue. My dash lights > > have > > # > # > been coming on, intermittently, when the ignition is turned on, > > not > > # > # > when the light switch is turned on. I also noticed that when I > > open > > # > # > the rear, left, door that sometimes they'll flash and/or stay on. > # > # > > # > # > Yesterday, I removed the cover on that rear door and didn't see > > any > > # > # > issues concerning the wiring. I'm now thinking that I need to > > remove > > # > # > the driver's seat and then remove the pillar cover to check the > > wiring > > # > # > there. Concerning that they come on with the ignition, I replaced > > the > > # > # > switch on the back side of the ignition lock and nothing changed. > # > # > > # > # > It matters not when they come on, I'd just like to have them on > > when I > > # > # > need them. : - ) > # > # > > # > # > Any ideas on what else I should be checking? > # > # > > # > # > Thanks, Marc Z in NC > # > # > # > # _________________________________________________________________ > # Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. > # http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390708/direct/01/ # > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390707/direct/01/ _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390708/direct/01/ ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #3234 **********************************