SLK 320 no indicators! Help please !!!!!!!
Discussion
For weeks I have had an intermittent problem with my 2003 SLK. The orange light will appear on the dash to indicate a problem one of my tail lights......but there isn't...and my indicators stop working. It has been back to a Mercedes dealer several times, the last time for 5 weeks at which pont I said fix the problem you think it is. So they replaced the part controlling the indicators but the orange light is still coming on and I just waitin now for the indicators to stop working. So far I spent about $1000 . Anyone experience similar problem and how was it fixed.
Take out the rear lights and have a look at the metal contact strips, which feed power to the bulbs. They can start to wear which creates an arc each time power is put through it. If you see any pitting where the bulb contacts it, either get it replaced or twist the bulb slightly so it clears it.
I had this issue 2 years ago. I didn't replace it, but instead made sure the indicator bulb was turned so the contacts missed the damaged area. Never had a problem since.
I had this issue 2 years ago. I didn't replace it, but instead made sure the indicator bulb was turned so the contacts missed the damaged area. Never had a problem since.
sanguinary...thanks for your help. I.m going to check this out. As the problem is intermittent it may take some however to see if this rectifies the problem. It has taked 300 kilometres for the problem to occur this lat time, and in fact I was beginning to think the Mercedes dealer had fixed the problem, but of course all they do is stich a diagnostic machine on it and say it is all OK or replace expensive components. The days of problem finding mechanics are gone I fear.Hope your suggestion works and thank you once again.
sanguinary I am at last able to reply to your posting. Following you advice I gave my car to the local RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria ) service manager ( I never work on my own cars besause I am a klutz) who has a reputation as a great problem solver. He checked out your suggestion and while there was a problem ther it not what was causing my problem with the indicators. Happy to report that after a month he tracked down the problem and can replicate it at will, and it is a component. he is now working to rectify it. Almost 6 weeks at Mercedes and they couldn't fix it and this guy is little more than a back yard mechanic. Thanks however for your suggestion.
sanguinary....modern cars are great with all the computer wizbang things but Christ aren't they a nightmare when things go wrong. Even as dumb as I am with engines I used to be able to clean out a blocked fuel pump or changa a fan belt, but now you open the bonnett and everything is sealed. I somehow miss the old days when cars had carburetors, and no air conditioning and no cruise control or air bags. Yes and they still fun to drive! Now they so sophisticated that this is not the first time I had a problem where the so called experts have been unable to rectify a problem and in fact 2 years ago I sold a Mazda RX8 for exactly that reason. I gave up in despair and sold the car but only after spending several thousand dollars trying to fix a problem.Anyway looks like my current problem now has the end in sight (until the next one ) good luck with yours.
sanguinary,got my car back yesterday after almost six weeks. He thinks the problem is fixed and what he has described as what he thinks was the problem sounds very much like what you suggesged it was six weeks ago. He hasn't charged me at this stage he wants me to drive the car for a couple of weeks but feels that if the problem reoccurs it will be necessary to replace my driver side tail light assembly at about $330. If that si what it takes to fix it, so be it. Thanks for your obviously very good advice.
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