No reverse lights. W210

[Tashman]

On my 1999 W210 I have no reversing lights working.
I have so far checked the bulbs, bulb-holders, and the fuse - all are fine.

Now I have taken out the centre console in the hope of finding some kind of reverse switch that is activated by moving the stick into "R".
I can't really see one that's obvious, though I've found the live feed (grey wire) to the shifter box and its showing 12V.
What should I look for now, what is the next step to track down this fault?
Many thanks.

 

[jp williams]

On my 1999 W210 I have no reversing lights working.
I have so far checked the bulbs, bulb-holders, and the fuse - all are fine.

Now I have taken out the centre console in the hope of finding some kind of reverse switch that is activated by moving the stick into "R".
I can't really see one that's obvious, though I've found the live feed (grey wire) to the shifter box and its showing 12V.
What should I look for now, what is the next step to track down this fault?
Many thanks.

try this Tashman http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/i...0-intermittent-reversing-lights-sorted.45900/

Regards
John

 

[Tashman]

That is useful.
Thanks!

 

[Tashman]

OK I've fixed it!

If other W210 owners have this problem you can diagnose it like this....

Lift the wooden panel that houses the electric window switches.
Underneath find a plug with 2 wires going into it, one grey, one green/grey. The grey is the live feed 12V wire, and the green/grey is the wire that runs to the reverse lights at the rear. Pull the plug and test the grey wire.

If it has zero volts then your fault is the headlight switch (this is where the live feed comes from) so change that.

If it has 12 volts then short together the grey and the green/grey with a bit of copper wire - if your reverse lights come on then your fault is in the "gear recognition switch" inside the shifter (as in my case). Its a bit fiddly to get to but its possible the change it if you go carefully.
If you still have no lights when connecting together the grey with the green/grey then the problem has to be either the wire running rearwards through the car, or the bulbs or bulbholders themselves.
Hope this helps somebody.

 

[Matt.ff]

OK I've fixed it!

If other W210 owners have this problem you can diagnose it like this....

Lift the wooden panel that houses the electric window switches.
Underneath find a plug with 2 wires going into it, one grey, one green/grey. The grey is the live feed 12V wire, and the green/grey is the wire that runs to the reverse lights at the rear. Pull the plug and test the grey wire.

If it has zero volts then your fault is the headlight switch (this is where the live feed comes from) so change that.

If it has 12 volts then short together the grey and the green/grey with a bit of copper wire - if your reverse lights come on then your fault is in the "gear recognition switch" inside the shifter (as in my case). Its a bit fiddly to get to but its possible the change it if you go carefully.
If you still have no lights when connecting together the grey with the green/grey then the problem has to be either the wire running rearwards through the car, or the bulbs or bulbholders themselves.
Hope this helps somebody.

Hi my friend, my W210 facelift has the similar issue. My situation is 0 volt on grey wire, I connect the grey wire to the cigarette lighter +ve to supply 12V. Now, no lamp defective on dashboard and parking sensor go normal. But....

I figure out a minor problem on start/off the engine.

The key with positions (off)0->1->2->3(on) the engine.
From 0, turning to position 1, the function goes to as if 2. This can see dashboard lights, AC, DVD are on.
From 3, turning to position 2, the function goes as if 3. Then engine keeps running on, you have to go to 0 directly.

The cigarette lighter supply 12V from key position 1, I'm think if I should connect to another source with 12V from key position 2.

But I have no idea where is this source, can you help?

Many thanks.

 

[Michael.Tse@EverwiseWine.]

This trick of getting live 12V from the cigar lighter worked for a few years, thanks for the original posting. However, it has stopped working. I checked that the "grey wire" still gets the 12V but the "lamp error" still comes on and the reserve light is not working. Am I up for taking the gear shifter out and changing the Reverse Light Switch now?
I saw some posting about removing the gear shifter and it seems not that easy. Is it possible to install a "manual switch" between the "grey" and "grey/green" wire and manually switching on the reverse light?
My 2000 E320 is 23 years old but still a solid car!!! Time to change to a new electric one???

 

[mioba]

Is it possible to install a "manual switch" between the "grey" and "grey/green" wire and manually switching on the reverse light?
My 2000 E320 is 23 years old but still a solid car!!! Time to change to a new electric one???

I have neve heard anything so ludicrous in mt life - manual reverse switch - oh Mr MOT man, when you go into R, press the switch to make the lights wok.

For the need to replace a R light switch on a solid car you are contemplating changing the car for an electric. illogical.

it is not hard to replace the switch, take it to a garage.

 

[Michael.Tse@EverwiseWine.]

Ha ha, I will give it a try myself.

By the way, I tried to put a 12V to the grey/green wire and the reverse light did came on but the grey/green wire go very hot. Maybe the switch is more than just a mechanical contact.

Now, I have to shop for the switch.