W210 e280 no reverse lights

[old man Logan]

Morning all,got a very strange fault, intermittent and non working reverse lights with a light fault display on dash but not all the time,I have seen threads about taking power from cigarette unit ,my question is do I still have to take centre console out or can I just remove unit to cigarette lighter and pass a new cable to the grey wire as that's more accessable

 

[mersum1es]

Have you checked condition on bulb carrier or or contact plates of light assembly itself? Mine W210 plastic 'rivet' was broken allowing contact plate to come up so it didn¨t contact properly.... A good article: https://www.thedrive.com/news/43878...rritating-problems-with-my-cheap-old-mercedes

 

[old man Logan]

A good point,that will be my first port of call as brake,fog , lights all good

Have you checked condition on bulb carrier or or contact plates of light assembly itself? Mine W210 plastic 'rivet' was broken allowing contact plate to come up so it didn¨t contact properly.... A good article: https://www.thedrive.com/news/43878...rritating-problems-with-my-cheap-old-mercedes

 

[Blobcat]

W210's are notorious for the bulb holders oxidising leading to poor connections and bulb out warnings.
Careful cleaning with contact cleaner can improve the situation, although it can be a frequent task...

 

[brandwooddixon]

I had a similar experience of intermittent bulb faults reported for the back lights when I had a W210 E430.

I found that removing the bulb holders, giving the light unit back plate a light sanding near the bulb holder contact points and bending the electrical contacts out slightly on the holders so that they made better contact with the backplate cured the issue.

 

[old man Logan]

I will look at reverse lights bulb and contacts

 

[old man Logan]

Ok ,there was a white residue over both contacts on bulb carriers cleaning that off and hey presto I have lights again surely not that simple,I'm never that lucky

 

[Blobcat]

Ok ,there was a white residue over both contacts on bulb carriers cleaning that off and hey presto I have lights again surely not that simple,I'm never that lucky

Get some contact cleaning lubricant on them, should give you some more time before it does it again…

 

[Doug1234]

Use this stuff ( ACF50 ) and you will never get the problem again, do all rear light connections at the same time.

https://amzn.eu/d/iZOGXZd

I used it on my 06 jeep that has large fuse boxes in engine compartment that are open underneath to allow water to drain , removed all fuses and relays , squirt it in and replace them.
Some of them had white corrosion or were tarnished/dull connections.

 

[DSK]

Use this stuff ( ACF50 ) and you will never get the problem again, do all rear light connections at the same time.

https://amzn.eu/d/iZOGXZd

I used it on my 06 jeep that has large fuse boxes in engine compartment that are open underneath to allow water to drain , removed all fuses and relays , squirt it in and replace them.
Some of them had white corrosion or were tarnished/dull connections.

I knew it’s good and I use it for the motorcycle and elsewhere on the cars but, great if it can just be sprayed directly onto electrics without consequence.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Doug1234]

Yes just spray it on , but give can a good shake first.
I just soak it on and then usually dab excess off with tissue or shake connector and then just plug back together or in case of relays and fuses just pop back in.
Its not conductive in any way

 

[old man Logan]

Cheers I've ordered some, hopefully that will end my erratic lights

 

[EmilysDad]

stores at work does a great line in silicon spray & leccy switch cleaner .... I always give lamp/bulb holders a good spray of silicon when I replace them