license plate lights stay on

> Make sure your headlight switch is straight up as in off position.
>
> It is probably your headlight switch bad if you can't fix it.
>
> Car stereo guy could have messed it up so make them fix it first.

Was thinking of replacing the license plate bulbs and cleaning the
ground connection in the hatch (if there is any). Interesting that
you mention the headlight switch. I guess I could test it by
disconnecting the wires to it or maybe by turning it slightly so it's
between off and on and see if the license plate lights go out?

Reply to this Message

> Make sure your headlight switch is straight up as in off position.
>
> It is probably your headlight switch bad if you can't fix it.
>
> Car stereo guy could have messed it up so make them fix it first.

Was thinking of replacing the license plate bulbs and cleaning the
ground connection in the hatch (if there is any). Interesting that
you mention the headlight switch. I guess I could test it by
disconnecting the wires to it or maybe by turning it slightly so it's
between off and on and see if the license plate lights go out?

Reply to this Message

> Make sure your headlight switch is straight up as in off position.
>
> It is probably your headlight switch bad if you can't fix it.
>
> Car stereo guy could have messed it up so make them fix it first.

Was thinking of replacing the license plate bulbs and cleaning the
ground connection in the hatch (if there is any). Interesting that
you mention the headlight switch. I guess I could test it by
disconnecting the wires to it or maybe by turning it slightly so it's
between off and on and see if the license plate lights go out?

Reply to this Message

> Make sure your headlight switch is straight up as in off position.
>
> It is probably your headlight switch bad if you can't fix it.
>
> Car stereo guy could have messed it up so make them fix it first.

Was thinking of replacing the license plate bulbs and cleaning the
ground connection in the hatch (if there is any). Interesting that
you mention the headlight switch. I guess I could test it by
disconnecting the wires to it or maybe by turning it slightly so it's
between off and on and see if the license plate lights go out?

Reply to this Message

ptempel@gmail.com - 12 Feb 2007 23:39 GMT

I replaced the license plate bulbs and it started working correctly
after that. Not sure why it fixed it. Maybe one of the older bulbs
was creating a short? Well, anyway problem solved. :-)

Reply to this Message

ptempel@gmail.com - 13 Feb 2007 14:31 GMT

On Feb 12, 6:39 pm, ptem...@gmail.com wrote:

> I replaced the license plate bulbs and it started working correctly
> after that. Not sure why it fixed it. Maybe one of the older bulbs
> was creating a short? Well, anyway problem solved. :-)

Was too early on the resolution. The plate lights are back on today,
unfortunately. Will wait for the lamp control module (LCM) and see of
that will fix it.

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Roland Franzius - 13 Feb 2007 15:26 GMT

ptempel@gmail.com schrieb:

> On Feb 12, 6:39 pm, ptem...@gmail.com wrote:
>> I replaced the license plate bulbs and it started working correctly
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> unfortunately. Will wait for the lamp control module (LCM) and see of
> that will fix it.

From the circuitry of an W123 280E I see the plate lamps are connected
to the "light on"+"door open"+"engine off" warning buzzer via a diode in
the instrument cluster. In that car its the 58-connector at the cluster.
If you remove fuse nr 2 (or the fuse for warning lamps, interior lamps
and other gadgets connected to 30=battery directly), you can test if the
diode has a shortcut.

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Roland Franzius

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