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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / March 2006Headlight Electrical Question
The right headlight on my 300D 2.5 keeps going out. The bulb is fine. The cause seems to be that the plug which the bulb plugs into has rust in its slots. I can get the headlight to work for several days by working the bulb's prongs in and out of the plug vigorously about twenty times. But then sooner or later, the headlight goes out again. I'll have the cable replaced eventually -- that can hopefully be done without replacing the entire wiring harness. In the meantime, is there some product that can be sprayed into the plug's contact slots to remove the rust and improve the quality of the connection? Thanks, Geoff  Signature"I like spending extra time at the airport. It gives me a chance to shop for Dean Koontz novels." -- Denise Bianchi, Dental Hygienist >The right headlight on my 300D 2.5 keeps going out. The >bulb is fine. The cause seems to be that the plug which [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >plug's contact slots to remove the rust and improve the quality >of the connection? Ugh. www.caig.com, but you can bet MB didn't use any of this stuff when the car was new and it's lasted 20+ years so far, right? Sounds to me like you simly need to take the connectors apart, sandthem with 400 wet and dry till they're nice and clean and shiney, then dab a bit of dialectric grease on them and it should be fine for ages. SignatureNeed Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net > Ugh. www.caig.com, but you can bet MB didn't use any of this stuff > when the car was new and it's lasted 20+ years so far, right? Absolutelty. I'm not complaining, though; I just want to fix the problem in a reasonably cost-effective manner. I'll see if I can find some of this stuff, and some dialectric grease as well. > Sounds to me like you simly need to take the connectors apart, > sandthem with 400 wet and dry till they're nice and clean and > shiney, then dab a bit of dialectric grease on them and it > should be fine for ages. I don't think I can get at the contacts. The plug resembles the end of a household extension cord; it's a solid piece of molded, soft plastic with the contacts recessed inside slots. Update on the SDL's door-check problem: Had the door check replaced last Friday, and now all is well. The mechanic showed me the old part. The rollers were cocked at about a 30-degree angle inside the track, due to my having to muscle the door closed so I could drive the car home when the door jammed in the open position. Now it opens and closes like new. Thanks, Geoff Signature"One of my fave bitters from Sheppard Neame is 'Bishop's Finger' -- known to fans as 'Nun's Delight.'" -- Feorag >> Ugh. www.caig.com, but you can bet MB didn't use any of this stuff >> when the car was new and it's lasted 20+ years so far, right? [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Thanks, > Geoff We had a similar problem with our 420sel. We simply clipped and replaced the electrical connection. You can purchase one at Auto Zone. Did you try spraying electrical contact cleaner in the connector, then working the bulb on and off a bunch of times? > Did you try spraying electrical contact cleaner in the connector, then > working the bulb on and off a bunch of times? Not yet. I plan to look for some today. One of the reasons I posted was to find out whether there _was_ such a thing as electrical contact cleaner, and if so, what kind would be appropriate for this application (i.e., one that's suitable for use on stereo gear might not be strong enough to remove rust). Can contact cleaner and dielectric grease be found at auto parts stores, or should I go to an electronics and computer store like Fry's Electronics? Geoff Signature"My advice to her [Britney Spears] would be to start shooting the dog porn videos now, and thus set aside a little cash for her retirement." -- Speedbump >Can contact cleaner and dielectric grease be found at auto parts >stores, or should I go to an electronics and computer store like >Fry's Electronics? Auto parts store should have "tune up grease". SignatureNeed Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net > Auto parts store should have "tune up grease". Found it -- and got a can of contact cleaner at the Radio Shack in the same strip mall. Ten bucks each for a small can -- ouch! But they seem to have fixed the problem. Thanks again to all who responded. Geoff Signature"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is: What are they in a position to do about it?" -- William S. Burroughs >> Sounds to me like you simly need to take the connectors apart, >> sandthem with 400 wet and dry till they're nice and clean and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >end of a household extension cord; it's a solid piece of molded, >soft plastic with the contacts recessed inside slots. I have eurpo lights with removable ceramic bases so mine won't be the same as yours. But you should be able to replace the thing the light plugs into if that's the part that's messed up. SignatureNeed Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net Have you tried "Deoxit"? I think that it is available at Fry's. If you can't find it there give me a ring at home or my cell. I'll send you the numbers by e-mail. > The right headlight on my 300D 2.5 keeps going out. The > bulb is fine. The cause seems to be that the plug which [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Thanks, > Geoff SignaturePC Paul 89 PC800 77 R100RS Trip pics at: http://photos.yahoo.com/paul1cart "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society" - Theodore Roosevelt DeoxIT is the best stuff. I've tried just about all the contact cleaners out there. You can use a whole can of a "contact cleaner" and not solve the problem. One or two quick sprays of DeoxIT and it will work every time. They have a great site, www.caig.com Here are a couple of links for good info: http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.17/category.-117/it.I/id.22/.f http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.17/category.-117/it.I/id.40/.f Great stuff! |
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