I did a search in the forums but did not find anything. This morning I started the car and proceeded to work as always. Lights on with no issues. Stopped at 7 Eleven for coffee. When I restarted the car I turned on the lights but no lights on the instrument panel came on and I got the "Bulb Out" indicator. Lights on the center console for heater controls also out and the window switch lights are also out. I assumed since they all were out it was a fuse but did not find any bad on a visual inspection of fuses. When I 1st turn the key on all the warning lights work as normal, just no background lights for speedometer, tach, etc. Any thoughts?

 

Do the signals and hazards work? My first thought is a faulty illumination module.

 

 

 

A visual check for blown fuses is probably not sufficient for aging cars such as ours. I know it's time-consuming, but the removal of the fuse and checking it with a multimeter is a more certain process; and re-inserting the fuse may burnish the connections enough to correct the malfunction.

 

Another check this morning revealed the license plate lights are out also which would kick the lamp out indicator. I am assuming this is related to the instrument lights so going back to checking those fuses. I recently installed an LED lighted shift handle and plugged the power for that into my power side of the lighted left window switch. That was 6 weeks ago but maybe it is pulling enough power to finally pop the fuse? I would not think an LED would pull enough amps to pop the fuse but maybe the fuse was ready to go anyway. I will troubleshoot the fuse and hopefully the license plate lights are on the same fuse as the cluster lighting. I have not looked at the manual yet but am assuming it is all on the same circuit.

 

Please let everyone know the outcome.

 

If you had a short in the lighted shift **** wired from widow circuit it would blow the fuse in that circuit. I bought the same shifter and wired it off the window circuit. Love the way it feels,looks and works especially in reverse . Sorry can't be of more help

 

Yes, fuse 11 keeps popping. Disconnected the shifter and everything is fine. I guess I need to wire it to a different circuit. Strange that it was good for 6 weeks and now is acting up.

 

More follow up... fuse 11 blew again without shifter light connected. Reconnected shifter light and removed license plate bulbs. Fuse does not blow. Then installed LED bulbs in the license plate sockets and still fuse does NOT blow but the lamp out indicator comes on. Put the incandescent bulbs back in license plate sockets and fuse blows immediately. Strange thing is that the owners manual calls out 168 bulbs but they are clearly the long bulbs, 1154's I think. I cannot understand why all of the sudden these bulbs are straining the circuit but I guess I need to switch to LED. Does anyone know where I can get LEDs that will not trip the lamp out indicator?

 

You can buy them most anywhere where they sell automotive lighting just make sure you get canbus or error free led bulbs they won't affect your light out system. Here's a place that has good prices: https://www.superbrightleds.com

 

 

Will the no error units trigger the lamp out indicator? The only ones I found on eBay so far are China or Hong Kong.... Yuck!

 

NO, and yes. If all the little elements are working, there should be no indicator IF the bulb is classed as "CAN bus".
However, if a couple of the little elements go out, you will get the light out indicator, so this makes it a bit problematic
in finding the offending bulb, since visually you can still see light coming from the bulb.
I had this happen on my front right marker lamp, looked OK from the outside, but when I pulled the bulb I could see 2 elements were not working.
I put in a good spare CANBUS LED bulb, no more light out indicator.

 

No error means no lamp out indicator. You could possibly buy them from a US supplier but he will have got them from China and you will then buy them from him at a marked up price.
If that makes you feel it will help make the US great again you can go ahead and buy them from the US supplier. Remember the US makers sent all this stuff overseas to get it made cheaper and now the offshore makers have learnt how to make it and are cutting out the middleman. Blame the makers here for firing their US workers and getting some sweatshop in the far East to make it cheaper.

These are the type of light I am talking about. CLICK

 

Less expensive and current auction ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Mercedes-W203-4D-Sedan-C320-C350-Error-Free-White-18-LED-License-Plate-Light/122512447246?fits=Make%3AMercedes-Benz&epid=2247099683&hash=item1c864f970e:g:dpcAAOS w9OFZJHHA:rk:4f:0 ) These look great!

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Thanks all.... I have ordered them and will try to run just one bulb for now and see if the fuse holds up.

 

Here's another one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/132872785915?ul_noapp=true

 

Are these the ones that will not trip the lamp out idiot light on the dash pod? Plus, they are 2 bucks more than the link I posted that ARE lamp out "OK" (meaning not supposed to trip that 'lamp out' dash pod light).

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