I changed the lightbulbs on my cars headlights but the driver side headlight won’t turn on…
Okay well my Mercedes has 4 separate front headlights. 2 big ones on the outer side and 2 small ones on the inner side of the front of the car. I recently bought two new LED light bulbs for the 2 smaller headlights because they both went out. Then when I changed them the small head light on the passenger side of the car was working fine and turned on, but the driver side small headlight would not turn on. I checked the light bulb to see if I connected it right and it was connected just fine. I don't know if it's a wiring problem because I check and none of the wires were torn. Think u
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. Ironically, I happen to have a 2000 CLK 430 as well and I experienced an almost identical scenario as you did. I had a fog light out on my vehicle, thinking it was a bulb I went ahead and replaced the light bulb but once I replaced it it still did not fix the issue. Upon further inspection of my vehicle I found that the some of the insulation around the wiring leading to the fog light was brittle and causing wires to be exposed. I taped the wires with some electrical tape because Mercedes-Benz has a very sensitive electrical system and if a wire is exposed it will cause resistance. If the electrical system senses too much resistance it will cut power off to that component to help protect other electrical parts. I suggest to have a technician such as one from YourMechanic inspect the wiring of your fog light that is out, check the fog light fuse in the side fuse compartment, and also check the clearance light bulb. The clearance light bulb is a small bulb located under the fog light and is integrated into the fog light circuit. If the clearance light is out it will interrupt the fog lights power. On my vehicle it was a clearance light being out and the damaged wiring to the fog light causing my fog light to be inoperative. You are able to find a technician and schedule an appointment to evaluate your vehicle here https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fog-or-driving-lights-are-not-working-inspection
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Blown Fuse: As a first resort, many mechanics will inspect your fuses in the event an electrical component, like the fog lights, fails. When a fuse blows, it prevents the circuit from completing and will not allow the lights to turn on. Burned-out Bulbs: Over time, bulbs will wear out and will stop working.
If only one daytime running light is not working, it most likely has a burnt out bulb or a bad switch. Remove the socket from the light and see if the bulb is dark or if the filament is burned out, which means it needs to be replaced.
Bad connections at the bulb. Fog lights are down low where they get water and dirt on them. Clean the connections and the socket where the bulb fits. Wiggle it around a little and you will probably see it light up.
If your vehicle has automatic lights that come on during a low light level, you may need to manually turn your fog lights on as they don`t always do it automatically. The same principle applies to daytime running lights, as a lot of vehicles with this feature won`t actually turn on the rear lights.
Don`t forget: Fog lights will only work when your dipped beam headlights are turned on, so make sure you do that first before driving in fog. It`s important that you don`t turn your rear fog lights on any earlier than you need to, because you could end up dazzling any drivers behind you.
Solution: If both headlights aren`t working, it`s unlikely that a bulb is at fault. The likely cause is a fuse, headlight relay, headlight switch, dimmer switch or a wiring fault. About the only cause that is an easy fix is a blown fuse.
The most common location of the fog light relay is in the underhood fuse and relay box. The underhood fuse/relay box can be mounted in any of several different locations under the hood. It can be mounted on either the driver or passenger side, and either the front or rear, of the engine compartment.
The automatic headlight control function detects brightness outside the vehicle with an illuminance sensor installed near the dashboard, in order to control when the lights turn on and off. It turns on headlights when the amount of light picked up by the illuminance sensor drops below a certain level.
Automatic lights are enabled through a system of headlight sensors — photoelectric sensors gauge ambient light and relay that information to the electronic control unit to turn the lights on and off as needed. These sensors are usually located on top of the dash where it meets the windshield.
Use your common sense, if it`s foggy but you can still see the road ahead, then there`s no need to have them on. Rear fog lights should always be switched on whenever visibility is poor, they are there to alert other road users of your presence, not just to give you a clearer view of what`s behind you.
One of the first symptoms of a problem with the fog light relay is an audible clicking noise from the relay. Many relays will produce a quiet audible click when they are switched on, however, an excessively loud click may be an indicator that the relay may be having internal issues.
Use your common sense, if it`s foggy but you can still see the road ahead, then there`s no need to have them on. Rear fog lights should always be switched on whenever visibility is poor, they are there to alert other road users of your presence, not just to give you a clearer view of what`s behind you.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I changed the lightbulbs on my cars headlights but the driver side headlight won’t turn on…
ANSWER : Hello. Ironically, I happen to have a 2000 CLK 430 as well and I experienced an almost identical scenario as you did. I had a fog light out on my vehicle, thinking it was a bulb I went ahead and replaced the light bulb but once I replaced it it still did not fix the issue. Upon further inspection of my vehicle I found that the some of the insulation around the wiring leading to the fog light was brittle and causing wires to be exposed. I taped the wires with some electrical tape because Mercedes-Benz has a very sensitive electrical system and if a wire is exposed it will cause resistance. If the electrical system senses too much resistance it will cut power off to that component to help protect other electrical parts. I suggest to have a technician such as one from YourMechanic inspect the wiring of your fog light that is out, check the fog light fuse in the side fuse compartment, and also check the clearance light bulb. The clearance light bulb is a small bulb located under the fog light and is integrated into the fog light circuit. If the clearance light is out it will interrupt the fog lights power. On my vehicle it was a clearance light being out and the damaged wiring to the fog light causing my fog light to be inoperative. You are able to find a technician and schedule an appointment to evaluate your vehicle here https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fog-or-driving-lights-are-not-working-inspection
As I’m driving, all my lights inside/out of the car turn off and the car still stays on. But when I turn the car off it won’t turn over
ANSWER : Hello there. The charging system on the car may not be charging the battery as you drive and the systems that keep the engine running are priority so the engine will stay running until the voltage drops below about 9 volts but the lighting and some other accessories may cut off above this voltage first. You should have the charging system tested to see if the alternator needs to be replaced.
Car won’t turn over. No lights come on when I turn it. Can’t even lock my doorsvor push the seat up or back.
ANSWER : Your probably correct, it sounds as though your battery is done. But it also sounds like you have charging system issues. I’m not sure that fixing your battery and charging system will solve the problem with the car shutting off, but it’s possible that it will and it’s a darned good place to start. By contacting Your Mechanic, you can have a technician come to your home or office to check out your car and help you figure out what to do next.
Engine turned off but inside of car still on, now engine won’t turn back on.
ANSWER : Hi there. The symptoms you’re describing with your boyfriend’s 2002 Grand Cherokee appear to be related to a broken or worn out ignition switch or relay. The ignition switch on the inside of the steering column is attached to multiple electronic connections that send signals to a relay box; which in turn, sends the signal to the individual components. The issue could be related to the ignition switch, the relay, or any of the components in between. If you want to have the fault pinpointed in person, I would have this starting issue inspected by a trained professional to ensure that the correct repair is made.
Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.
I just had my starter changed when I turned car on didn’t stay on. I had someone pass current and car turned on fine I drove car f
ANSWER : Hi there. It is quite possible that the starting issue you’re currently having with your Ford Focus is not related to the starter replacement. However, it could be due to might be due to your battery problem. When your battery does not have enough power to engage the starter, it also impacts other important systems critical to maintaining ignition, ranging from the ignition coils to fuel system components. It might be a good idea to have a professional mobile mechanic from our team come to your location to compete a car starts then dies inspection, so they can correctly diagnose this issue and ensure the right repairs are made.
Headlights wouldn’t turn off / now they won’t turn on
ANSWER : The most likely components to cause this may be the headlight relay, headlight switch, or the ignition switch itself. The relay is an electro-mechanical switch. The headlight switch sends a power signal to it. It then switches on internally to send power to the headlights. If the relay is sticking either in the on or off position, this can cause the lights to stay on or not turn on. If the headlight switch has failed, it may not be signaling the relay properly. With the ignition switch, if the mechanical tumbler portion is worn, it may not be fully moving it’s internals to signal the electrical portion of the switch to turn the lights on or off. Or vice versa, the electrical portion of the switch may have shorted internally.
Since one or more components may be at fault, it may be best to have a certified technician properly diagnose why the headlights are not working to find the exact cause.
steering wheel won’t unlock my key turns only to turn lights on but that’s it can’t unlock steering wheel to start the car what to
ANSWER : The steering lock may not be unlocking either due to a faulty ignition lock housing or more commonly as the cars age a faulty spring at the steering wheel on the under side of the column. If the ignition lock housing is the issue the housing can be replaced. It s a bit tricky as the mounting bolt has break off heads and generally need to be driven out with a punch. If the lock is not disengaging because of a faulty spring on the ignition lock many owners have had the spring removed by having it drilled out of the housing. However, removing the spring may permanently disable the steering lock. The last option would be to replace the steering column. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic who can recommend the proper repair for your situation.
