This dash light came on a while ago. I have checked all the lights/blinkers several times, including daytime running lights (it's a Canadian delivered car), and they all work fine. I tried two replacement relays, but the dash light stays on. I would appreciate suggestions on next steps. Bill
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Exterior light warning on dash
- Thread starter alfagta
- Start date
Figure out when the idiot light triggers. Does it come on immediately when you turn on parking/marker lights? If so, that narrows down the options, check the license plate bulbs.
If it stays off until you press the brake pedal, check the 3rd brake light (and the other brake lights)
If it comes on immediately when you start the car, before touching anything else, it's gotta be related to the DRL's.
If it stays off until you press the brake pedal, check the 3rd brake light (and the other brake lights)
If it comes on immediately when you start the car, before touching anything else, it's gotta be related to the DRL's.
Oh yeah - those rear corners are a real PITA. I think if both are out it won't trigger the warning light. I have Euro tails in my '87 300D which lack those corners, and the warning lamp stays out. Dunno if anything changed with MOPF1/2 though.I’ve had the small side marker lamps in the tail lights throw the lamp.
They aren’t that bright, so it can be hard to tell of they are gone. Especially if both of them are out.
Indeed, the rear tail-light side-market lights on US-spec cars, and the license plate lamps, are about 50% of the time the culprits. Easy enough fix.
Head, parking, brake or running lamps (tail lamps) are easy enough to diagnose by turning on the headlamps and/or hitting the brakes and seeing if the lamp warning cluster light comes on. Otherwise, a thorough walk-around with the headlights on will usually find the problem.
Sometimes the tail-lamp side-marker lights can be intermittent, so beware on this. If you are "cruisin' down the street," and the warning lamp goes on, stop IMMEDIATELY and do your walk-around then, and you'll find it before the side market or tail-lamp bulb makes contact again and the warning lamp goes off. It can be frustrating......
Head, parking, brake or running lamps (tail lamps) are easy enough to diagnose by turning on the headlamps and/or hitting the brakes and seeing if the lamp warning cluster light comes on. Otherwise, a thorough walk-around with the headlights on will usually find the problem.
Sometimes the tail-lamp side-marker lights can be intermittent, so beware on this. If you are "cruisin' down the street," and the warning lamp goes on, stop IMMEDIATELY and do your walk-around then, and you'll find it before the side market or tail-lamp bulb makes contact again and the warning lamp goes off. It can be frustrating......
Thanks, guys. Light comes on immediately upon starting and before applying brakes or turning on any other lights. I'm heading back to WA today (car will remain in FL), so I'll do these other checks when I return. For the DRL's, if they come on when starting the car is there any other way to check them? I'll go through the bulb sockets, too. Bill
The bulb warning module is for EXTERNAL bulbs, so this leads me to believe that the issue is with your DRLs. You will just have to do a careful walk-through of the headlights, taillights, license plate lights, and parking lights. You can eliminate the brake lights.
Also, there is a slight possibility that your module may be bad. I'm sure a forum member can sell you a good and working spare for cheap. They are easily available.
Also, there is a slight possibility that your module may be bad. I'm sure a forum member can sell you a good and working spare for cheap. They are easily available.
An important note here is that it is quite possible someone in the past could have mixed up the warning lamps in the back if the instrument cluster!
The cluster metal casing is stamped with numbers. The bulb holders have a corresponding small label on the cable. It is easy to overlook and you could for example have an ASR or SRS lamp come on but actually incorrectly inserted into the bulb out slot.
It's worth pulling the cluster and ruling out IMO.
Having daytime running lights in your country differs from where I am also. Here I know for sure if the warning lamps are mixed up in these conditions since there should be no bulbs on during day if not switched on.
