It sounds to me like a hot wire is shorted to ground somewhere. Any recent work done? Look there for a pinched wire. I think that Illumination: ...control elements is for other driver control lighting like the ACC panel, shifter light, lights in the dash for the vents, etc. etc.
First check I'd recommend is measuring resistance to ground with fuse #3 removed at the "feed" side of the fuse terminal (as opposed to the hot side that is connected to the battery). If you get zero ohms with the headlights turned on, then you know you have a hot short. Work downstream from there with your ohm meter. As already discussed the headlamp cleaning units are probably not the cause because you also need the signal from the window washer circuit ala the combination switch in the stock; really need the schematic to see where that hot signal goes prior to reaching the stock or the headlamp cleaning units. I happen to have that schematic on my HD, let me take a look... Very respectfully, /s/ LCDR Max Dillon '87 300TD 314k miles Charleston SC -----Original Message----- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Wonko the Sane Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 8:32 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: [MBZ] OK, experts, what do I try next? My '86 300E is blowing the #3 fuse. According to the fuse panel lid, #3 is in charge of parking / tail light right, headlamp cleaning unit, illumination: license plate, instrument, control elements [not sure that last one means]. I have tried the following -- always resulting in a blown fuse when I turn the headlights. - unplug right rear bulb cluster - remove both license plate bulbs - unplug instrument cluster Each time, the fuse still blows. I can't find any way to unplug the headlight wipers, other than to cut what I think are the wires (NOT going to go there, even though the wipers don't work). Any suggestions? I have awakened about 3 AM several times over the past few weeks trying to troubleshoot this. I am (was) an electronics technician, so I should be able to track down a short -- but can't seem to. I am pretty close to disconnecting ground from the battery and using an ohmmeter to see if something that should be "hot" is actually ground, but I suspect unexpected ground would feed back through the entire wiring harness. -- DPAD. The young officer thought it very odd that his captain seemed to trust and confide in his chiefs more than his wardroom, but mustang officers had their own ways. -- Tom Clancy, Clear and Present Danger. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/2009091 3/a1e44cad/attachment.html> _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
