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ychung
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2015
Location: SO CAL
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500, 2014 ML350, 2008 S550
Posts: 196
| Door Sill Not Lighting Up
I know that door sills light issues are covered in numerous threads here.
I think I know the problem on mine, I just need some advice on how to fix it.
Driver side sill isn't lighting up whereas passenger side works fine.
When I swapped the sills, they work vice versa, so I know the inverters and door switches are fine.
Do I replace the whole door sill or can I just replace the light panel?
Also, mine only has the illuminated sills on the front doors, but not on the rear doors and trunk. Is this factory setting?
Thanks |
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NHDave
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Dec 2013
Location: Seacoast NH.
Vehicle(s): 2004 AMG
Posts: 465
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
The wires are delicate, chances are it's a connection issue with the light panel. You can replace just the illuminating panel.
http://fourbyfourclub.com/W463ElectricalParts/W463ELPanel.htm |
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ychung
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2015
Location: SO CAL
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500, 2014 ML350, 2008 S550
Posts: 196
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
I'll inspect the wire connections on the light panel before I buy the panel .
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GwagenLover
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA 27104
Vehicle(s): 2016 G550 & 2016 GLE350
Posts: 474
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
ychung, I read a comment that the door illuminators were the cause of a few fires in the Gwagens.
It is possible that this info was on the other forum.
I was bothered by the possibility of my G catching fire so I removed fuse #26 to prevent any possibility of that happening.
For my part, the illuminated sills are not necessary.
Especially if there is a chance of fire.
You can ask other owners about the validity of my statement.
Edited by GwagenLover 7/19/2016 3:44 PM
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
GwagenLover - 7/19/2016 3:44 PM
ychung, I read a comment that the door illuminators were the cause of a few fires in the Gwagens.
This is news to me, and I've been driving a G since 1984.
Just did a Google, and could not find anything on this subject. |
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GwagenLover
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA 27104
Vehicle(s): 2016 G550 & 2016 GLE350
Posts: 474
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
DUTCH - 7/19/2016 4:19 PM
GwagenLover - 7/19/2016 3:44 PM
ychung, I read a comment that the door illuminators were the cause of a few fires in the Gwagens.
This is news to me, and I've been driving a G since 1984.
Just did a Google, and could not find anything on this subject.
Dutch, I'm no expert on the G by any means, but I got that info off of the original Gwagen forum.
It has been many years now and I can't pinpoint exactly where I got that info.
I seem to remember that there was a transformer that caused the problem. Being an electrician for 35 years I know DC will not transform without changes to the voltage.
I do also trust your judgement, but I know I did not just dream this up.
I surely wish you could find the post that was given to make me believe this.
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
There is a tiny DC to AC convertor/inverter in line with the light panel that can fail, but I've never heard of it causing a fire. |
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NHDave
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Dec 2013
Location: Seacoast NH.
Vehicle(s): 2004 AMG
Posts: 465
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
The thread below includes images of a G that caught on fire. I don't believe the cause was ever determined but after what I've experienced, I'm putting my money on the possibility of a failed inverter.
Within this thread, I've posted my experience with an inverter that went bad, scary crap!
Smoke from behind the dash started to appear some 30 seconds after I simply replaced a blown fuse of the same rating. I know I could've lost more than the truck if I didn't catch it!
http://www.pointedthree.com/disc/forums/showthread.php?tid=18011&st... |
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GTO71
Member
Date registered: Jan 2015
Location: DC Metro Area
Vehicle(s): W463, W210, W204, W123, W123 (sold)
Posts: 47
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
I had a broken wire on my drivers door still plate. I had to replace the illumination pad and ordered the one from fourbyfourclub. Get a good razor blade and some patience and you can do the job in like two hours while being careful not to bend the metal.
You will also need some type of adhesive or glue to reassemble the door still plate, before you reassemble the door still plate, test it. I used small bits if cardboard to fill in the areas around the lettering where it seems blue light would "bleed" through".
I have seen discussion on the web of aftermarket lighting pads from China for a fraction of the price, but I prefer to DIY it right with Genuine MB parts.
As always check check Ebay, also as complete sets pop up from time to time and they seem to have gone down in price since the aftermarket ones have arrived on the market. |
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ychung
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2015
Location: SO CAL
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500, 2014 ML350, 2008 S550
Posts: 196
| Re: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
Mike, thanks for your comment.
Yes, I was thinking of buying it from four by four and replacing it as they seem to have the best price.
It's coincidence that I'm visiting the Capital with family now.
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koly
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500
Posts: 823
| Cheap Solution to RE: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
My driver's side door sill stopped working, so I was going to try using the passenger side light to see if the Electroluminescent panel was still good. While pulling out the driver's side sill, the wires broke in two spots; one wire fell right out of the small plastic connector to the EL strip, and the other wire broke in the middle en route to the power inverter.
I ordered a blue EL Panel ($9) & DC inverter ($8) from glowhut.com, and spent about an hour seperating the whole sill assembly (MB used a lot of trim tape adhesive that did not want to come off).
I cut the wiring that exited the old inverter and went to the 2-prong plug that doesn't come out more than an inch or so from the wall to the fender. I soldered the glowhut inverter leads to the original plug wiring, then used some new 3M trim adhesive tape and reassembled the pieces. Also used some 220 grit sand paper sanding lengthwise to freshen up the steel sill cover.
End result looks just like factory, and there is significantly less noise/hum/buzz from the new inverter. Been running for several weeks with no issues.
The picture of the EL strip doesn't quite look like it matches (the cabin light is the cause for the different color). Installed, it's identical in color - I can post a photo of the final result if anyone wants.
Parts:
http://glowhut.com/1-ft-electroluminescent-strip-with-leads-and-con...
http://glowhut.com/electroluminescent-inverter-12-volt-for-a5-size-...
*no affiliation w/glowhut, just ordered parts I thought might work and was happy w/the results.
 (ELstrip.jpg)
Attachments
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 ELstrip.jpg (52KB - 14 downloads)
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G4Garret
Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oak Ridge - Knoxville - Windrock Tennessee
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500, U1100, SLK350, LR 101, WC-63 6x6
Posts: 243
| RE: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
In addition to the poor reliability and apparent potential fire hazard of the original EL strip, if you operate radios in you truck, specifically HF radios, those factory power converters for the EL strips make a whole lot of interference. At least the ones in my MY 2000 Europa G500 did.
Garret
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| RE: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
Have you replaced your door stips with something that doesn't light up? Mine died years ago, and I somewhat prefer the cleaner look of what's at the rear doors. If so, what part numbers did you order? |
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koly
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500
Posts: 823
| RE: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
ewalberg - 11/30/2019 7:14 AM
Have you replaced your door stips with something that doesn't light up? Mine died years ago, and I somewhat prefer the cleaner look of what's at the rear doors. If so, what part numbers did you order?
When I took my sills apart, the black bottom plate, when separated from the EL strip and steel sill plate, looked just like the my black rear sills (just longer to accommodate the front door opening). |
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| RE: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
Maybe you're missing the stainless steel in the back? My sills in the back look like the front, stainless steel (black frame is underneath), but the fronts have the cut-out for the illumination. |
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koly
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500
Posts: 823
| RE: Door Sill Not Lighting Up
Correct - my rear sills are not steel - just black.
While figuring out what to do with my sills, on eBay I saw a lot of steel door sill replacements (non-factory) that have no cut-outs for the illuminated sections...
Edited by koly 12/1/2019 8:55 PM
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