Short circuit! Help!

[cigarsmoke23]

Hi. I was trying to install an LED bulb for the interior map light...i think it completely short circuited...now my engine won't turn over, the other interior lights are out and i can't remotely lock my doors. Is there any way that i can solve this on my own?! HELP PLEASE!!!

[cigarsmoke23]

With that said. Do you think it is a blown fuse or worse.

[RemoLexi]

Check your fuses before you panic.

MB sometimes ran 1 fuse for multiple things, for example the 99' S320 the cigar lighter shared a fuse with the starter signal, so if the cigar lighter fuse blew- your car wouldn't start! Big problem related to such a silly feature.

[Sulaco]

I would not panic. Just check all fuses and relays in the fuse box under the hood. What year is the car? Could have blown the overvoltage protection relay/fuse (if your car has one)

[atikovi]

Try jumping the K38 interlock relay behind the instrument cluster.

[cigarsmoke23]

Thanks for your help...it ended up just being a blown fuse...simple replacement. Pretty dumb that the fuse for the interior lights are connected to starting the engine.

[imautoparts]

Good to know. The longer I live with my 202, the more I become convinced that the electrical system was designed by some kind of committee of OCD mental patients. None of it makes any sense, but it generally works OK - but when it doesn't work logic is never the answer.

[RemoLexi]

Every fuse has its logic.

If you saw how a CAN network works its even more crazy. Sometimes you'd wonder 'why MB , just whyyy' but in the end if that's the closest source they can tap power, ground ect then that's Why!

I kind of like to think that a person with lack of car knowledge would tow the car to a dealer who would charge an hour of labor for all of this. A bit of job security maybe? Sure, but also would boggle the mind of a tech and keep them on the edge.