I have a Mercedes E420 1997. I am having tail light issues, all the lights work turn sig., brake, back up, but no tail lights. I have changed out both rear tail lights, bulbs, and checked all of the fuses. When this started all the lights were working except for the driver side break light. That works now, but again no tail lights. Any suggestions?

So your taillights should have 2 bulbs in them. 1 that turns on when you turn your lights on and stays on until you turn them off. That same bulb should have a 2nd circuit that lights up when you press on your brakes. The 2nd bulb appears when your reverse gear is engaged. So if you have no lights on right you have to replace both bulbs and if you have no brake light on the left you just have to replace your rear brake light bulb.

Stop Lamps
The brake pedal position sensor is used to sense the action of the driver application of the brake pedal. The body control module (BCM) provides a 5-volt reference voltage and low reference to the brake pedal position sensor. The position sensor provides an analog voltage signal back to the BCM that will increase as the brake pedal is applied. When the brake is applied, the BCM will then apply battery voltage to the left and right stop/turn signal lamp supply voltage circuits and the center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) supply voltage circuit illuminating the stop lamps. At the same time the BCM applies battery voltage through the signal circuit to the transmission control module (TCM) and the engine control module (ECM) indicating that the brakes are applied.
Ground for the stop lamps is supplied as follows:
• G402 provides ground for the left rear stop/tail/turn signal lamps
• G403 provides ground for the right rear stop/tail/turn signal lamps
• G301 provides ground for the CHMSL
The stop lamps on this vehicle will not illuminate unless the ignition is in the accessory, run, or crank positions. When the ignition is in the OFF position the stop lamps will not illuminate when the brake pedal is applied.
Battery voltage from the LT TRN/SIG and RT TRN/SIG fuses located in the rear fuse block is also used by the body control module (BCM) for stop lamp operation.

Turn Signal Lamps
Battery voltage supplied to the body control module (BCM) from the fuses listed below is used for turn signal and hazard lamp operation.
• LT TRN/SIG fuse for the left turn signals
• CTSY/RF TRN fuse for the right front turn signal
• RR TRN/SIG fuse for the right rear turn signal
When the turn signal switch is place in either the LEFT or RIGHT position, ground from G300 is applied through the turn signal switch signal circuit to the BCM indicating the turn signal request. In response to this signal, the BCM applies a pulsating voltage to the front and rear turn signal lamps supply voltage circuits cycling the lamps ON and OFF. At the same time the BCM sends a GMLAN serial data message to the instrument panel cluster (IPC) to cycle the appropriate turn signal indicator ON and OFF.
Ground for the turn signal lamps is supplied as follows:
• G104 provides ground for the left and right front turn signal lamps
• G402 provides ground for the left rear stop/tail/turn signal lamps
• G403 provides ground for the right rear stop/tail/turn signal lamps

Do you have a factory scan tool (tech2) ? Your best bet , take it to the dealer .

Several MB models have had tail light recalls due to bulb socket issues and overheating wire connections. It's also possible that the wrong replacement bulbs were inserted at some point. If you mean the back-up (reverse) lights are staying on, that could be due to faulty wiring or a defective backup switch on the transmission gear selector.

replace brake light switch @ BRAKE PEDAL, next, replace turnsignal flasher under dash, check for blown fuse, if turn sig. still doesn't work, check turnsig., switch, & or for loose connection.

I hope I'm wrong, but sounds like a wiring harness malfunction possibility. Back in the late 70's, I had a '67 VW van. At night, when I'd turn off the ignition the engine would turn off, as it should IF I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS, BUT IF i TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON AS THE ENGINE WAS SHUTTING DOWN, THE ENGINE WOULD RESUME RUNNING.

I know the color code for chevy and the brown lead is for the running lights,soooo the white wire would be for the brake and turn sig.

the wiring is. not hard with a test light you can find your wire one wire for tail one for left sig one for right sig one for back up. when you wire up your sig nal light brake lights are hoohed up also put left sig on find it with test light where they are cut fuel gauge wire has a different flash then other light .the brake light and sig use same wire

My 99 SLK230 had the same issue. Looked into it and found that there was actually a recall on the tail light assembly because of this exact problem. Granted it was the driver side tail light but you may have the same issue. Hope it helps!

Do the hazzard lights flash ?

Rear lights are double filament bulbs one side for the lights other side for the brake/turn signals so it still may be a bulb. Do u have a test light or volt meter you can check to make sure u have power there when brakes or turn signals are activated. Or just try another bulb.