[W126 Coupe] Lights fixed for the moment

[millerlh at earthlink.net]

Same set up for the fog lamps for my 1990 560SEC as on Jay's. My car was
purchased new in NV in 1990.

Lou M



> [Original Message]

> From: Jay Hirsch <J.Hirsch at mac.com>

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Date: 3/4/2011 2:18:57 PM

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Lights fixed for the moment

>

> On  my 1987 300 SDL and 1990 SEC the  fog or driving  lights can be  

> put on when the parking lights are on  and both cars are US  cars

> keep cruisin

> Jay H

> On Mar 4, 2011, at 1:35 PM, Mister McGoo wrote:

>

> > Calvin;  (my final comment)

> >

> > OK, the bad ground is in the "passenger" (right) foglamp.  Follow  

> > that ground back, if possible, and rewire that.  That is your problem.

> >

> > The European light is different only as applied to the fog lights.   

> > The N.American switch will NOT allow the foglamps to turn on  

> > without the headlamps on.  With the parking lights on, even though  

> > you CAN pull the foglight knob out, that does nothing.

> >

> > The Euro switch WILL allow the foglamps on with the parking lights  

> > only on.

> >

> > Note:  the "parking lights" on the N. American version is the  

> > second filament on the corner lamp double filament bulbs (ie turn  

> > signals).  The "parking lights" on the Euro are separate single  

> > filament bulbs in the bottom of the headlight reflector.... and  

> > LOOK as though the headlights are on but very dimly.  The front  

> > corner lamps (turn signals) are single filament bulbs and are ONLY  

> > turn signals.

> >

> > On both the N. American model and Euro model, you CAN turn one side  

> > or the other side parking light "on" separately by turning the  

> > switch counter-clockwise rather than clockwise.

> >

> > Anyone who has looked at the rear taillight assembly has noticed  

> > that there is an empty socket hole in the assembly.  That is for  

> > the rear "fog lights" which is illegal in N. America.

> >

> > The euro headlights, of course, are also height adjustable from the  

> > cabin through the vacuum adjustment wheel beside the headlight  

> > switch.  On the issue of using "over-voltage" bulbs, I have used  

> > 80/100 H4 bulbs on Euro headlights for years.  The wiring harnesses  

> > appear to be designed for the increased amps.  Notez biens: DON'T  

> > DO THIS on your Peugeot.  The switches melt.

> >

> > -Bellamy

> >

> > > From: calvinyoung at cox.net

> > > To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> > > Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 12:29:24 -0500

> > > Subject: [W126 Coupe] Lights fixed for the moment

> > >

> > > I apologize to everyone sending so many emails on the same  

> > subject with the

> > > same info. I think with the help of the list, the problem has been

> > > isolated. I disconnected the fog lamps and the voltages and  

> > brightness were

> > > returned to normal on both headlights. I am off to have the car  

> > reinspected

> > > to get that reject sticker off the window.

> > >

> > > Whoever had the car before did some "custom" wiring and left a  

> > problem.

> > > With your info Dick, I can either replace the switch with a later  

> > model or

> > > do some rewiring to fix the fog lights correctly.

> > >

> > > Thanks everyone,

> > >

> > > Cal

> > > >

> > > > Cal,

> > > >

> > > > This may help as a further clarification re: US (NA) vs. Euro  

> > switch and

> > > > model year differences. The early light switch is different  

> > than the

> > > > later models in that the harness is soldered directly to the  

> > switch

> > > > terminals in early model years. The later model years employed a

> > > > plug/pin harness making switch replacement easy.

> > > >

> > > > The only added feature to either switch type was on the euro.  

> > This had

> > > > a single +12VDC wire lead that was activated on the second pull  

> > of the

> > > > fog lamp function. The first pull illuminated the front fogs on  

> > both

> > > > euro and NA models. The second pull worked only on euro models  

> > and lit

> > > > the rear single fog lamp and lit up the center (orange)  

> > indicator lamp

> > > > on the switch handle.

> > > >

> > > > As for the ongoing dim light issue, why not disconnect the  

> > ground lead

> > > > temporarily at the lamp socket and hot wire a new ground to  

> > chassis to

> > > > see if this in fact gives the lamp full bright function?

> > > >

> > > > -\DIck

> > > >

> > > >>

> > > >  

> > ######################################################################

> > > > Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick  

> > themselves

> > > > up and hurry off as if nothing happened. --Sir Winston Churchill

> > > >  

> > ######################################################################

> > > >

> > > ThanksLou,

> > >

> > > I think that is exactly what happened here. He wanted a brighter  

> > lights for

> > > his driving situation.

> > >

> > > > Message: 3

> > > > Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 12:02:13 -0500

> > > > From: "millerlh at earthlink.net" <millerlh at earthlink.net>

> > > > Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] dim passenger light

> > > > To: "dan at landiss.com, Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists"

> > > > <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> > > > Message-ID: <380-2201135417213233 at earthlink.net>

> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> > > >

> > > > I am no expert at all in these matters, but the previous owner  

> > of my 1990

> > > > 560SEC had installed a new wiring configuration to support more  

> > powerful

> > > > headlights before I got the car. I found this out when I went  

> > to replace a

> > > > bulb and discovered the more powerful bulb he had installed.

> > > >

> > > > I would not have known the wiring had been changed, but was  

> > kind enough to

> > > > respond to my inquiry as to why the bulb I found was more  

> > powerful than

> > > > the Factory spec.. He told me he upgraded the wiring to avoid over

> > > > powering the factory wiring (for want of a better description).  

> > Said he

> > > > had wanted to avoid "outrunning the headlights"

> > > >

> > > > Is it possible that this may be one factor contributing to your  

> > problem?

> > > >

> > > > Lou Miller

> > > >

> > > > PS Don't ask me what he did or how he did it. He works on  

> > satellites and

> > > > deals with that sort of stuff all the time. I just turn the key  

> > and enjoy.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > That is also a sign of shaky grounds. the voltage at an "off"  

> > lamp should

> > > > be zero, not over a half volt.

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > > The MB Coupes Website!

> > > W126 SEC Mailing List

> > > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

> > The MB Coupes Website!

> > W126 SEC Mailing List

> > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

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