[W126 Coupe] Lights fixed for the moment

[Mister McGoo]

Yes.  My reply regarding Calvin's light switch was specific to Calvin's Gen I, 1983 380SEC Euro to help him with his wiring, and specificly to determine if his light switch is functioning properly.  The GenII 560SEC may not be the same.
 
Calvin has a worthwhile car (assuming it is in good condition).  The 560SEC's are, comparitively speaking, a dime a dozen, but a Euro 380 is a rare one here.  The engine (assuming it is original) is a high compression (9.4 vs 8.3) version with 204hp vs 155hp., did not come with catylitic converters but has dual exhaust manifolds.  There are a lot of small differences but the headlights are one very important feature of the Euro... headlights that actually WORK instead of the tacky Chev pickup style sealed beams installed in N. America Gen I versions.
 
"Last comment"?  So I lied.    -Bellamy
 
 

> Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 13:48:10 -0500

> From: J.Hirsch at mac.com

> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> 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.

> 

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

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

 		 	   		  
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