I found a "Fahrtrichtung" under the seat of my W124!!!

[Jeremy5848]

While I had the rear seat of the '87 out to remove some more of the PO's aftermarket alarm wiring, I did some cleaning and happened to move the under-seat insulation on the left side of the car. I expected to find a few wires running front to back, but was astonished to also find a white cylindrical thing (about the size of a short coffee can) labeled "Fahrtrichtung." This thing has a three-pin plug (disconnected ) and there's an electrically-operated vacuum relay next to it -- not sure if they're connected or are just 'neighbors').

I plugged in the connector (key off) but nothing happened. What is this thing? "Fahrtrichtung" seems to translate into "driving direction" but I'm no more informed than before. There's no mention of the word in this forum. Lots of use of the term "Fahrtrichtung" on the Internet in German publications but the uses all seem to be references to (as we would say) "forward" or "towards the front of the car."

This is not the vacuum pump that operates the door locks. That thing is rectangular and under the rear seat on the right side. This thing is on the left side. What is it?

Jeremy

[twr]

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

While I had the rear seat of the '87 out to remove some more of the PO's aftermarket alarm wiring, I did some cleaning and happened to move the under-seat insulation on the left side of the car. I expected to find a few wires running front to back, but was astonished to also find a white cylindrical thing (about the size of a short coffee can) labeled "Fahrtrichtung." This thing has a three-pin plug (disconnected ) and there's an electrically-operated vacuum relay next to it -- not sure if they're connected or are just 'neighbors').

I plugged in the connector (key off) but nothing happened. What is this thing? "Fahrtrichtung" seems to translate into "driving direction" but I'm no more informed than before. There's no mention of the word in this forum. Lots of use of the term "Fahrtrichtung" on the Internet in German publications but the uses all seem to be references to (as we would say) "forward" or "towards the front of the car."

This is not the vacuum pump that operates the door locks. That thing is rectangular and under the rear seat on the right side. This thing is on the left side. What is it?

Jeremy

A fart alarm.

[JimmyL]

All flatulence aside, isn't that a factory alarm component that measures movement? Going from something like that in a past thread, no first hand knowledge....
They are usually unplugged because they usually mis-fire!

[Jeremy5848]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

All flatulence aside, isn't that a factory alarm component that measures movement? Going from something like that in a past thread, no first hand knowledge....
They are usually unplugged because they usually mis-fire!

OK, that makes sense, a motion sensor. The factory alarm has indeed been removed or disconnected.

I traced the vacuum line and figured out that the vacuum relay next door to the Fahrtrichtung is for the rear seat headrests. It operates from engine vacuum and pulls the headrests back into their storage position when you press the dash-mounted switch.

[Jeremy5848]

It's listed in the CD-ROM FSM, in the "component location" list, as "N27, Anti-towing sensor, Below left side of rear seat, model year 1986 only." My 1987 car was built in July 1986.

[lietuviai]

Originally Posted by twr

A fart alarm.

ROTFLMAO!
You beat me to that one!

[PatricdeBoer]

I can't say fahrtrichtung without smiling just a little

[twr]

Seriously, I was told it is a glass breakage sensor it only comes with the factory or dealer installed car alarms.

[C Sean Watts]

I would translate that to "direction of travel" since you normally drive with the front end leading.... I'm reminded of when my grandmother came to see us midway through a tour in Fulda. Going from Frankfurt airport she kept seeing the signs designating 'exit' off the autobahn. Exit on foot IE: door way, is 'ausgang' but since driving isn't walking, it's fahren (infinitive). And no the exit sign isn't FART GANG It's 'ausfahrt'. Literally to be farted off the highway.

OK, back to the grandma story. About the fifth sign she saw she said, "Well, we must be driving in circles because we can't seem to get away from that place."
My mom said, "No mother, that means exit." We're about 20 minutes from the house.

[hawthorne90250]

Search results for -- Suchergebnisse für 'Fahrtrichtung ':

change of direction -- die Fahrtrichtungsänderung
direction indicator -- der Fahrtrichtungsanzeiger
direction of motion -- die Fahrtrichtung
driving direction -- die Fahrtrichtung
prescribed direction -- die vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung
to sit facing the front -- in Fahrtrichtung sitzen
trafficator -- der Fahrtrichtungsanzeiger

[Jeremy5848]

When my wife and I were in Germany in 1979, we kept seeing signs pointing to "Einbahnstrasse." Since "Bahnhof" means "railroad station," I thought that "Einbahnstrasse" might mean "the street in front of the railroad station" or something like that. We never did find "Einbahnstrasse," however, just the signs pointing to it.

Then there was the town of "Umleitung," also advertised in many signs. We were confused, since some signs pointed in one direction and other signs pointed somewhere else. And we never did get to visit the quaint little town of "Umleitung."

Jeremy
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wait for it!!!
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in context, these terms mean:

"Einbahnstrasse" = one way street

"Umleitung" = detour

[Deni]

I thought that "Einbahnstrasse" might mean "the street in front of the railroad station" or something like that.

Well if you break the word in different parts there's no banhof in there:

1. ein means one

2. bahn means way or something like that, autobanh=motorway

3. strasse is street.

[KCM]

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

It's listed in the CD-ROM FSM, in the "component location" list, as "N27, Anti-towing sensor, Below left side of rear seat, model year 1986 only." My 1987 car was built in July 1986.

I would agree with that conclusion. I know the 1986 and/or 1987 560SL's also had the anti-towing sensor. Must have only been used for a short period (probably too big a pain in the butt if the car had to be towed for service).

[deerefanatic]

I was gonna say the same thing, anti-tow sensor... In the 126, it's located int the trunk.........

[Hatterasguy]

Its for if your car is getting jacked up or towed when the alarm is set. It will trigger past a certain angle. A lot of them fail and insted of fixing it the right way, they unplug them...