124 foglamp
 

When engine is off and I turn headlight switch one click left, and then pull on the switch, the fog lamps turn on, and as I let go (spring loaded) it shuts off. Doing it one more click to the left won't turn on the fogs. Wonder why?

I know the switch is just like the 123 with the standing lamps when engine is off, but I'm curious if this was just a mistake in engineering? I've asked in two forums already and have had mixed results. Some say they have it too, some say they don't.

I think you found....
 

the setting in the switch for the REAR fog light (Euro only). Similar to standing lamps but for fog of European proportions.:eek: not intended to be left on overnight. If yours is like mine, you are minus the wire, socket and lamp on the D/S tail light assembly (but there is a place where it would have been mounted). To have it on driving, (it should go) one click out = front fogs, two clicks = front and rear.

Not quite a mistake
 

[QUOTE=C Sean Watts;1499699]the setting in the switch for the REAR fog light (Euro only).

No, that is not what MBeige is describing. His post describes turning to the LEFT and what he has noticed. The rear fog is on when the switch is turned to the RIGHT clockwise, and pulled out to the second position as Watts said.

MBeige, the light switch for my 95 E300 does what you describe as well. An engineering mistake would be if the fogs could in any way stay ON when the switch was turned to the left with the ignition off.

Dave

The two positions for the light switch that are counter clock wise, or to the left, are for European cars, where parking on a road without street lights requires the street side parking lamp to be lit. So, if you park on the right side of the road, you want the left parking lamps lit. I believe that is two clicks to the left. If you park on the left side of the road, the right side parking lamps are lit. Only one side is lit to avoid undue draining of the battery. Anyway, in this position the light switch is not intended to have the fog lights stay on (the battery would quickly discharge and those old Diesels won't start) so the switch doesn't allow it. YOu should be able to turn the switch on click to the right, and have all the parking lights light up, and then pull the knob out one click to turn the fog lights on, and they should stay on - they do in my cars. Jim

Hi Jim, yes I'm fully aware of the headlight functions, except what I posted about. So it's just a battery saving device that the switch won't hold the foglamps on? If so then why doesn't the other click (2 clicks left, and pull) allow the foglamps to turn on when the switch is pulled?

I actually use this standing lamp feature (left/right side lights only are on) whenever parking in a dimly lit but safe place.

I don't think the intent was to provide this function, turning the switch to the left and pulling the knob to turn the fog lights on, at all. A better question would be why does the first click to the left allow the fog lights to come on at all?

The answer is probably something well thought out, as, in the days this switch was designed, function was more important than cost or styling. But at the moment it seems the first click is an anomoly of the switch design that might make it more complicated to undo. Jim