Rear Fog Lamp Assistance - 1997 SL320 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Arctic1 · #1 05-27-2009, 07:03 PM

Greetings All

This is a relatively minor issue, but still would like to clear it up.

My 97 SL320 has the rear fog lamps. While testing them I noticed that the left lamp is much brighter than the right lamp. Decided to investigate and noticed that on the left lamp both elements are lit, while on the right lamp only one element is lit.

Swapped the bulbs from left to right and again had the same result with the right side only having one element lit.

This has me puzzled as I am assuming its a contact or wiring issue but thought that there would have only been one wire leading to the lamp contact.

Any suggestions in regard to this? I can offer clarification if my overly wordy post is confusing.

Thanks

jb

Johnhef · #2 05-27-2009, 07:23 PM

Unless your car is wired differently, only the left side should illuminate. I'd look for something backfeeding into the right side bulb.

G-Benz · #3 05-27-2009, 08:44 PM

On some vehicles, there is an extra bulb on the left taillight housing for the rear fog...on others, it is facilitated by the illumination of both filaments on one of the bulbs in the left taillight. Either way, it serves its purpose, and as Johnhef stated, only the left side illuminates in "foglight" mode.

This is standard with all Euro vehicles, not just MB.

Arctic1 · #4 05-27-2009, 08:50 PM

Thanks!!! Appreciate the info. Was just researching the fog lamps for my 88 300E and came across similar information on another forum.

Am likely not going to worry about why the RH lamp is partially lit, unless I feel like good electrical investigative work - which I normally don't.

Thanks again.

jb

babymog · #5 05-27-2009, 09:34 PM

I'm pretty sure the 300E didn't get rear foglamps stateside until 1990.

RLGDiesel · #6 05-27-2009, 10:26 PM

Reason for one side rear fog light is to differentiate the rear fogs from brake lamps...two bright rear fog lamps might resemble braking

OldPokey · #7 05-28-2009, 10:06 AM

Just don't run with them on when you're in traffic. It annoys the crap out of the driver following you.

G-Benz · #8 05-28-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic1

Am likely not going to worry about why the RH lamp is partially lit, unless I feel like good electrical investigative work - which I normally don't... jb

I'm pretty certain that if you had some electrical issue with your bulb circuits, the "bulb-out" indicator on your dash would illuminate, alerting you to a problem. It's a finicky system IMHO, and even using bulbs with the incorrect housings or wattage will set that indicator off!

david s poole · #9 05-28-2009, 12:29 PM

i think that it is law in europe that either there is only one bright left rear fog lamp on the car or that if two the left must be much brighter than the right.i don't think that there is any problem with your car as you have described it.

lkchris · #10 05-28-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldPokey

Just don't run with them on when you're in traffic. It annoys the crap out of the driver following you.

So does running front fogs when it isn't foggy, snowing, etc.

Sign of a newby.

Arctic1 · #11 05-28-2009, 09:53 PM

Appreciate the input guys. So far so good. Am new with the SL so will likely be posting more questions as I move along with Max. It does have a couple of cosmetic items that I need to work on, but nothing too severe (driver's door reflector, sliding armrest release, convertible windows)

jb