Turn signal causing parking lights to go on...

[KatoKato]

After today's drive I turn the car off and get out and the parking lights are on.
Look inside light switch is in the off position

I've noticed this before and somehow it has magically worked itself out after going for a drive.

After abit of tinkering I found that when the car is not running(key not in ignition) that if I have the left or right blinker engaged the parking lights go on. When the car is running all light functions appear normal.

Anyone ever experience this?

Thanks in advance,
Kato

[HarryD]

Hi,

Are only the lights on the side that the turn signal has activated on or ALL of them? If it is only the ones for the way you are signalling, this is not a defect but a feature to help illuminate your car if it is pulled to the side of the road. Clever them Germans.

[avi8torny]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Hi,

Are only the lights on the side that the turn signal has activated on or ALL of them? If it is only the ones for the way you are signalling, this is not a defect but a feature to help illuminate your car if it is pulled to the side of the road. Clever them Germans.

If indeed it this clever German trick, you can defeat it simply. Underneath the dash near the steering column is a small rectangular plastic electrical plug. Simply unplug the connection it covers and this feature will be Kaput.

[Fishcop]

It is the curb lights and is a correct feature. If you don't want them on, don't leave the indicator/blinker stalk in the left or right position

Cheers

[Noel]

THis is normal. I found this out by accident about three years ago and thought I had a ground problem.

[KatoKato]

Thanks ... I thought that it may be a 'standard' feature and not a malfunction.

Don't remember reading about it in the manual.

Cheers,
Kato

[FinallyGotOne]

yeah mine does this too, I thought it was a problem so to double check I pulled out every light and made sure right bulb ewas in, after a hour and a half of scratching my head, i checke d and the blinker was switched down. flipped it up and it was fine. Crazy.

[tcar]

They all do that. In fact for a number of years, almost all German cars had that feature. Had a VW squareback that did.

[jcsjcs]

Same deal with my former 87 944. This is a feature. When I was in Portugal a few years back I started to understand - they have some VERY narrow roads in Europe especially in the small towns- so this feature is useful when you park your car on the side of the road.

[KatoKato]

Originally Posted by avi8torny

If indeed it this clever German trick, you can defeat it simply. Underneath the dash near the steering column is a small rectangular plastic electrical plug. Simply unplug the connection it covers and this feature will be Kaput.

I took a look under there and cannot find (am not sure) the plug you describe.
Do you have any pix of the area?

[KatoKato]

Originally Posted by KatoKato

I took a look under there and cannot find (am not sure) the plug you describe.
Do you have any pix of the area?

Bump ... anyone?