Please tell me this is not normal

[DohertyCM]

I have two front turn signal lamp assembly's go bad....I replaced a turn signal switch...I have replaced one of the turn signal lamps and disconnected the other. Tested great...turn signal lights etc....

Now I turned the key off and left the turn signal switch on and the turn signals rear and front stay on steady. I switch to the right turn signal and the same thing happens.

Anyone have this issue? Any troubleshooting tips?

[McLovin]

That's normal. It's called a parking light function.

[darrin]

If you can turn off the turn signal lights by leaving the turn signal switch in the "neutral/middle" position, this is perfectly normal behavior for a german/european car as the turn signals are/were used in europe as parking lights when the car's off -- it is/was customary to leave the turn signal on the street (not curb) side of the car illuminated when parked.

Precisely WHY this is the case, I'm not completely sure -- especially as turn signals/etc. are now highly reflectorized and should illuminate at night when hit by an oncoming car's headlights --

[DohertyCM]

I really find that hard to believe....but maybe that is why I can't interpret any thing wrong in the schematics....I don't recall it doing that on my 74.....although I don't recall testing it.....

[DohertyCM]

Very interesting Darrin, is this function in the Maint manual? Or is it one of those unwritten rules.

[tazzieman]

If you visit Europe , you will realise there are some narrow streets. Very narrow!
Plus a few long wide roads that have unlimited potential

In Germany, the StVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations) calls for a different function also known as parking lamps: With the vehicle's ignition switched off, the operator may activate a low-intensity light at the front (white or amber) and rear (red) on either the left or the right side of the car. This function is used when parking in narrow unlit streets to provide parked-vehicle conspicuity to approaching drivers.[23] This function, which is optional under ECE and US regulations, is served passively and without power consumption in North America by the mandatory side marker retroreflectors.[

[DohertyCM]

Just found the right schematic for my car and wow, it's plain as day this is the correct function. I am amazed...having been to Germany a lot, I had never noticed or seen this function being used.


Interesting.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by DohertyCM

Just found the right schematic for my car and wow, it's plain as day this is the correct function. I am amazed...having been to Germany a lot, I had never noticed or seen this function being used.


Interesting.

It's probably not used much because people don't enjoy coming out to their car in the morning to a dead battery!

[DohertyCM]

I have lived overseas for 11 years, and never saw that used...
Caught me by surprise...

[Joe Bob]

I use it a lot....of course someone always tell me my lights are on. I just tell them it's a German thing and they wouldn't understand.

[RSBob]

Just like with 'it's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand', I would rather not understand such arrogance and pretense. Giving classic P-car owners a bad name is not cool.

And yes those parking lights were used quite a bit on narrow streets back in the day in Europe - now they are a bit of an anachronism.

[aigel]

I have seen this used frequently in the countryside when cars are parked on the side of the road, i.e. people visiting the local beer tent festival. It ensures nobody side swipes your car. And the reason you can select one side only is so you don't drain the battery. I do not think it is considered something you'd leave on over night, rather than for a few hours while parking at night or in the twilight (which practically lasts from November - March in central Europe).

G

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by McLovin

It's probably not used much because people don't enjoy coming out to their car in the morning to a dead battery!

Those lights dont use enough power to drain a battery unless it is on its last leg anyway.

[Dublinoh]

"I would rather not understand such arrogance and pretense. Giving classic P-car owners a bad name is not cool."

Wow, where did that come from? Not that he needs any defense from me but have you read any of his 24,500 posts?

[ivangene]

Originally Posted by Dublinoh

Not that he needs any defense from me but have you read any of his 24,500 posts?

yup, and THAT is where it comes from

[DohertyCM]

Such lively discussion today....

I'm always in a state of learning with these cars....

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by porwolf

Those lights dont use enough power to drain a battery unless it is on its last leg anyway.

An interior light left on WILL drain a battery completely flat after 3 days....ask me how I know.

I somehow bumped it on when I stashed my radar detector and GPS inside and locked it. Came back and the battery was dead. Didn't know why until I looked out side and saw the glow at night after I recharged the battery.....I wasn't driving it much at the time.

[ivangene]

I am so going to try this little "oddity" later

I love these quirky things!!

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by DohertyCM

Very interesting Darrin, is this function in the Maint manual? Or is it one of those unwritten rules.

This is totally normal. In Europe many times there simply is no parking available, so you park in the street next to the parked cars while having dinner or meeting with friends. You then take the turn signal lever and put it in the "left turn position" and it keeps your outer lights on to show other cars on the road that there is a car there.

If you are blocking someone in, they simply come out to their car, honk a couple of times and those people parked in the street come out and move their car to let the person out.

This has been this way for years and will continue to be this way. I lived in Berlin for years and everyone used it, even to this day.

[James Brown]

just try to find a rear fog light on a US car! yet there as common as bumper stickers here. Have you found the wire and switch for the light?