'Odd rocker switch on 240

  • Thread starter Thread starter Greenthumb
  • Start date Start date
G

Greenthumb

Hello,

I noticed that my '89 240 has a red rocker switch between the
headlight and rheostat switches. I bought the car used and it
doesn't do anything.

My '84 240 does not have this switch, but the panel is indented
as if it were an option.

I don't have an '89 owner's manual but the '84 manual doesn't
mention it. Odd, given the pre-indent which can be seen, and
can be popped out to make room for the switch, easily.

If you know of this switch, I would appreciate any information
you can share.

Thanks.

Allan Ballard
89 240 197k
84 240TI 215k [project car]
 
My guess is a fog light switch. Maybe your fog lights have been removed. Some
get knocked off on curbs, especially if driven by an estrogenized
individual.....
KennyH

Horsepower is cheaper than therapy.
 
Greenthumb said:
Hello,

I noticed that my '89 240 has a red rocker switch between the
headlight and rheostat switches. I bought the car used and it
doesn't do anything.

My '84 240 does not have this switch, but the panel is indented
as if it were an option.

I don't have an '89 owner's manual but the '84 manual doesn't
mention it. Odd, given the pre-indent which can be seen, and
can be popped out to make room for the switch, easily.

If you know of this switch, I would appreciate any information
you can share.

Thanks.

Allan Ballard
89 240 197k
84 240TI 215k [project car]
Click to expand...

It's for the rear foglamps, turn it on with the headlights on and some
fairly bright red markers come on in the rear. Use it only in fog and be
careful not to flip it on with someone right behind you as it looks much
like brakelights.
 
James Sweet said:
It's for the rear foglamps, turn it on with the headlights on and some
fairly bright red markers come on in the rear. Use it only in fog and be
careful not to flip it on with someone right behind you as it looks much
like brakelights.
Click to expand...

Yep. I've been trying to find one of those switches locally for a
while without success. :-(

The wiring is such that the rear fogs only work on low beam, IIRC.
Pretty sure that they don't come on with conspicuity/parkers, and
I'm certain that they go off with high beam. Yes, we're talking
about _rear_ fog lights going out with high beam!

Regulations covering these vary from country to country (and even
from state to state in some countries). The general guideline for
use is that they are only appropriate if visibility is less than
50m (50 yards) due to fog, rain, sleet, hail, dust storm etc..

Inappropriate use generates road rage in some places - beware!
 
athol said:
The wiring is such that the rear fogs only work on low beam, IIRC.
Pretty sure that they don't come on with conspicuity/parkers, and
I'm certain that they go off with high beam. Yes, we're talking
about _rear_ fog lights going out with high beam!
Click to expand...

If the fog is so thick that you need t use the rear fog light, then
high beams will probably be dangerous to use for you AND the other
drivers...

We get fog here that is quite thick at times, and one night coming
home, after going through a highway 'intersection' (Where a two-lane
crosses the highway, controlled by stop signs on the two lane), I got
the strangest feeling in the pit of my stomach when I noticed that the
double yellow was to my RIGHT!
__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvo
'93 960 Estate
 
If the fog is so thick that you need t use the rear fog light, then
high beams will probably be dangerous to use for you AND the other
drivers...
Click to expand...

When I realised how it works, I was quite impressed. I know exactly
_why_ they've done it. If the weather is clear enough to be able to
use high beam, the fog lights should be off. Ditto front fogs.
Volvo obviously had the foresight to wire the fogs "idiotproof". :-)
 
athol said:
Yep. I've been trying to find one of those switches locally for a
while without success. :-(

The wiring is such that the rear fogs only work on low beam, IIRC.
Pretty sure that they don't come on with conspicuity/parkers, and
I'm certain that they go off with high beam. Yes, we're talking
about _rear_ fog lights going out with high beam!

Regulations covering these vary from country to country (and even
from state to state in some countries). The general guideline for
use is that they are only appropriate if visibility is less than
50m (50 yards) due to fog, rain, sleet, hail, dust storm etc..

Inappropriate use generates road rage in some places - beware!

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol>
Linux Registered User # 254000
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.
Click to expand...

I probably have one of those switches somewhere you can have for a few
dollars + postage.
 
I probably have one of those switches somewhere you can have for a few
dollars + postage.
Click to expand...

It's a shame that it's so hard to transfer cash electronically
overseas... If you were in AU, I could direct deposit to your
bank account. :-(

One local wrecker gives me odd parts for free or very little
because I do work for them. They gave me 5 7-series Sirius mags
a few months ago! So far, they haven't had a late enough model
to get the fog light switch. AU didn't get them until somewhere
in the mid '80s, even though the wiring was there all along.

Reminds me - that wrecker forgot to pay for a couple of jobs a
couple of months ago. I should visit. :-)
 
athol said:
It's a shame that it's so hard to transfer cash electronically
overseas... If you were in AU, I could direct deposit to your
bank account. :-(
Click to expand...

It's actually very easy, I do it all the time, I use PayPal.
 
athol said:
When I realised how it works, I was quite impressed. I know exactly
_why_ they've done it. If the weather is clear enough to be able to
use high beam, the fog lights should be off. Ditto front fogs.
Volvo obviously had the foresight to wire the fogs "idiotproof". :-)
Click to expand...

California vehicle code states that the fog lights must be wired to be
on only with the low beams. It very well may be part of the DOT egs as
well. Makes sense, actually. I haven't cehcked my rear fog with high
beams.. will have to do that just to see...

__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvo
'93 960 Estate
 
Thanks to all who posted. I had no idea and will
take a look to see what's back there that I haven't
noticed.

--Allan Ballard
 
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