US 230sl Clearance Lights

[vande17941]

On the 230sl, the clearance lights were inoperable when the car was delivered to the US. Has anyone figured how to connect the clearance lights...is it similar to the flash-to-pass fuse box attachment, is wiring disconnected at the headlight switch, or was the wiring and circuit completely omitted.
Thanks

[66andBlue]

On the 230sl, the clearance lights were inoperable when the car was delivered to the US. ....

That is news to me.  
Take a look at the wiring diagram in the technical manual and then check the wires from "36" rotary light switch to "1f" and "2f" in the headlamps and "48d" and "49d" clearance light in the tail lamps for continuity in your car.

[vande17941]

There has to be an easier way. All the early cars came to the United States with the clearance lamps inoperable. Has anyone had any experience on here reconnecting them, and if so how did they do it?

[66andBlue]

Not sure where you got this information from but in my 1966 230SL the clearance light were always working [provide the bulbs weren't burned out, of course  ] . Haven't checked the 1964 yet but will do so soon.

[jameshoward]

I have a pretty original 230 that was first sold in the US. Mine work.

[vande17941]

I have never seen a 230sl u.s. specification model that had clearance lights that were operable. See the excerpt attached from our website here. It does not offer any fix

[vande17941]

Here is a photo of the problem. Now I just need to know if anybody knows if the wires are there without being hooked up before I take the dash apart and look for them

[Benz Dr.]

Wouldn't that be part of the signal wand? Push forward for windshield washers and pull back for high beam flash? I've run into this before and it was probably illegal to use in most States so they simply disconnected it in the wiring harness going to the combo switch. Use the flashers on most people in NA and you're likely to get a few interesting signals in return.........  

[Tomnistuff]

I always thought the flashers meant, "Dim your damn lights; you're blinding me!"  I've used them all my life on many cars.
By the way, mine work.  But it's an Italian version.
Tom Kizer

[66andBlue]

Wouldn't that be part of the signal wand? ......

No Dan, it is not.
The clearance or parking lights (left and right) are switched on/off with the light switch in the dash.
Notice this is from the owner manual of 230SL cars delivered in the USA. So the switch should work as shown:
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/uploads/Electrical/230SL_headlight_switch_postions.jpg

[vande17941]

I've already attached the flash to pass feature at the fuse box.

Has anybody here opened up the dash by the tachometer to see if the wires are there to hook up the clearance lights to the headlight switch or are they missing?