interesting loophole for reverse lights on state inspection
interesting loophole for reverse lights on state inspection
I asked the inspection guy if I could wire in a switch for temporary purposes, or in other words, is the specification that they work, but not specifically that the car is in reverse WHEN they work.
He looked at the paperwork, and from his cursory review, he could find no specific part of the inspection law that said I have to actually be in reverse when the lights illuminate, the lights just have to work period. Its assumed that you are in reverse when they light, but the law is specifically about correct illumination, not correlation between illumination and stick position.
I wired in a push button starter until the correct switch gets here, and now I can flash my reverse lights any time, even on the highway! I love it, maybe I will keep it this way if he passes the car tomorrow morning, or add another switch so I can flash morose code if I want, and the lights work normally otherwise.
Makes for a great feature on something as slow as a 240, especially at night, like having headlights to flash that A-hole riding your bumper.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
trying to get my 240 to pass state inspection, and the one thing I am waiting on is a switch for my reverse lights. So far thats the last thing keeping me from passing.
I asked the inspection guy if I could wire in a switch for temporary purposes, or in other words, is the specification that they work, but not specifically that the car is in reverse WHEN they work.
He looked at the paperwork, and from his cursory review, he could find no specific part of the inspection law that said I have to actually be in reverse when the lights illuminate, the lights just have to work period. Its assumed that you are in reverse when they light, but the law is specifically about correct illumination, not correlation between illumination and stick position.
I wired in a push button starter until the correct switch gets here, and now I can flash my reverse lights any time, even on the highway! I love it, maybe I will keep it this way if he passes the car tomorrow morning, or add another switch so I can flash morose code if I want, and the lights work normally otherwise.
Makes for a great feature on something as slow as a 240, especially at night, like having headlights to flash that A-hole riding your bumper.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
(06-22-2010, 07:21 PM)dropnosky or add another switch so I can flash morose code if I want, and the lights work normally otherwise.I doubt many tailgaters would understand -... .- -.-. -.- / --- ..-. ..-. / -- -.-- / .- ... ... as well as a windshield covered in soot.
ForcedInduction
06-22-2010, 07:53 PM
#2
(06-22-2010, 07:21 PM)dropnosky or add another switch so I can flash morose code if I want, and the lights work normally otherwise.I doubt many tailgaters would understand -... .- -.-. -.- / --- ..-. ..-. / -- -.-- / .- ... ... as well as a windshield covered in soot.
that was a lot of work to tap out, Maybe I can find some electronic device that would allow me to pre-program in useful messages so I don't crash the car while tapping.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
LOL, "back off my ass"
that was a lot of work to tap out, Maybe I can find some electronic device that would allow me to pre-program in useful messages so I don't crash the car while tapping.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
willbhere4u
06-23-2010, 09:39 AM #4Interestingly enough my buddy had a 88 BMW 735i that had an electrical short and if he turned on his interior lights the back up lights came on as well. I watched on no less the three occasions when some one was tail gating him he would flip on the light and they would freak out locking up there brakes swerve one guy in a big SUV nearly lost it in a ditch!!! It was fun to watch though!
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
(06-23-2010, 09:39 AM)willbhere4u Interestingly enough my buddy had a 88 BMW 735i that had an electrical short and if he turned on his interior lights the back up lights came on as well. I watched on no less the three occasions when some one was tail gating him he would flip on the light and they would freak out locking up there brakes swerve one guy in a big SUV nearly lost it in a ditch!!! It was fun to watch though!
I had occasion to use this several times yesterday during a long run in heavy traffic, and man, the ability to flash people directly behind you is just great, especially in this low power car. I did it I think 4 times, once for brights, and three times for tailgaters, and each time the tailgaters backed off, the guy with the brights never went to low beams though. It was weird enough to make all of them back off and reconsider, which was great.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
(06-23-2010, 09:39 AM)willbhere4u Interestingly enough my buddy had a 88 BMW 735i that had an electrical short and if he turned on his interior lights the back up lights came on as well. I watched on no less the three occasions when some one was tail gating him he would flip on the light and they would freak out locking up there brakes swerve one guy in a big SUV nearly lost it in a ditch!!! It was fun to watch though!
I had occasion to use this several times yesterday during a long run in heavy traffic, and man, the ability to flash people directly behind you is just great, especially in this low power car. I did it I think 4 times, once for brights, and three times for tailgaters, and each time the tailgaters backed off, the guy with the brights never went to low beams though. It was weird enough to make all of them back off and reconsider, which was great.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
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