Parking Light Switch, on console.

[EScanlon]

Another of those never seen in the U.S. items.

The parking light switch that mounts on the early 240 console (70 to 71) which operates the separate right and left parking lights (actually that extra bulb in the tail light, and I presume also on the front light), is an enigma to me. I've heard what it does, but I've not located a picture or anyone that can describe it.

If any of you Aussies or U.K. folk have a picture, or better yet a working spare that you would sell, let me know, I'll pay the shipping.

Thanks in advance.

[Alfadog]

What are you talking about? I've never heard of such a thing before. Please enlighten me!

[sjcurtis]

This subject is one I was looking at the other day , both my tail light assemblies have the blanking plugs and that appears to be all. I would say if there are any cars in AUS they would have been redirected off a euro delivery. There may be one or two with the system active I would be suprised as our environment here does not support or mandate its use, it is primarily for use in high density mega cities with on street parking EG in London in the early1970 these systems were a manditory system if you intended to park on the street. So if you are going to get any good information it will be out of the UK or Europe. I have seen a lot of cars here and no parking lights

Good luck

Steve.:classic:

[EScanlon]

This is going to be a couple posts long in order to post pictures and explanations.

If you look at the rear tail lights on the 240, you will note that there are actually 5 bulb openings, not just the 4 everyone is aware of.

This is even more evident in the two pictures I'm posting.

The first picture is the back of a set of tail lights from a U.S. car.

Please note that the wiring is for 4 bulbs, but that there is a gray colored plug in the middle top, between the two bulbs.

[EScanlon]

Now take a look at this light, which the original owner referred to as a Japanese Tail light.

Please note the ADDITIONAL bulb wiring in the top center.

[EScanlon]

Ok, now you guys know the light I'm talking about.

It took me some time, but I finally had someone respond and tell me that these are lights that get turned on when you park your car on the street, i.e. curbside. And that you must illuminate the side of the car which is on the street side versus the side walk side.

I'm not sure about the reasoning for this, but that's the story I was given.

So, that means a double switch. The location of that switch is on the console. At least on the EARLY 240 consoles.

Here's a picture of the panel on the console I am referring to.

You will note that this car has the Choke, the HAND THROTTLE, (which is a SELDOM seen item in the U.S., although not non-existent), the second generation Rear Window Defog switch, (because it's the illuminated variety, the first generation had a non-illuminated switch), and lastly, the space for this parking light switch I'm referring to.

Note that the hole has been filled in with this 1" x 1" black plastic plug. This is the same plug that I've seen on dozens of 240's.

What I'm hoping to get out of this post, is that someone will be able to post either a picture of the ACTUAL switch, so that I can try to find a similar, OR that someone will admit to having a spare or knowing where to get one and willing to help me obtain this.

Thanks in advance.

[EScanlon]

While locating the pictures of the two styles of tail lights, I came accross this other picture of another style of tail.

[Zedrally]

This just goes to show that there is something new to learn about zed's every day.

I remember the use of parking lights in the 60's, however by the 70's most streets where sufficiently illuminated and today I guess there really a relic left over or more correctly they have evolved to be hazard lights.

I would hazard a guess that this would be a home market [Japan] delivery as I've never seen on in Aus, nor on the UK delivery zeds that found there way into Aus.

Maybe Alan T can enlighten us on this subject.

[HS30-H]

Enrique,

I just sent you a PM.

I'll post pictures of the Parking Lamp Switches in my car later today ( I'll have to photograph them first ).

Here's a snap of the earlier type ones to be going on with ( if you can see them );

Alan T.

[Zedrally]

Come on Alan, expand our knowledge.

What market were these cars destined for?

[HS30-H]

Sorry Mike,

Yes - these Parking Lamp systems were indeed for the Japanese "Home" market cars. It used to be the case that anyone parking a car on the open road outside a street-lit urban area would have to illuminate the offside front and rear corners of the car for safety reasons. Don't think its still applicable now.

You could choose to switch on the left or right sides separately ( depending on which side of the car was sticking out into the road ) and interestingly there does not seem to have been any legislation about pointing the "wrong" way; I don't know about elsewhere in the world, but I'm old enough to remember laws here in the UK that made it illegal for a car to be parked up on the side of the road "facing" oncoming traffic - it always had to be the rear that was facing the traffic on that side of the road ( hence the red reflectors ). Sounds like you had the same thing in Australia.

Interestingly, they were fitted to the more expensive models of Japanese Home market Z as standard equipment but the poor old "cooking" model Fairlady Z ( S30-S ) had them as an "option". Presumably owners who chose to keep costs down would have to make sure that they did not park outside street-lit areas.

I've seen some of the corresponding tail lamp assemblies turn up on UK-market cars ( just not connected in the same way ). Looks like another one of those things where Nissan were running short of lamps and chucked on something "near enough".

Regards,

Alan T.

[HS30-H]

Right, I went over to the garages yesterday and took the ZG for probably its last run of the year ( putting it away for the winter now ). The rented garages are a good 30 minute drive from home.

I had a dig through the parts for the 1970 Japanese-market project car too, and only managed to find the actual switch panel -not the switches themselves ( although I think I know where they are now that I remembered ). As far as I can remember Nissan used the same switches - but just a different panel. Therefore the actual switches ( they are a pair in one unit ) could be had from either the early or later type. Sorry Enrique, I do not think I have a spare of either.

I took some photos which you can see below. The "early" type is naturally out of the console and out of the car ( the car is in the paint shop ) but the "later" type is pictured in situ in the ZG.

Enrique, I'll send you some higher resolution copies direct.

Alan T.

Here's the "early" type panel: