Hello, I just bought a 2000 CLK320 cabrolet. I was checking the lights and found on the left and right trunk mounted running lights only the left side was working. When I tried to check the bulb, I found a knock out blocking the opening where a bulb should be. I cut out the metal knock out and then noticed that the wire harness did not have a wire for that socket. Is this normal, seems kind of wierd. Thanks for the help.

 

fog light?

 

I dont think its a fog light, the lens is red

 

I agree with Sleepwalker.
My SLK is similar. I believe the "spare" socket is from when two rear high intensity RED fog lamps were used for certain countries like UK. Is the spare socket just on the one side of the car?
Germany set the trend with having only one because it is more cost effective and differentiates (not convinced) from the two stop lights (prior to introduction of USA style high mounted central stop lamps).
Stuart

 

Thanks for the help, you guys were correct, it was a fog light. Very strange design. I knocked out the blank and jumped across to the driver side bulb so both sides will light. My concern was being pulled over one night after a beer or two just because I had a "bulb out". Thanks

 

Have you checked intensity at night?
The side with two bulbs (your modification) may now be brighter than the other side which only has one (the other bulb being the foglight). Just in case the law spots the difference.
Stuart

 

Its good, It looks great across the rear, the fog lights and outer running lights are the same intensity, looks like it was meant to be.

 

OK but something sounds wrong.
The High Intensity Fog lamp bulb should be 21w whilst the Tail lamps (you call them running light are supposed to be 5/6w. (All bulbs have the same fitting)
If you are running all 21w you run the risk of overheating the cluster and the High Intensity Fog lamp will no longer be differentiated from your tail laights. Running 21w Tail lamps is also illegal, at least in Europe.
If they are all 5w then you don't have an effective High Intensity Fog lamp.

Stuart