Fog Lights Issue

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

I have an '83 SC and my fog lights do not go on when I have my running lights on, only when I have the headlights on? Is this the way they were designed? Can I change them to go on and off with the running lights?

tight as a bull's ass · tight as a bull's ass's Garage

same thing with my 83sc.

if you need your fog lights, why woulndt you want to be running your regular lights too? might be more of a pain to try and rewire everything than just live with watcha got!

do you have a seperate switch for fog lights? I do but they still dont come on unless I have regular lights running.

89Targa · 01-08-2002, 05:31 PM

Interesting... My '89 carrera was wired so the foglights will turn on with the running lights. Maybe the factory had a change in heart.

Doug Zielke · 01-08-2002, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vesnyder
I have an '83 SC and my fog lights do not go on when I have my running lights on, only when I have the headlights on? Is this the way they were designed? Can I change them to go on and off with the running lights?

This bugs me too!
I looked at the wiring diagram, and I don't think there is any easy way to have the fogs come on without the headlights.
I'm pretty good with wires, but I don't feel like ripping into the Blue Bomber's wiring.

Nickshu · Nickshu's Garage

I thought driving around with your parking lights and fogs on only was reserved only for gold-trimmed cars in gangsta rap videos and those with coffee can mufflers ala Leland's pimpster??

Maybe I'm just behind on this subject??

Um yeah...I'm trying to wire my hydraulics to work with the first stage of the rear defrost too.

Just kidding....I couldn't resist.

Nick.

rob911 · rob911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Nickshu
I thought driving around with your parking lights and fogs on only was reserved only for gold-trimmed cars in gangsta rap videos and those with coffee can mufflers ala Leland's pimpster??

Nick.

IMO I'm with Nick.

Here in UK sidelights with foglights is reserved for tight-asses who wear nylon pants, drive euro-barges (think vauxhall/opel carlton 2.0L automatic) and still wear avaiator styleee shades (not genuine ray-bans though) while smoking a hamlet cigar wearing driving gloves listening to Genesis with "the best classical pan-pipes album....EVER" lined up next in the add-on centre conole mounted cassette rack. May also sport driver side wind deflector to allow un-ruffled window down driving with arm on window-ledge, hand on roof rain channel. Usually seen driving alone due to embarrased family, will subject own family to terror holiday towing 22ft caravan to tenby, in welsh wales.

Just a thought, don't really have a strong opinion either way

I am hoping to fit one of those remote alarms that closes the roof and windows, then flashes the all the lights while a voice booms out "this car is alarmed!! followed by 30 seconds of drum'n'bass at 120db (joke) - might add the Saab inspired 20Kvolt anti-intruder system if anyone attempts to open the door (for real -guy in UK was prosecuted for electrocuting a car thief

)

Paul Franssen · Paul Franssen's Garage

...and, Rob911, in the middle-lane of a 3-lane autobahn, at 80 kph. Gotta be thorough!

GeorgeK · 01-09-2002, 03:39 AM

Here in Switzerland the law says that fog lights are to be used only with the "position lights" i.e. 5w markers. What's more they're illegel in non-fog conditions.
On the practical side, it's true that the fogs illuminate the road closer to the car, but I feel that iis not really useful except in switchback turns.
In fog, it is stupid to use the lights and the fogs, for the lights will blind you by lighting the fog, negating the possible effect of the low placed fogs.
GeorgeK

patalive · 01-09-2002, 04:50 AM

Nick is right on! I sure get tired of these damn cars, particularly SUVs, coming up behind me on the highway with their poorly aimed fogs blinding me in the rearview mirror. Twits, trying to look cool! They belong in ricers!

m325ix · 01-09-2002, 06:23 AM

if some dumb driver in an SUV with misaligned lights gets behind me and starts to blind and tail gate, I let him/her in front and turn my Hella550 projectors on... that lesson has yet to fail

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

You guys are brutal. I agree with GeorgeK, using the headlights in the fog are worse than nothing - that is why you use the foglights. dahh

patalive · 01-09-2002, 07:06 AM

You are correct, vesnyder; fog lights should be used when there is fog. They are also helpful on dark, narrow country roads where they do a good job lighting up the edge of the road.
-
I am talking about the other 95 percent of the time - in town, on the Interstates, etc., on clear nights. There is absolutely no need to run fogs - - As I said, these twits think it looks cool. Wrong, they look like ricers!

rob911 · rob911's Garage

Ditto patalive

I agree that Fog lights WITHOUT headlights have their uses, however I never find them especially useful.

Sometimes do find them handy on dark country roads, but only to show where the edge of the road is.

Good fun though.

daz911 · 01-09-2002, 10:09 AM

Here in the U.K. a guy I know was stopped by police for driving with side lights and fog's on when there was no fog ! He was just trying to look cool - ricer!!!

I like your style m325ix - I'm gonna try it next time !

nhromyak · nhromyak's Garage

Sheesh,

OK, there IS an easy way to do this....

There is a lead from the Fog light switch that gets its power from the one of the headlight fuses. Move this wire to the running light fuses... Voila' Now the fog lights work with only the running lights on.

No worries about power vs relay, as this power from the headlight only powers the on/off ability of the relay for the fogs, not the actual lights for the fogs
Hope I am clear.... LMK if not.

Let the FLAMES begin!

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

Now I've realized that the fog lights go off when I put the high beams on. I cannot imagine it was designed to work that way?

nhromyak · nhromyak's Garage

I believe it is this way for the U.S.

My g/fs Mustang is this way. The fogs only work with the headlights, not high-beams, not running lights.

Have FUN!

Nickshu · Nickshu's Garage

Vance,

It is a US Dept of Transportation law that all vehicles fitted with fog/driving lights must be wired such that they go off when the highbeams are turned on. All production cars with factory fog lights (within about the last 25 years anyway) should be like this.

If you buy fog lights to install, the instructions will inform you of this...albeit ignored by many.

This is why I get annoyed when people flash me thinking I have my highbeams on when my fogs are clearly on. I guess I cant expect everyone to be up to the automotive intellegence standards of the Pelicanheads!

Nick.

Jack Olsen · 01-09-2002, 05:44 PM

My 98 Jaguar works the same way. Foglights only work with the headlights on, and switch off automatically when the high beams are engaged. There must be some reasoning behind this -- but whatever it is escapes me.

Doug Zielke · 08:49 PM

Thank you, Nick, for your wiring tip!
You cut through all the crap and answered vesnyder's and my question.

Ricers? Bahh!
The reason I want to have my fogs on without the headlights is simple. I want daytime running lights ( as a motorcyclist, I believe in daytime running lights), but do not want to burn my expensive and very bright Xenon/Halogen H-4's needlessly.