Modifying OEM Fog Lights On-Off Settings

[methodtim]

Originally Posted by flymuck

The other day I was really freaked and saddened by the fact that I'd been driving with my high-beams on (my significant other had used the car the night before -- I never leave them on when I turn off the car, in case I don't notice that they're on next time I put the lights on). I saw the blue light in the dash, but for some reason (probably because I've been working 12-hour days, and am physically and mentally drained) I thought it was just the "your lights are on" lights. No one across the road flashed me... it wasn't until someone waved at me when they turned off in front of me that I realized it... and I felt so bad! I never do stuff like that... well, ok, *almost* never, apparently...

That happened to me in the truck before as well. I didn't realize that when you push the "multi-function column" foward, it turns your high-beams constantly (I know I should have noticed, Toyotas have been like that forever and I've owned a few) and I was just tired or zonked and didn't even notice my high beams were on until I got home from a 45 mile drive one night. Doh!

[Ultra-HOG]

Uh oh, this thread struck a nerve.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong, but I believe that most states DOT driver’s manuals will agree...



1) FOG lights are to be used when there is FOG present or when conditions warrant their use to provide additional light to the front side of the vehicle which will help the driver to see the white FOG line on the side of the road or lane. Fog lights have a wide low pattern that projects light primarily to the (front) side of the vehicle and immediately in front of the vehicle, much more so than the standard low beam headlights. Driving lights have just the opposite pattern and are intended to put additional light far ahead of the vehicle, beyond the normal reach of the high beams. They do not put additional light to the side of the vehicle. Most states require that the low beams must be on when the Fog lights are on. Unfortunately, whoever wrote that law and wired vehicles so that fog lights can not be on when only the "parking" lights are on has never gotten caught by surprise and driven in the mountains in fog that is so thick that it is difficult to see anything with the headlights on. Pennsylvania requires the low beams to be on when the fog lights are on. I will admit that there are times that I turn mine on when there is no fog. I keep my finger on the off button and turn them off as soon as I identify anything moving ahead. Those times are when deer are a particularly high threat (dusk and dawn when they are in the Rut), and when driving on dark unlit side streets in this college town. Students tend to walk, run or ride anything with wheels, in unpredictable ways, usually while talking on their cell phone or listening to their iPod and are generally completely oblivious to the world around them. The fog lights do light up sneakers pretty well at night.

I find it annoying to have a vehicle coming toward me with their FOG lights on when there is no need for them to be on. It is particularly annoying on dark narrow roads. The effect is very similar when someone is behind me with their G*# D&!@ FOG lights on and there ain't no G*# D&!@ FOG!

It is FAR WORSE on a motorcycle. It is really miserable (and dangerous) when it is raining and someone has their fog lights on. Bikes don't have windshield wipers. Every drop of water (or bug, or scratch) on your glasses or face shield lights up like a flashlight shining in your eyes. For those that don’t ride motorcycles, please give us a break. Please turn you fog lights off when you see a motorcycle approaching or when you are behind one, even if it is not raining. The same thing can be said, to a lesser extent, for cars with dirty, scratched or broken windshields, or simply have old worn out windshield wipers. Your fog lights do not help me to see better. They blind me! When we are that close to each other, your FOG light are not helping you either.

The bottom line is, please leave your fog lights off when they are not actually needed. When they are on, please be considerate of others and turn them off when there are other people within sight.



2) Who drives with their parking lights on? Are ya savin' electricity? They are called "Parking" lights for a reason. If there is a need for "Parking" lights, there is a need for headlights. In most states it is a ticketable offense to drive while parking, I mean to drive with only the parking lights on. At dawn and at dusk, our eyes have the greatest difficulty with determining distance and closing speeds of approaching vehicles due to the limited depth of field that our eyes have in very low light conditions. Headlights help, parking lights are confusing because they tend to blend into the background. Parking lights can easily be confused with headlights that are a greater distance away and are traveling at a much slower rate.



3) Fog lights can be wired to turn on when only the parking lights are on, but do so at your own risk – of a ticket. It is a fairly simple thing to do. It still may be worth doing if you find that you get caught in very thick fog from time to time. Just be aware.



I would love to see a law that required fog lights to turn off and stay off when the vehicle is turned off. They should have to be turned on manually each time that they are needed and not come on every time that the headlights are turned on. If all vehicles were wired that way, we really would be saving electricity – and gas – but that is the topic for another thread! (Oh please, not again!)

[Lingered_I]

Simple rule of thumb - fog lamps should only be used when visibility is less than 300ft. That gives you just under twice the braking distance from 50mph that you would normally need should something appear in front of you. If you're driving at more than 50mph when visibility is less then 300ft then you derserve all that's coming to you. And if you can clearly see another vehicle in front of you, you should turn off your fog lamps because they can surely see you too.

[RivaDragon]

SixOpRidge, look at my rear window.

[SixOpRidge]

Originally Posted by captmiddy

I don't think that statue is meant for fog lights. It would never make sense to have fog lights on when you have your headlights on high beam. In fact turning on high beams during fog can blind you to things around you as the light reflects off the fog. There is likely another one intended for fog lights. I know somewhere around here that fog lights are illegal if there isn't fog or reduced visibility caused by mist. They tend to be pretty bright and can blind on coming traffic if used on a clear day/night. I see people with their fog lights on all the time and want to smack them because it certainly makes it hard for others to see and doesn't really improve their visibility. I also believe that the law there requires that your lights be on. I haven't checked with Mass law since I don't have fog lights and it isn't really a concern for me right now.

I just searched a little more but didn't come across anything referring to fog lights. But you're probably right...it doesn't make sense to have the high beam and fog lights on simultaneously. I tried this last night and the fog lights automatically turn off when high beams are on. I'll just leave things as they are since I try my best not to break any laws intentionally

-SixOpRidge

[SixOpRidge]

Originally Posted by RivaDragon

SixOpRidge, look at my rear window.

Sweet! I thought I saw a photo of your truck with the Autobot logo some time ago, but totally forgot about it. I had the Autobot sticker (color) on my '91 Blazer before I sold it, and have been meaning to apply my Decepticon sticker on the rear-center window for awhile. I may just do that and post a pic

I used to be an avid collector of all kinds of Japanese toys but had to put it on the back burner ever since we bought our first house...then a new RL. If you want to know how much of a geek I was, check out this link: http://mykooltoyz.tripod.com.

-SixOpRidge

[celler]

I have no comment on the legality of this, but I used these instructions to modify the foglights I installed on our 2002 Odyssey. Worked like a charm. I have no idea whether these insructions are compatible with the foglight wiring harness on the Ridgeline. Maybe someone can try it and let us know.

Craig.