Legacy Lights

[Alan Pollard]

I have an '03 Legacy L SE Wagon which comes with factory installed
driving ("fog") lights (although smaller than those on OBW). I've
noticed that when I switch my headlamps to high beam, the fog lights
switch out, and come back on when I dip them. Any one know why they
behave like this ?

It may just be my perception, but to me their aim fills in the
immediate foreground that the headlamps on either setting don't cover,
which is nice on Connecticut backroads to illuminate suicidal opossums
or the like which amble on to the road just in front of you!

 

[Alan]

The idea behind fog lamps is that they are pointed low to the gound so as to
not "light up" the fog. If you are driving in fog, you would never use your
high beams, as they would only serve to light up the fog more, making a
"white out" kind of condition. Sooo... if you reverse the logic, if you have
your high beams on, you must not be driving in fog, so you don't need the
fog lamps. It's a "feature", along the lines of that dangerous "parking
lights" switch.

 

[y_p_w]

I have an '03 Legacy L SE Wagon which comes with factory installed
driving ("fog") lights (although smaller than those on OBW). I've
noticed that when I switch my headlamps to high beam, the fog lights
switch out, and come back on when I dip them. Any one know why they
behave like this ?

It may just be my perception, but to me their aim fills in the
immediate foreground that the headlamps on either setting don't cover,
which is nice on Connecticut backroads to illuminate suicidal opossums
or the like which amble on to the road just in front of you!

Still - fog lamps are mostly useless unless you're travelling at
low speeds, or there's heavy fog (to improve visibility). I live
in a hilly area, and it ticks me off to no end when I get blinded
by someone's fog lamps pointed straight at my windshield as
they're cresting a hill. Fog lamps are usually very concentrated.

Most fog lamps are misused. Some states (and most European
countries) have restrictions on the conditions that fog lamps can
be used in.

 

[null]

I brought up this topic on my 2002 Sedan and the answer has been pretty
much the same.
The fog lights as fog lights to me have been useless as the low beams give
too much light bounce back.
Especially during moderate snowfall. I think I've had mine on maybe 6
times since I bought the car.

I've found that driving with the switch set to parking so that my
indicator lights are on and the DRL
is on at 80% works far better and produces almost no light bounce back.

One of the other reasons I believe they turn off when the high beams are
on is due to state laws. I believe
some states make it illegal to drive with both fog lights and highbeams
on. I'm still investigating this
although I did just find that DRL are not headlights and are not
considered such for wipers on lights on laws
and nightime driving.

 

[Jack Gavin]

One of the other reasons I believe they [foglights] turn off when the high beams
are on is due to state laws. I believe
some states make it illegal to drive with both fog lights and
highbeams on. I'm still investigating this

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/aqm/eim99dmvp.doc, page 56:

1. Fog lights are auxiliary driving lights which may be used with the low
beam headlights to provide general illumination ahead of a motor vehicle.
A fog light shall be white, yellow, or amber in color. Approved fog lights
shall meet the requirements of SAE J-583d.

 

[Bill Radio]

Yes, the fog lights are wired that way to conform to all state laws. We use
them here to see in snow storms and are a great asset. However, they are
completely different than driving lights. The foglight beam is set to
spread a wide illumination from left curb to right curb with no forward
focus. I wired my first set of fog(snow) lights to their own switch, and
yes, they were vastly superior to the low beam combination. Manufacturers
cannot allow a position of "foglights-only" because (too many) American
drivers can't tell the difference. Some can't even tell they have NO lights
on in the city.

-Bill Radio

 

[John]

<snip>
Manufacturers
cannot allow a position of "foglights-only" because (too many) American
drivers can't tell the difference. Some can't even tell they have NO lights
on in the city.

Huh? The majority of Ford/GM cars/trucks/suvs made in the past few years
allow the fog lights to work independent of the low/high beams.

 

[Mohawk Jake]

AMEN!!! I live in a mountainous area, commute in darkness a good percentage
of the year in snow, and am constantly blinded by drivers who keep the "fog"
lights on all the time. The manufacturers don't help the situation since the
"on" switch does not cancel when the ignition is turned off. The situation
is worse from high standing pickups and SUV's.
Many years ago I lived in Europe for a few years. There, my fog lights were
switched independently and were effective, since there was no bounceback
from the low beams.
I've noticed that Chrysler pick ups can run with just their fog lights on.
Hello Subaru, are you listening?

 

[y_p_w]

AMEN!!! I live in a mountainous area, commute in darkness a good percentage
of the year in snow, and am constantly blinded by drivers who keep the "fog"
lights on all the time. The manufacturers don't help the situation since the
"on" switch does not cancel when the ignition is turned off. The situation
is worse from high standing pickups and SUV's.
Many years ago I lived in Europe for a few years. There, my fog lights were
switched independently and were effective, since there was no bounceback
from the low beams.
I've noticed that Chrysler pick ups can run with just their fog lights on.
Hello Subaru, are you listening?

I think that factory fog lamps can't turn on independently by US
federal regulations.

 

[TW-Ohio]

: Legacy Lights

From: y_p_w (e-mail address removed)
Date: 2/7/2004 1:02 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <ZK9Vb.15126$(e-mail address removed)>

I think that factory fog lamps can't turn on independently by US
federal regulations.

Correct. Ask D.Stern for the actual ID on which law it is, but it is not
legal to have foglights lit independently of low beams.
Terry - '02 Regatta-Red GT wagon 5spd - 25,000 miles
'03 Silver Legacy SE auto-sedan - 2450 miles
Yakima / TandeMover / Rockymount rack
To reply, get rid of the "nonsense"

 

[john cline ii]

:
| <snip>
| Manufacturers
| cannot allow a position of "foglights-only" because (too many)
American
| drivers can't tell the difference. Some can't even tell they have NO
lights
| on in the city.
|
| Huh? The majority of Ford/GM cars/trucks/suvs made in the past few
years
| allow the fog lights to work independent of the low/high beams.

Not to my knowledge. By independently, it is meant you could have ONLY
the foglights on, with NO headlights...

john cline ii, who agrees that with American drivers, this option would
not be a good thing....and with fogs having to have the headlights on
as well, the purpose is nearly defeated