Subaru Has the Fog Lights Wrong

[Bob]

2005 Subaru OBW, L.L. Bean edition.

Unless I am reading the manual wrong or doing something else wrong, I
believe that the Subaru engineers have made a serious mistake with their
fog light.

On my Subaru, it appears to be not possible to turn on the fog lights
UNLESS the full headlights (not the full-time running lights) are turned
on.

This is ridiculous!! Anyone who has experience driving in serious
fog understands that using your headlights under such circumstances is
flat wrong. In a thick fog, the tiny suspended water droplets reflect
the light from the headlights right back at you and, far from providing
better visibility, blind you and make it even more difficult to drive.

Those fog lights are down low for a reason. In a serious fog, all
you will be able to see is one lane marker out. You creep along waiting
for the next lane marker to come into view. Driving does not get more
frightening than this. (And please, lets not have any jerks saying you
shouldn't be driving under such conditions. You can be driving along
and suddenly find yourself in just such a fog with no warning.)

I drove for three years in Belgium and once or twice was caught in
such a fog and was able to drive safely only by slowing waaay down,
turning off my headlights, turning my fog lights on and creeping along.
I would NOT have been able to proceed to the next exit to get off the
road without those properly designed (i.e., not to bd used with the
headlilghts on) fog lights.

Can anyone turn on their Subaru fog lights w/o turning on their
headlights???

Thanks,
bob

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

2005 Subaru OBW, L.L. Bean edition.

Unless I am reading the manual wrong or doing something else wrong, I
believe that the Subaru engineers have made a serious mistake with their
fog light.

On my Subaru, it appears to be not possible to turn on the fog lights
UNLESS the full headlights (not the full-time running lights) are turned
on.

This is ridiculous!! Anyone who has experience driving in serious
fog understands that using your headlights under such circumstances is
flat wrong. In a thick fog, the tiny suspended water droplets reflect
the light from the headlights right back at you and, far from providing
better visibility, blind you and make it even more difficult to drive.

Those fog lights are down low for a reason. In a serious fog, all
you will be able to see is one lane marker out. You creep along waiting
for the next lane marker to come into view. Driving does not get more
frightening than this. (And please, lets not have any jerks saying you
shouldn't be driving under such conditions. You can be driving along
and suddenly find yourself in just such a fog with no warning.)

I drove for three years in Belgium and once or twice was caught in
such a fog and was able to drive safely only by slowing waaay down,
turning off my headlights, turning my fog lights on and creeping along.
I would NOT have been able to proceed to the next exit to get off the
road without those properly designed (i.e., not to bd used with the
headlilghts on) fog lights.

Can anyone turn on their Subaru fog lights w/o turning on their
headlights???

Thanks,
bob

The fogs will go off if you engage the headlight high beams. Low beams
with fogs seem OK to me. perhaps your lows are adjusted too high?

This might be an option, have the fog relay rewired to the stupid
parking light button on top of the steering column.

Carl

 

[Michael Pardee]

The fogs will go off if you engage the headlight high beams. Low beams
with fogs seem OK to me. perhaps your lows are adjusted too high?

This might be an option, have the fog relay rewired to the stupid parking
light button on top of the steering column.

Carl

It sounds like the complaint is that it is not possible to have the fogs on
at all unless the headlights are also on. I agree - that completely defeats
the purpose of fog lights. It just gives the driver a better view of the fog
or snow. If you can stand to have the headlights on at all, you don't really
need fog lights.

Mike

 

[nothermark]

It sounds like the complaint is that it is not possible to have the fogs on
at all unless the headlights are also on. I agree - that completely defeats
the purpose of fog lights. It just gives the driver a better view of the fog
or snow. If you can stand to have the headlights on at all, you don't really
need fog lights.

Mike

OTOH it might be a legal requirement.

 

[mark jb]

On my Subaru, it appears to be not possible to turn on the fog lights

UNLESS the full headlights (not the full-time running lights) are turned
on.

Every subie w/fogs I've seen only need the parking lights on, not the low
beams.

as for carl, my forester doesn't kill the fogs on high beam.

-mark

 

[Paul]

Can anyone turn on their Subaru fog lights w/o turning on their
headlights???

One problem is Daytime Running Lights, which force your low beams on
whenever you're moving (though at reduced intensity).

There is plenty of information on the net on both how to disable the DRL
and turn your fogs on whenever you want them.

Search "Disable DRL" and "Fog mod" on nasioc.com or ScoobyMods.com.

 

[Michael Pardee]

OTOH it might be a legal requirement.

It might be... although it would be a pretty stupid requirement. Not that
being stupid ever got in the way of any law... ;-)

The last time I *really* wished I had fog lights was in my work truck on a
mountain road in dense fog late at night. I tried headlights (white out) and
no headlights (pitch black) and finally decided on headlights, but it was a
close call. One way I could see only white, the other way I could see only
black. I just put it in compound low and idled with a foot on the clutch and
one on the brake so I could stop quickly when a wheel went off the side.

Mike

 

[y_p_w]

Every subie w/fogs I've seen only need the parking lights on, not the low
beams.

Just went to the garage and tried it out on my 2004 WRX. Fog lamp
button on. Parking lights only yielded no fogs. Full headlights
and the fogs turned on. High-beams, and the fogs turned off.
Seems pretty normal for a factory fog lamp setup to me.

 

[Cam Penner]

It might be... although it would be a pretty stupid requirement. Not that
being stupid ever got in the way of any law... ;-)

Here, it's legal to have just fogs (and running lights),
but I've yet to see a car from the manufacturer that
permits it.

http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/M/MotorVehicle/26_58/26
_58-01.htm#section4-11

 

[y_p_w]

2005 Subaru OBW, L.L. Bean edition.

Unless I am reading the manual wrong or doing something else wrong, I
believe that the Subaru engineers have made a serious mistake with their
fog light.

No mistake.

On my Subaru, it appears to be not possible to turn on the fog lights
UNLESS the full headlights (not the full-time running lights) are turned
on.

Pretty much mandated by local regulations. I can't think of any
factor setup for sale in North America that doesn't do that. All
manufacturers would design the lighting system to be legal anywhere
where it might be used.

This is ridiculous!! Anyone who has experience driving in serious
fog understands that using your headlights under such circumstances is
flat wrong. In a thick fog, the tiny suspended water droplets reflect
the light from the headlights right back at you and, far from providing
better visibility, blind you and make it even more difficult to drive.

Haven driven in some of the nastiest Tule Fog imaginable, I still
think that having low beams on is important. If all I had were
the fogs on, there's no way any oncoming traffic would be able
to reasonably see me.

Those fog lights are down low for a reason. In a serious fog, all
you will be able to see is one lane marker out. You creep along waiting
for the next lane marker to come into view. Driving does not get more
frightening than this. (And please, lets not have any jerks saying you
shouldn't be driving under such conditions. You can be driving along
and suddenly find yourself in just such a fog with no warning.)

No - but at least slow down for the given conditions. Some fog lamps
are poorly designed and would suck mightily if you want to use them
alone. Apparently there's no decent regulations regarding the
aiming of fog lamps in the US. Check out the following:

I drove for three years in Belgium and once or twice was caught in
such a fog and was able to drive safely only by slowing waaay down,
turning off my headlights, turning my fog lights on and creeping along.
I would NOT have been able to proceed to the next exit to get off the
road without those properly designed (i.e., not to bd used with the
headlilghts on) fog lights.

Apparently European fog lamps must meet standards that just don't
exist in the US.

Can anyone turn on their Subaru fog lights w/o turning on their
headlights???

Maybe an aftermarket setup with a separate switch.

 

[_]

2005 Subaru OBW, L.L. Bean edition.

Unless I am reading the manual wrong or doing something else wrong, I
believe that the Subaru engineers have made a serious mistake with their
fog light.

On my Subaru, it appears to be not possible to turn on the fog lights
UNLESS the full headlights (not the full-time running lights) are turned
on.

This is ridiculous!! Anyone who has experience driving in serious
fog understands that using your headlights under such circumstances is
flat wrong. In a thick fog, the tiny suspended water droplets reflect
the light from the headlights right back at you and, far from providing
better visibility, blind you and make it even more difficult to drive.

Those fog lights are down low for a reason. In a serious fog, all
you will be able to see is one lane marker out. You creep along waiting
for the next lane marker to come into view. Driving does not get more
frightening than this. (And please, lets not have any jerks saying you
shouldn't be driving under such conditions. You can be driving along
and suddenly find yourself in just such a fog with no warning.)

I drove for three years in Belgium and once or twice was caught in
such a fog and was able to drive safely only by slowing waaay down,
turning off my headlights, turning my fog lights on and creeping along.
I would NOT have been able to proceed to the next exit to get off the
road without those properly designed (i.e., not to bd used with the
headlilghts on) fog lights.

Can anyone turn on their Subaru fog lights w/o turning on their
headlights???

Get a couple of towels and hang them over the headlights, held by
the hood. Pick the right towel and oncoming traffic will still
see them.

 

[Nobody]

OTOH it might be a legal requirement.

certainly in UK - fogs must go off on main beam and can only be in
conjuction with driving lamps (dipped beam) - My scooby will allow just
fogs but it upsets Mr Plod

Nobody

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men
stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

 

[R. Gerard]

Just went to the garage and tried it out on my 2004 WRX. Fog lamp
button on. Parking lights only yielded no fogs. Full headlights
and the fogs turned on. High-beams, and the fogs turned off.
Seems pretty normal for a factory fog lamp setup to me.

I politely disagree. My other car is a 13-year old BMW. You have
the option to use fog lights with no headlights or fog lights with
headlights. The choice is yours. bob

 

[R. Gerard]

This might be an option, have the fog relay rewired to the stupid
parking light button on top of the steering column.

You know...if I lived in a heavy fog area this is exactly what I'd
do. What a clever idea for that silly button! bob

 

[R. Gerard]

It sounds like the complaint is that it is not possible to have the fogs on
at all unless the headlights are also on. I agree - that completely defeats
the purpose of fog lights. It just gives the driver a better view of the fog
or snow. If you can stand to have the headlights on at all, you don't really
need fog lights.

Mike

Crikey! At last! Someone who understands how fog lights are
supposed to work. As opposed to those inconsiderate jerks in the SUV
behemoths who feel they have to have every light on their boats
illuminated. The "I paid for 'em, I'm going to use 'em!" attitude,
despite the fact that it blinds every oncoming driver. bob

 

[R. Gerard]

OTOH it might be a legal requirement.

Nope. Or BMW would not be allowed to sell cars in the U.S. that
provide for the use of fog lights without headlights being on. bob

 

[R. Gerard]

Cam Penner

Here, it's legal to have just fogs (and running lights),
but I've yet to see a car from the manufacturer that
permits it.

Try any BMW. The all offer the choice of using your fog lights W/O
headlights being on. bob

 

[Paul]

Try any BMW. The all offer the choice of using your fog lights W/O
headlights being on. bob

I'm sure BMW is subject to Daytime Running Lights laws just like
everyone else.

 

[Michael Pardee]

Haven driven in some of the nastiest Tule Fog imaginable, I still
think that having low beams on is important. If all I had were
the fogs on, there's no way any oncoming traffic would be able
to reasonably see me.

If I'm on the road and fog is that bad, I am just looking for a place to get
off the road. Since the golden rule for driving in fog is to keep the speed
down to where you can stop in the distance you can clearly see, fog lights
provide all the light you need (unless the fog is so light you don't need
fogs at all). "When driving in fog, remember that occasionally twisted
masses of steel and terrified humanity can hurtle out at you at the same
speed you are driving." - my driving instructor.

Mike

 

[CompUser]

Just went to the garage and tried it out on my 2004 WRX. Fog lamp
button on. Parking lights only yielded no fogs. Full headlights
and the fogs turned on. High-beams, and the fogs turned off.
Seems pretty normal for a factory fog lamp setup to me.

It is, for a Stateside model.

Fog comes worse in Europe...a LOT worse.