Lets Talk FOG Lights

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Oct 25, 2002 | 08:01 PM

XJeepGuy

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From: Okanagan BC

Lets Talk FOG Lights

I drive to work every morning at 4:00 AM and with the onset of Fall it sure is getting foggy on the way to work . I mean FOGGY !

Do fog lights actually work well ? This morning I bet I couldnt see much farther than 20 feet in front of me , thats poor visibility !
This is on the main Highway too

Any of you have any suggestions , brands you use/used ? What are your experiences with them ? Good , bad ?

Thanks !!

Jeff

Oct 26, 2002 | 11:08 AM

kspilkinton

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From: South Kitsap County, WA

Lets Talk FOG Lights

Know what you mean, Jeff. All week it's been a sea of pea soup.

When I had the '82, I had bolted up a pair of "Baja" brand amber fog lamps. It really didn't improve visability greatly, especially if you aimed them straight ahead with the head lights. The light reflects right back at you from the fog, makes visability worse. If you aimed them at an angle, greater than your head lights, towards the ground it made seeing the lines a little bit easier. I still couldn't see too great, but then again it's fog. I end up leaving a few minutes early anyway, since the number of wrecks seem to go up in that kind of weather. The '00 has factory fog lights, it's aimed from the factory. I still don't see a great improvement in driving visability, but somehow it annoys the other drivers I'm behind...

I tend to get a "finger" from people I pull up behind when I have them on.
I await to see what tips others have for you. I wouldn't mind using them myself.

-Kerry

Oct 26, 2002 | 12:23 PM

XJeepGuy

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From: Okanagan BC

Lets Talk FOG Lights

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Oct-02 AT 01:25 PM (EST)]Kerry

I do have one intersting observation to share . There is about 600 feet in between the east and west bound freeway lanes where I drive .
I have seen a couple vehicles coming in the opposite direction running ( what looks like hi power) foglamps . They are very noticable ! The trucks/cars with only headlights are a dim glow in the fog . Now the ones with the foglights , I can see enough to tell that they do NOT have thier head lights on with the foglamps . Only fog lights . I tried the Baja ones too , years ago and didnt notice much of a diff . Maybe today I`ll go out and shop around and see whats out there . I dont mind dropping a 100 bucks on a good pair if they will work . I`ll keep you updated .

Jeff

PS. My 80 F250 has about 45,000 miles on it so it should be good for
the next 20 years

FORD !

Oct 26, 2002 | 11:30 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Lets Talk FOG Lights

I don't know where you live, but in my state it is illegal to wire the foglamps up so they can run by themselves. They have to work only when the low beams are on, and go off when the high beams are lit. It won't pass inspection here if it's any other way.

Oct 27, 2002 | 07:22 AM

Whitey078

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From: usa

Lets Talk FOG Lights

illegal? are you sure?

my corvette came from the FACTORY like that. you dont' need your headlights on. but you DO need to have the parking lights on. you live in astrange state thatdoens't tell the manufacturers of cars about these rules, as most say that you canhav eno more than 4 foward facing lights. my fog do not go off whne you put the high-beams on either. perhaps this is a new anti-rice law or some such thing

Oct 27, 2002 | 10:01 AM

restorit

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From: Bismarck, ND

Lets Talk FOG Lights

We may be confusing driving lights with fog lights, here, also. franklin2 is right..... a number of states have the law requiring fog lights to be on with low beams only, though I'm not sure of whether it's specified that they can be on with the parking lights. The concern is safety, and the respective states don't want someone blinding everyone else on the road with high beams and fog lights. I had a Grand Am that would allow the driving / fog lamps to be on with parking lights and/or low beams, but they'd switch off with high beams. It is worth checking into the local laws, though..... I'm aware that some have specified that fog lights need to be mounted below bumper height, where some will allow driving lights to be no higher than headlight height. And, I believe, off-road lights are pretty much out of the question in most states, and must be covered for on-road travel. Definitely worth your time to check things out.

Oct 27, 2002 | 12:40 PM

electricmaniac2

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From: Jacksonville, FL

Lets Talk FOG Lights

The fog lights you were asking about are called H.I.D. High intensidy discharge. they are about $800 for the average headlight kit, and are illegal unless your vehicle had them as a factory option...another thing they could be is some of those "projector" lights made by pilot and a few other manufacturers. and they don't get mounted high either(brush guard...etc). True "Fog" lights are to be mounted as low to the ground as possible and illuminate along the ground under the fog. not exactly possible on a regularly used 4x4...LOL Good luck driving blind!