Fog light issue
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
Anyone ever run into a problems with the high beam foglight mod during a state inspection? The mod would be illegal in my state because highs count as 4. Years ago my dad had his fogs wired to a switch on the dash. he took the truck in for inspection and the garage rewired it so the fog lights didn't come on with the highs. They wouldn't have past it the way it was.
.I don't know about other states, but I think CA has a 150W limit for lighting on the road. 55W each for the low beams and the fogs are 20W each making the legal limit. High beams are higher so the fogs will put the light output over the legal limit for public roads. That is why the fogs are defeated with high beams on.
There are wiring mods (as well as kits) so that you can high- and low-beams on at the same time. There is also a wire you can cut to have the fogs on with the high beams. There are also headlight bulbs you can buy that fit in your fogs to make them brighter. All of these mods, of course, are at your own risk.
If you are interested in increasing your headlight output, I use this GOS headlight harness (http://www.gosracing.com/fd_acc). That and a couple of Sylvania Silverstars and I can actually see at night when I drive now!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
High beams count as 4 lights in my state and only 4 headlights/foglights allowed on. Lows are 2, fog lights are 2. I might just get that harness, thanks for the link. To be honest I don't do a big amount of night driving but I did upgrade to Silverstar Ultra bulbs which helped because the bulbs throw a lot whiter light. My 04' came with the crystal clear lenses which help a bit.
My trucks in for inspection today. The inspection fee is like $30 or so which I have no problem with its the emission inspections I have problems with. They charge like $35-$40 just for emissions inspection which is basically a visual of the cat,testing the gas cap and a sticker, thats it. The real ripoff is if you say have a 7.3l diesel and are exempt from emissions inspection, but they still charge you a $20-$25 or so fee for vehicles that are exempt. Its a ripoff.
My trucks in for inspection today. The inspection fee is like $30 or so which I have no problem with its the emission inspections I have problems with. They charge like $35-$40 just for emissions inspection which is basically a visual of the cat,testing the gas cap and a sticker, thats it. The real ripoff is if you say have a 7.3l diesel and are exempt from emissions inspection, but they still charge you a $20-$25 or so fee for vehicles that are exempt. Its a ripoff.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
I can only imagine what CA is going to be like when they start emissions testing on engines that were not required or designed to be fully compliant...and how much that is going to cost me!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,672
Likes: 367
From: Fallon,NV & Bainbridge OH
Brian, CA has no wattage limit in the vehicle code but like DKF's home state there is a illuminated light limit. CA is also 4 lamps to the front, but in CA high and lows count as one no matter if they are seperate light or one as on our trucks. So in CA you can have headlights and two additional light on.
