Off Topic Fog lights when indicating

[Rackham115]

Been a burning question of mine for some time. I have noticed a lot of cars recently, mainly on VAGs and seen a few new punto evos too, when indicating, the foglight on the applied indicator side also comes on then goes off when the indicator is deactivated. Why is this?

That is all

 

[Andy Monty]

illuminate round corner great on unit roads pointless in town that said you stand out to oncoming traffic when turning right. they also come on under 25 ish mph when you apply more than half a turn

 

[Chrisoleil]

^^ exactly that.

Recently had a 12 plate Golf for a courtesy car and did that exact thing. It's useful for parallel parking (useful being generous) but that's about it. I always felt like an idiot with it as I swear people thought I had a fog light out.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Cornering lights, to help in dark situations, more of a hinderance than a help at times though. My Bravo has it, only one junction on regular journeys that I do where it comes in handy tbh.

 

[Ziggy122]

i dont mind a system that control the lights when cornering and dimming/brightening when indicating (makes you think wtf and look twice to notice he's indicating)

But we need a system to turn fricking peoples lights off when its NOT FOGGY and blinding everybody cause they've pointed them up

Ziggy

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

But we need a system to turn fricking peoples lights off when its NOT FOGGY and blinding everybody cause they've pointed them up

Agreed, simple soloution, all or nothing, people won't drive around with rears only on, so if wired up with one switch on new cars for both front and rear fogs I suspect the numbers driving around with them on will decrease.

 

[StevenRB45]

Agreed, simple soloution, all or nothing, people won't drive around with rears only on, so if wired up with one switch on new cars for both front and rear fogs I suspect the numbers driving around with them on will decrease.

Could help but IMO it also depends how well integrated they are into car as well on mine front fogs are nearly like an afterthought. The rear is on a stork with the lights and has a very large amber warning light in the rev counter. However as fogs are not fitted to every swift all I have for the fronts is switch with a light on it hidden beside keyhole it is more than possible to not notice the fronts are on.

 

[Adrian Bravo]

They look really stupid.

 

[Rackham115]

Thanks for all the replies guys, peace of mind at last!

 

[sludgeguts]

with mine, the fogs only come on with dipped lights. They turn off when the dips go off & have to be purposely switched back on.
Personally, I can't see the point of them as all they seem to do is light up the road a couple of feet in front of the car & the road to the sides just in front.
During recent foggy weather, all the cars coming towards me with their fogs on looked as though they had a white cloud stuck to their bumpers - as did mine when I switched them on.
The only time they seem to have any penetrative effect is on a perfectly clear day/night!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Personally, I can't see the point of them as all they seem to do is light up the road a couple of feet in front of the car & the road to the sides just in front.

That's exactly their point, to come on to show more of the road in the direction your turning.

SG I think you've done what I typically do and sped read the OP

 

[sludgeguts]

That's exactly their point, to come on to show more of the road in the direction your turning.

SG I think you've done what I typically do and sped read the OP

Ahh, but I'm from a diferent era. A time when fog lights were the domain of the retro-fit & after fitting them, you had to be on a long stretch of level road in order to adjust them so that the beams travelled almost parallel to the road's surface. In thick fog, you could see these beams illuminating the road surface quite a way ahead.
Modern fogs just seem to light up the bank of fog immediately in front & to the front sides of the car. the last few times I tried them in fog they didn't penetrate as much as my dipped.

In fact, the difference is in the fact that oncoming drivers can be dazzled by fogs in clear weather whereas with the old retro fits you would hardly notice unless the lights were ahead & almost at eye level.

If they are now designed as a turning/cornering aid - why even bother having them switched? I can, sort of, see the reasoning behind having them come on whilst turning - but then I wonder how the other 90% of drivers manage who don't have this facility?

 

[udtrev]

Down here is Sussex the muppets use them to compensate for blown headlamp bulbs :bang:

I saw one the other day that was just running on 1 foglight (no dips etc)

The bloody taxis are the worst culprits

 

[jameshobiecat]

I honestly think its time front fog lights were phased out. They are miss-used a thousand times for every time they are actually used when necessary and in my experience aren't all that helpfull in even the thickest fog. I suspect they are a hangover from days when ordinary headlights were much weaker than they are today.

Think of all the fuel that would be saved if you shed 5kg from almost every car on the road.

 

[Freebo]

Down here is Sussex the muppets use them to compensate for blown headlamp bulbs :bang:

I would honestly do that if the bulb had just gone while driving. Then I'd try and find a suitable place to stop and swap the bulb out

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I would honestly do that if the bulb had just gone while driving. Then I'd try and find a suitable place to stop and swap the bulb out

Ditto, but on a regular communte the smae vehicles always seem to do this, and never replace blown bulb(s). :bang:

 

[udtrev]

I keep spare bulbs for just the same thing,

 

[jameshobiecat]

Ditto, but on a regular communte the smae vehicles always seem to do this, and never replace blown bulb(s). :bang:

Try swapping a headlamp bulb on most modern cars in the dark, impossible! The previous Renault Megan is famous for the need to remove the wheel and wheel arch liner to access the bulb. Most aren't that bad but its not un-common to have to remove the airbox or un-clip and move a wiring loom. I don't think you can ask the average person to do that on their way home from work in the dark and the rain with cars rushing past at 70mph.

Despite my hatred of the things, I have temporarily resorted to the use of fog lamps to compensate for a blown headlight bulb. Only for a single journey mind, changed the bulb on my lunch break the next day.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Try swapping a headlamp bulb on most modern cars in the dark, impossible! The previous Renault Megan is famous for the need to remove the wheel and wheel arch liner to access the bulb. Most aren't that bad but its not un-common to have to remove the airbox or un-clip and move a wiring loom. I don't think you can ask the average person to do that on their way home from work in the dark and the rain with cars rushing past at 70mph.

Despite my hatred of the things, I have temporarily resorted to the use of fog lamps to compensate for a blown headlight bulb. Only for a single journey mind, changed the bulb on my lunch break the next day.

Having a Stilo and mk3 Panda I know what awkward bulb changes are :bang:

However what I was getting at is those which leave it weeks upon end which isn't really acceptable, but seems to be common practise

 

[sludgeguts]

I seem to remember someone telling me that on the continent, there is a legal requirement to carry a spare set of bulbs - and if you are caught driving with one out, they make you replace it there and then.
In which case, manufacturers who make these things nigh on impossible to replace should be made to send out a mechanic free of charge each time - they'll soon change their design.