Has anyone had any luck figuring out how we could use fog lights in either stock mode or with parking lights only? I can think of a way to do it without headlights* but not with the option of either. Fog lights are controlled via the mutiplex control unit so any mod would have to occur I think out at the lights themselves - not in the control area prior to the relay.

* using a 15 amp normally closed relay on each ground (black) lead from the headlight units - then have the 12v (+) going to the fog lights hold the relays in the open position when the fog lights are on.

 

What!? :smackhead :lol1:

 

good question.

 

I thought I was the only one that wondered this. I actually only use my fog lights in the fog, and have found them to be mostly useless (like all other fog lights on cars these days) since the headlights need to stay on. I guess I'm taking the phrase "fog lights" to be too literal these days...

 

I also thought true "FOG" lights were yellow. Most cars, IMO, have driving lights.

 

Exactly. When my parents had a "family truckster" back in the day, it had real fog lights. Yellow ones that could be turned on/off independently of the regular headlights. Plus, they actually worked at helping you see better in the fog.

 

i just asked this question in a new thread. hopefully someone knows what can be done and is willing to share.

 

No way to do it but they should be useful. Fog lights, by definition, are pointed at the ground so as not to reflect off of the fog causing poor visibility...kinda like what it looks like when you put your high beams on in the fog...come on, you know you always try it just to see if it improves the view

It would stand to reason that you should be able to use them without your regular beams. I think there are a couple main reasons for this.

First, it is typically foggy early morning or late at night when you should have your lights on (not just fog lights)

Second, I thought there was some type of government issue with this. I believe Canadian cars used to allow fog lights without normal lights on and their accident rates went up because people forgot to turn their headlights on and caused more accidents. I may be wrong but thought I read something about this a few years back.

 

Isn't it illegal to drive around with ONLY fog lights and no headlights when it is dark out? I think it should be if it is not and feel like smacking people who do that and cause accidents and risk other peoples lives because they think they are "cool".

 

i dont think so.... yea, i realilized that it doesnt seem logical for you to hav something as powerful lik our his in the fog with a fog light...

 

If I remember correctly, California has a law that states fogs can only come on when the head lights are on.

Thanks Cali for anouther useless law!

BTW - I had figured a way to do it, but never got a chance before I gave up the car, and the svc manual, if someone is willing to send me the wiring diagrams for the fogs and head lights I would be willing to see where you need to make the changes.

Only thing I remember is that we have to be careful and do it on the output of the computer controler for the fogs (bypass it) if you do it inside the cabin like the 2nd gen, you could screw up other things.

PM me if you have the drawings that can be send electronically.

Once I figure it out, I will post instructions for connection points at your own risk.

 

I could turn on fog lights (w/o headlights) on my 5 series. when you cut on the foglihts it just illuminated the "rings" around the headlights (but not the actual headlights) and the foglights looked nice like this. i do miss that feature. i miss those rings and BMW xenons and foglights looked so nice..... oh the little things.

 

Just to add for California and its weird laws, cars are now required to turn on their headlights in bad weather or face a warning or fine, this law was introduced for the new year 2005.

 

Weird???? That's one of the smartest things they have done in a long time. Anyway, it's probably a precursor to DRLs.

 

Well I turn on my lights, i wasn't thinking when i was writing the post. I meant to post it since we were talkin about lights anyway. =D

 

Yeah, my last car had DRLs and I am kinda used to them.

 

[QUOTE=fishacura]No way to do it but they should be useful. Fog lights, by definition, are pointed at the ground so as not to reflect off of the fog causing poor visibility...kinda like what it looks like when you put your high beams on in the fog...come on, you know you always try it just to see if it improves the view



Actually it DOES improve your view... meaning that you can see farther down the road. The problem is that you ALSO get a lot more reflection which will become very tiring to your eyes quickly... try it yourself (when nobody is coming) and see for yourself!!

 

Many states already have required this for a number of years in the north east, doesn't mean that people do it (the requirement is if the wipers are on, the headlights also have to be on).

 

New law in Missouri that if your wipers are on your headlights should be on. Local news said the police are not enforcing it. $10 fine if you get caught !

 

u can do it..but it would be dificult on out TL becouse the switch is in the actual headlight switch...what u would have to do is find the power wire from that switch that goes to the fogs, run a wire from the radio's positive or anything that only goes on when car is on and connect them with a switch in b/w...or u can run it straight to the battery to run em with ignition off...i did this on my Integra, expedition n a buddy's mustang....hope this helped

 

you guys can't turn your fogs on without turning on your headlights too???

Still not a huge fan on the integrated fog lights... Fog lights should be below the headlights IMO...

Maybe check out the wiring diagram for your stalk...I think that's where I'd have to change it on my TSX...

 

I don't think you guys realize this, but our fogs DO points DOWN and OUT. THey are not straight like our HIDs...

 

I knew that, but I still don't like them integrated... along with the headlights...

 

on a looks perspective, I hear you, but functionalitywise, they work the same

 

On my 2K maxima you just cut the power lead at the fog light relay and run a wire from the relay to the parking lamp positive wire, (splice in). this now will allow power to be fed to the fog lamps when the light switch is in the parking lamp on position.

i don't know if it is more complicated than this on the TL because i haven't looked at it as yet. i keep reading that there is some sort of computer control on the TL fogs so i don't want to do anything until i can get someone to chime in who might have more knowledge. anyone here know anything about this?

 

Wouldn't this make it so everytime you had your parking lights on your fog lights would turn on. and there would be no way to have your parking lights on with your fog lights off. Maybe im wrong but if im not....

 

you are wrong. this allows the separate switch for the fogs, just as there is on the TL, to have power while the headlight switch is in the parking light - on -position. you still control the fog lights with the separate switch but now you can turn them on with only the parking lights.

 

I think PTN has it right, I mean all the fogs are is a switched light, with a pos and neg, the pos just happens to be connected to a relay, wire the pos end to another pos source, put a switch in the middle, problem solved, you just have to trace the wire to the actual fog switch on the stalk off the steering wheel, which I'm sure the FSM would show you a wiring diagram, basically you just have to bypass the relay. One of the EEs here on the site could help you, need4speed, cvajs (i think) or our Master of all Information, Road Rage

 

again, the only problem here is the computer contol module that you better not mess with unless u know what you're doin.