A Word About the Fog Lights

[acecert]

For prospective and existing buyers I thought this post might be helpful. Most of us are used to seeing LEDs in the front lit for both the main lights and the fog lights. Although the Genesis is capable of doing this, by default the fog lights do not turn on automatically with the main lights and appear to have to be manually turned on when either the main light lamps are in the on position or in the auto position. When the main lamps turn off, the fog lights also go back to the off position.

The owners manual cautions use of the fog lights, unless necessary, due to the electrical drain on the motor. Somewhat disappointing from my perspective being that the 5.0 is the only model that comes with the fog lights and is part of that model when most cars with LEDs in the front operate jointly with the main lights. Then to read that it is recommended to only use them when needed due to electrical drain on the motor?

 

[Mark_888]

Why would you use fog lights unless you needed them?

 

[acecert]

People do all the time for the appearance appeal...just look at Audi.

 

[Mark_888]

People do all the time for the appearance appeal...just look at Audi.

I don't know how bright the fog lights are on the Genesis or the Audi, but if they are bright enough to be effective in fog, you would not want them on all the time.

 

[acecert]

It's a matter of taste...I'd rather have them on. I'm sure if it were an issue for Audi, they wouldn't have them run automatically together.

 

[Mark_888]

It's a matter of taste...I'd rather have them on. I'm sure if it were an issue for Audi, they wouldn't have them run automatically together.

That's interesting, because I assume you think your car looks cool with the fog lights on, but you can't see how it looks when you are the one driving.

 

[acecert]

You can't see the entire exterior when you are driving either but in part people buy their cars because they like the visual appeal of them whether they can see the outside or not.

 

[Mark_888]

You can't see the entire exterior when you are driving either but in part people buy their cars because they like the visual appeal of them whether they can see the outside or not.

Yeah, but I can see my car when I am not driving it (at which time none of lights are on). I can never see my fog lamps on unless someone else is driving my car.

But just to fill you in, you may think it looks cool to have your fog lamps on with no fog, but some think it is distracting to other drivers and therefor dangerous. On the other hand, a good looking car (in daylight or night) does not intrude on others and is not a danger to anyone. But maybe the fog lights on the Audi or Genesis are weak and not actually meant to be functional and maybe don't intrude on other drivers, I don't know. I know on my current Genesis I do not use my log lamps unless there is fog (or I need extra low visibility temporarily) and I know they are distracting to other drivers.

 

[acecert]

Really? I see you're a Senior Member, right? The intent of the thread was to tell others about how the fog lights work so if they prefer they be informed that they are manually operated unlike some other models out there.

You have attempted to steer the conversation at taking jabs at my opinion and are attempting to create a debate (which is pointless and not the purpose of any car owners blog). Most of the senior members in the car blogs I have belonged are respectful and seasoned enough to provide comments that are constructive and helpful. There's always a few bashers but rarely do I see that in a Senior Member role where presumably they've been around enough to know and have posted enough to know that the purpose of the site is to share ideas and gain knowledge....not debate about the type of comments you are bringing up here unrelated to the intent of educating others who may not know about how the fog lights work on this model. The preference that I have that the fog lights be on while the lights are on and your difference of option on that matter or the reasons behind it for not being able to see it clearly come from a place of starting controversy instead of helping others on the site. I'm not interested in that with you and if you feel the need, feel free to ignore my posts.

 

[Mark_888]

Really? I see you're a Senior Member, right? The intent of the thread was to tell others about how the fog lights work so if they prefer they be informed that they are manually operated unlike some other models out there.

OK. I think they work the same way as on the current Genesis, which IMO should be mandated by law for the safety reason I stated.

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[acecert]

Much better!

 

[Motegi]

I think it may be a difference between the function of Daytime Running Lights versus Fog Lights.

Although did I read earlier that the Canadian models will have the LEDs lit as the mandatory DRLs?

Honestly I cannot see LEDs putting any excess strain on the electrical systems at all. They should use much less electricity than traditional Halogen or even Xenon/HID.

Either way it should be pretty simple to rewire them to run constantly when the ignition is on. Just need a relay and some wire taps. When my wife and I get ours (hopefully this week) I'll try to put together a tutorial.

BTW, does anyone have a link to order the official factory shop manual for the 2015 Genesis?

 

[Midnightsun]

Just to put things right, the previous gen (at least the CDN model) has a fog light switch which when turned on will remain on even after the vehicle is turned off and on again. For the record, yes I have mine on most of the time. If you simply experiment with them in low lit areas you will see how they really illuminate the area closer to the car and further to each side, this supplemental lighting is very welcome on dark roads and becomes a safety feature IMHO. They only come on when the main lights are on so it,s not like they are always on.

I cannot see how the electrical system can have too much draw especially since these are LED which are substantially more efficient or draw a heck of a lot less juice if you prefer. So what happens when you turn on the heated seats and steering wheel rear and side mirror defrosters? Personally I would ignore the silly draw warning.

Honestly I think this is in most vehicle owners manual by default as in general, fog light housings are rather small and if used all the time the heat build up causes them to burn out prematurely or in some cases even distort/melt the lens. This will never happen on led models.

 

[Midnightsun]

I think it may be a difference between the function of Daytime Running Lights versus Fog Lights.

Although did I read earlier that the Canadian models will have the LEDs lit as the mandatory DRLs?

Honestly I cannot see LEDs putting any excess strain on the electrical systems at all. They should use much less electricity than traditional Halogen or even Xenon/HID.

Either way it should be pretty simple to rewire them to run constantly when the ignition is on. Just need a relay and some wire taps. When my wife and I get ours (hopefully this week) I'll try to put together a tutorial.

BTW, does anyone have a link to order the official factory shop manual for the 2015 Genesis?

Only lit DRL on the CDN model is the eye brow led. here is a short video from the Hyundai Canada site which shows the eyebrow lit in DRL, strangely enough, the fog lights come on with the main lights which leads me to believe the CDN model has a switch for the fogs which does not default to off when the vehicle is shut down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EfNlj6QfL2Q

 

[acecert]

Here is the description in the owners manual and the warning I was referring to (just for reference purposes).

 

[brfatal]

People do all the time for the appearance appeal...just look at Audi.

Having your foglights on during clear weather actually reduces your night vision.

 

[acecert]

Having your foglights on during clear weather actually reduces your night vision.

If it does, it's not significant enough for me that would cause concern. Because the lights are so low to the ground and not in my line of sight like headlights, I've not been impacted by others having their flog lights on at night either.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I like the way cars look with fog lights on as well. That all started for me back in the 80s with Camaro Z28s. In my opinion, the car looked so much better at night with them on. And, since the regular Camaros didn't have fog lights, it was also a way of saying, "Hey, I got the "fast one".

Next up was the Mark VII LSC which had them - then my next car which was a Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe. Again, both models were "high end" versions while the entry-level version didn't have them. I always had my fog lights on at night.

To this day, I still like having fog lights as I feel cars look better with them "on" (if designed with them, not aftermarket) than off. I appreciate this in the same way I do dual exhaust. If the car has an exhaust pipe or pipes on one side - I don't like the way it looks. I like the pipe or pipes on both sides...

I've never been blinded by anyone's fog lights unless they were adjusted improperly and more powerful than the stock fog lights that came with the car.

I also think it's ridiculous that Hyundai needs to warn people about using them because they'll drain the battery...

 

[gameday22]

Here is the description in the owners manual and the warning I was referring to (just for reference purposes).

They are super bright (I dare to say almost as bright as the 5500k ones that Audi is using), and if that's the case then I can see it being a huge power draw even being LED. I will post some pictures of them late this evening when I pick up the V8 Ultimate for a show this weekend. I drove it at night last week and the difference between them being on/off is quite noticeable in forward and side light output but angled just enough that they shouldn't be blinding anyone, nobody flashed their lights at me which is a good sign that they most likely are where they belong on the road. A properly aimed fog-light should illuminate the area in front and to the sides of your car, low to the ground without casting much light into the headlight area where it can actually reflect back at you. If I have the opportunity and actually find some fog over the next couple of days I'll try to post pictures of that also. I'm also going to post a few pictures showing the low/high beam output, I didn't look last time to see if the fog lights remained on with the high beams but if like the first generation they most likely do turn off. I really do like the auto high beam feature and it seems to be very accurate in deciding when it's proper for them to be on.

 

[ShadowZ]

I do not understand how it is dangerous or distracting to other drivers as it illuminates the road directly in front and to the sides of you and not up at oncoming drivers or vehicles in front traveling the same direction.

Mine are on all the time on all of our vehicles.