Anyone install fog lights? Factory or after market?

[rychehawk]

I was wondering if the factory wire harness was in place for the fog lights?

Has anyone looked behind the the blank-off plates that cover the space where the factory fog lights go on models that do not have the factory fog lights?

I will take a look myself if someone has not done that yet and will report back.

Thanks
G

 

[rychehawk]

Update:

Well I took a quick peek at the area behind where the fog lights mount and and the factory harness is there, I did not have time to test and see if there was power to it, I also need look under the dash for the switch end of the harness.

I am looking at after market fog lights to see if there are any that will look right on the car in that area, I may just go ahead use some that I can find at Pep-boys, autozone Ect... and cut hole in the covers to mount them. The covers are held in place by 3 screws on the back side and are accessed by removing the inner fender liner. The harness plugs are mounted up on the lower radiator support.

If they look like ass I can easily remove them and get the factory ones for under 200.00.

 

[TJPark01]

A cop coming in the opposite direction waved me down, and told me to turn my fog lights off. Now I'm all paranoid to use them. Is there some law against using fog lights when there's no fog or was he being a dick?

 

[MattG]

Was it a CHP, or local PD?

I am inclined to think he was being a dick, because AFAIK, it is legal to drive in CA with fog lights on as long as they are DOT approved, and the low beams are on, regardless of anything else.

However, the last time that I really checked was in like '99, so the law might have changed, and you might be running up against a local ordinance.

All standard disclaimers apply.

 

[TJPark01]

Was it a CHP, or local PD?

I am inclined to think he was being a dick, because AFAIK, it is legal to drive in CA with fog lights on as long as they are DOT approved, and the low beams are on, regardless of anything else.

However, the last time that I really checked was in like '99, so the law might have changed, and you might be running up against a local ordinance.

All standard disclaimers apply.

It was LAPD on regular streets. Yeah it was at night, low beams and fog lights.

 

[MattG]

24403. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two foglamps that may be used with, but may not be used in substitution of, headlamps.

(b) On a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, the foglamps authorized under this section shall be mounted on the front at a height of not less than 12 inches nor more than 30 inches and aimed so that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle projects higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes, for a distance of 25 feet in front of the vehicle.

(c) On a motorcycle, the foglamps authorized under this section shall be mounted on the front at a height of not less than 12 inches nor more than 40 inches and aimed so that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle projects higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes, for a distance of 25 feet in front of the vehicle.
Amended Sec. 20, Ch. 451, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.

Source: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24403.htm

The only question that I would have is if the lights are actually fog lights, or if they might be considered some other sort of auxiliary light:

24402. (a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches. Driving lamps are lamps designed for supplementing the upper beam from headlamps and may not be lighted with the lower beam.

(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary passing lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less than 24 inches nor more than 42 inches. Passing lamps are lamps designed for supplementing the lower beam from headlamps and may also be lighted with the upper beam.

Source: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24402.htm

I am pretty sure that virtually all vehicles being sold are equipped with what, under the terms of the law, would be considered fog lamps. They won't turn on unless the low beams are on, and they turn off when the high beams come on. You could always check the beam dispersion, but I doubt that would be out of spec either.

So, unless there is some additional LA County ordinance that I don't know about. . .

He probably forgot to stay thirsty.

 

[TJPark01]

MattG, nice.
I figured he was being a d*ck. I was on Sunset and Gower, which is heart of Hollywood and there is a lot of crusing and tourists and hellish traffic. I'm sure the police in these parts have a short fuse.

 

[BrockSamson]

Any news on the foglight install? I'm looking at a 2.0T Premium but feel that the front really lacks something without the fog lights and chrome strips. Adding the chrome strips is easy enough but the fog lights? I'd probably just want the factory ones added on but can this be done affordably?