Why do foglights only come on with full beam?

MikeV8SE · Nov 21, 2011

OK, its been a bit foggy and I've noticed the foglights on my RRC only come on with the full beam headlights - which kinda defeats the object of having them, as you just get glare back!

Two questions:

1. Is this correct or a bodge by a previous owner?

2. How can I rewire them so they can be switched on independently of the full beam headlights?

Oh, also one of the bulbs has gone, anyone know offhand what bulbs they take so I can get a suitable replacement! It's dark outside work hours!!

Cheers.

The Mad Hat Man · Nov 21, 2011

tiz the law

.

zen · Nov 21, 2011

bodge by po.THEY SHOULD GO OFF with main beam...

h3's i think.(might be h1,h3 have lead,h1 dont)

and wire them back up as per crt dia..

storm99 · Nov 21, 2011

Oh dear...you cant join all the other 'cool' rsoles that want to drive with front fogs permanently on...blinding every other fooker.

Tuff titty.

joe1972 · Nov 21, 2011

When are front fog lights not front fog lights...
tis when they are driving lights.
Many a classic have driving lights not fogs. Though I have seen a few fogs from the factory wired up as driving lights.
Would be worth checking the lenses to see if they are the former or the later too.

A well known factory bludder to RRC fans!

joe1972 · Nov 21, 2011

have a quick read;

Range Rover Remedies

Goes some way to explain that Tommy Toolbox may not neccessarily have been at those lights, but could have left the factory as they are

zen · Nov 21, 2011

good point..

StuckAgainSteve · Nov 21, 2011

Saint.V8 · Nov 21, 2011

Most HL systmes have 3 modes....

Dipped
Main
Full

Or in Old Money....

Side
Dipped
Main

Fogs should be available on Main(Dipped) and Full(Main) only.

Secondary driving lights are available for all three modes.

If your fogs only come on when on Full (the mode with the Blue warning light) then they need rewiring....

zen · Nov 21, 2011

should switch off on mains..

Saint.V8 · Nov 21, 2011

??

New one on me....not gonna argue though as I have never noticed before..!!

zen · Nov 21, 2011

driving lamps should come on with mains only..fogs dipped only..

VogueLSE4.2 · Nov 21, 2011

They're driving lights, not fog lights, hence they only come on with full beam.

The bulbs are H3's.

I went through similar ponderings recently thinking my 'fogs' weren't working...put full beam on and all became clear.

Pun intended.

zen · Nov 21, 2011

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

to check wether fogs or driving,inspect the lens..if lots of vertical lines then fog,if not then driving..

wammers · Nov 21, 2011

On the P38, front fogs can be used with side lamps, no need for headlamps to be on. Can't see why Classic should be any different.

zen · Nov 21, 2011

yes..but not the mains..

jwm · Nov 21, 2011

There are many different ancillary lights in use nowadays, but they are basically in three groups :-

Spot lights ... (also called Driving lights) ... a bright narrow beam ... only allowed on with Main beams and must go out with dip. They usually have a clear unfluted glass with a covered bulb.

Flood lights ... A wide very bright beam ... Best used off road on roof bars ... illegal for road use in UK and should have covers fitted (but the cops seem to be ignoring the truckers lately). Look similar to spotlights, without the covered bulb. Wire them to go off with dip, and you'll probably get away with it.

Fog lights ... a wide flat topped beam, sometimes amber. Should be wired to come on with sidelights or dipped beams. They normally go off with Main beams, but I don't think they legally have to. Best mounted low down. It is actually illegal to use these unless there is fog or low vis of some sort.

If you really want to show off your extra lamps without blatting everyone's eyes out ... drill a small hole in the reflector and glue an LED into it. Feed these from your side lights and you can play Xmas tree without upsetting the plods.

Johnny.

kds · Nov 22, 2011

Its been covered before, they are driving lights not fog lights and as such come on with main beam.

MikeV8SE · Nov 22, 2011

OK, thanks guys! I did wonder if they were driving lights instead, but I swear the lights in the same position on my old Classic were fog lights and came on with dipped beam. More fool me for thinking they would be the same this time around!! The driving/fog lights on this Classic also look larger than the ones on my previous one, no idea if they are.

To clarify, I don't particularly want to drive round blinding everyone, in fact I rarely use front fog lights, but we do get patches of a mile or two or extremely thick fog as you go up and down the Chilterns, so sometimes side lights + fog lights is a lot better than dipped beam! Basically, it would be useful to have the option.

Thanks for the RR Remedies link:

Larry Michelon reports that it is possible to easily rewire these lights so that they will work on low beams, hi beam or any beam, so you can choose whether to put in fog lights or driving lights. If you pull out the driving light switch from the dash, there are extra leads back there. There is a lead for low beam, high beam and parking lights. Connect the desired one to the switch and you are in business. On Larry's 89 Range Rover, he used the parking light lead so he can turn them on when ever the parking lights are on. The correct wire can be identified with a voltmeter.

I guess there will be some extra wires not connected to anything behind the driving/fog light switch, then? Hopefully!

norseman · Nov 22, 2011

Joe1972 has it right, they are intended as driving lights not fog & are designed with a beam pattern for that purpose. They only activate when the headlights are on full beam, that way they go out when you dip.

Why do foglights only come on with full beam?

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