Rear fog lights?

Are you referring to the "European" feature of activating the brake light on the driver's side so that you are more visible to vehilces following. Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I always thought that was a relatively simple rewiring of the brake light so that it alternatively could be activated by a dash switch.

I always chuckle at the people who find this switch, and never seem to recognise the need to TURN IT OFF. But, I guess the same could be said for the fog lamps at the front of vehicles.

 

Peter,

On my wife's 98 MB, it is the brake light. Perhaps there are exceptions, but I've always noticed this being that way on cars. In Europe, it is a requirement to have such a light. It seems surprising that Toyota didn't include this feature automatically for such a "worldly" car model.

 

My 84 Euro 240D had the rear fog light. It was a seperate light operated by pulling the light switch all the way out to it's farthest stop. Neat option.

 

Euro Rear Fog Lamp Location and Purpose

However the installation is accomplished, the light is a brighter burning, standard bulb (Hella, et al) on the drive side rear and remains on at a brighter intensity than a standard rear running light.

I recall it coming on automatically when I turned on the factory standard front fog lamps on my '91 Mercedes Benz 300E. The light switch has a small amber light in the center of the switch that comes on to remind the driver that the fog lamps are on.

One day it burned out; I replaced it with an inexpensive aftermarket bulb from a NAPA store in Vancouver, WA. Worked fine.

A simple but very sensible accessory for those of us who experience fog throughout the year. I truly hate being rear-ended, at ANY speed.

Hope someone comes up with the install technique and pix.


Bob

 

Jaguar sedans are fitted with rear fog lights - they are a separate lamp, not the brake lights, one on each side. The switch (at least on my XJ8) is a toggle switch not a latching switch so that when the ignition is turned off the fog lights go off (front and rear) and don't turn on again until you activate the switch the next time. Helps folks like me with rapidly deteriorating brain function - something to do with age, alcohol consumption and kids that need to be tuned out!

 

Richard Durant posted photos of rear fog lights on this forum. Here is the switch http://priuschat.com/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=160 here lights on http://priuschat.com/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=157 and here lights off http://priuschat.com/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=158.

 

Some years ago some cars here in Europe had two fog lights, which was a bit nasty sometimes, because you could not see if they were braking. Even though the brake lights were different lights, the fog lights burn much brighter. It was then uncommon (or sometimes even illegal) to have a third brake light in the middle. Luckily now most cars have a third brake light.

My Peugeot 206 has a fog light in the middle of the rear, found a picture of a 206 rear (not mine).

http://www.cwn.org.uk/motoring/peugeot/ima...d-w400-h266.jpg

 

Just a little more info. on rear fog lights.

They are supposed to be used only in fog and other visibility-impaired conditions, such as rain at night.

They have been available in Europe since at least the 1950s, if not earlier. They became a feature of US spec Mercedes-Benz, Audi and other brands in the late 80s and early 90s. Before that, many owners ran wires, obtained sockets and activated their own rear fogs. Ones on Mercedes were activated by pulling the light switch out two clicks and sometimes you would see an orange or green indicator illuminate on that switch. Audi had a separate switch on the console.

Usually the rear fog can only be used after the front fogs have been illuminated, the theory being if it was foggy in front, it was difficult for someone else to see the back of your vehicle. Early Mercedes G-wagens (gelaendewagen) could have the rear fog illuminated with only the parking or city lights on. Afaik, Jaguar and Land Rover are the only brands to have two rear fog lights on their US models. I've noticed many of these owners illuminate their rear fogs for everyday night driving, creating a somewhat blinding situation for the rest of us.

On US spec vehicles of the 70s and on, different manufacturers used, or didn't use the blank space where a rear fog light would be on a Euro spec vehicle. Mercedes left the space plain with no reflector. Volvo I think added another parking light (totaling two on each side of their 240 model). Some manu. added a red reflector in the space.


Info from the Bosch Automotive Handbook, 5th Edition:
Fog warning lamps (rear fog lamps)
EEC 77/538, ECE R38, StVZO § 53d (FMVSS/CUR).
The European Union nations have man­dated that one or two red-light fog warning lamps (rear fog lamps) will be installed on all new vehicles.
They must be distanced at least 100 mm from the stop lamp.
The visible illuminated area along the reference axis is not to exceed 140cm2. The electrical switching must be designed to ensure that the fog warning lamp oper­ates only in conjunction with the low beam, high beam and/or front fog lamp. It must also be possible to switch off the fog warning lamps independently of the front fog lamps.
Prescribed indicator lamp: Yellow (green also approved on vehicles initially registered prior to January 1981).

 

I forgot my question:

The Prius tail light housing seems to be different in the US than elsewhere in that in the US the lower third (section) is one compartment containing the parking light. Other country housings that include the rear fog light seem to have two compartments within the lower third.

If anyone has installed or has access to wiring diagrams, is it just a matter of getting the non-US housing and the wiring is ready (in addition to the different turn signal switch at the steering column) or must the wire be run to the new switch, ECU, etc?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(petteri @ Jan 22 2004, 11:24 PM) [snapback]2214[/snapback]</div>

The rear fog lights (come in a pair) reside beside the rear braking light (the one above the reflector) on the inner side. Roughly splitting yr current brake light 50-50. The switch is on the stalk where you find the control for your front fog light.

It's a useless feature in my country which i still do not understand why they make it a standard item. I would rather have the front foglight anytime.