Illegal fog lights?

[nxski]

A mechanic just informed me today that the L300 fog lights are technically illegal. They are required to turn off when the high beams are turned on. Is this something that is supposed to be modified when complying the vehicle and mine slipped through the cracks or are all L300's like this?

[mararmeisto]

I don't know if they're supposed to be modified, given the age of the vehicle, but it was one of the excuses the likes of Canadian Tire inspectors would simply cut the wires to the fogs.

[psilosin]

Yeah in Canada foglights can only operate with low beams, they cannot operate with high beams (and they cannot operate alone without headlamps unfortunately). Driving lights can operate only with high beams.

If you wanted to rewire yours you just have to rewire it so the relay will be active only when 1)Fog switch is ON and 2)Low beam circuit is active...so easiest is to tap into the low beam circuit as the power source for the switch rather than direct from battery.

I do not know what the rules are if your fogs are wired as DRLs...probably still supposed to turn off if high beams activated...

[nxski]

I'll keep this in mind in the event that I'm hassled about it but I like to be able to have both on at the same time on occasion. I'll wire my second set of fog lights appropriately though as well as my reverse lights (so they can only come on in reverse).

[dfnder]

It would be nice to also have the option to turn on reverse when setting up camp etc.

[nxski]

It would be nice to also have the option to turn on reverse when setting up camp etc.

It would be, I may go that route if Jay can help me with the wiring. A shop won't do that for you though because it's also illegal.

[dfnder]

Find another power source and splice it into the original power lead and use a relay with a switch to turn on Auxiliary light. So it would act as normal but then you could also switch it on. Wait for the experts to speak though :)

[Miloki]

Yeah in Canada foglights can only operate with low beams, they cannot operate with high beams (and they cannot operate alone without headlamps unfortunately). Driving lights can operate only with high beams.

um, 'fraid not.

look at any new vehicle out there that has driving lights. The driving lights are on when the low beams are on.

Best bet: look up the legislation for your jurisdiction. It should be all on-line.

For example, here in Nova Scotia, to pass the MVI you can only have one set of fog lights and one set of driving lights.

[nxski]

Find another power source and splice it into the original power lead and use a relay with a switch to turn on Auxiliary light. So it would act as normal but then you could also switch it on. Wait for the experts to speak though :)

The problem is that I don't want it to come on with the reverse lights so it definitely needs to be on a switch but at the same time I want to be able to turn them on for camping (when the vehicle is in park) but that is technically illegal.

[psilosin]

Yeah in Canada foglights can only operate with low beams, they cannot operate with high beams (and they cannot operate alone without headlamps unfortunately). Driving lights can operate only with high beams.

um, 'fraid not.

look at any new vehicle out there that has driving lights. The driving lights are on when the low beams are on.

Best bet: look up the legislation for your jurisdiction. It should be all on-line.

For example, here in Nova Scotia, to pass the MVI you can only have one set of fog lights and one set of driving lights.

um, 'fraid so...

By driving light I mean the extra high power pencil beam lights for incresed frontal vision, not low intensity running lights such as day time running lights which I guess you are thinking of. Not very many, if any, new cars come equipped with driving lights.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Fog lamps

4.11 (1) A motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 fog lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle below the headlamps, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light.

(2) Each fog lamp must be

(a) mounted not more than 30 cm below the headlamps, and

(b) adjusted and aimed so that, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, the centre of the beam is at least 10 cm below the height of the fog lamp.

(3) The fog lamp wiring and switch must permit simultaneous operation of the parking lamps, tail lamps, licence plate lamp and, if required, clearance lamps.

(4) The operator of a vehicle may use fog lamps instead of headlamps when atmospheric conditions make the use of headlamps disadvantageous.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

[mararmeisto]

A mechanic just informed me today that the L300 fog lights are technically illegal. They are required to turn off when the high beams are turned on. Is this something that is supposed to be modified when complying the vehicle and mine slipped through the cracks or are all L300's like this?

As Falco quoted the Motor Vehicle Act (for BC), fog lamps can be separate. Auxiliary driving lamps - those are coordinated with the high beams. Division 4 of the Act deals with lamps: BC Motor Vehicle Act

For sake of the exercise, a quick tally shows that one could have the following lights on the front of their vehicle:

• 2 low beam head lamps (not less than 56 cm and no more than 137 cm off the ground)
  2 high beam head lamps (not less than 56 cm and no more than 137 cm off the ground)
  2 signal lamps (no more than 10 cm from the low beams)
  2 side marker lamps (may be incorporated with the signal lamps)
  2 parking lamps
  2 daytime running lights (not less than 30 cm and no more than 211 cm off the ground)
  2 auxiliary driving lights (not less than 40 cm and no more than 106 cm off the ground, only function with the high beams)
  2 fog lamps (no more than 30 cm BELOW the head lamps)
  2 cowl or fender lamps (mounted on the front cowl or the front fender)
  2 clearance lamps (only amber in colour)
  2 spot lights (can only be white, can't obstruct driver's view, must not be directed towards windows, mirrors, or occupants of other vehicles, can't be used instead of head lamps)
  any number of off-road lamps (must be covered when on a highway)

So, that is 22+ lights, and the only ones that specifically have to operate with the high beams are the auxiliary driving lamps. Obviously, most of these lights are coupled together (side markers with turn signals; low and high beams, etc.).

Print off this section of the Motor Vehicle Act, take it to your mechanic, and tell him to leave your gorram fog lights alone!

[Miloki]

By driving light I mean the extra high power pencil beam lights for incresed frontal vision, not low intensity running lights such as day time running lights which I guess you are thinking of. Not very many, if any, new cars come equipped with driving lights.

As far as I know, the HTA doesn't differentiate if your extra lights are high or low intensity.

We've been running "high intensity" PIAA auxiliary lights with the low beams on our vehicles for years, passing inspection every 2 years...

But, admittedly, that's in Nova Scotia...

[rezdiver]

i thought the whole purpose of a Yellow fog light was to use them on their own in a whiteout or fog where any white light would reflect off the fog or snowflakes and blind you.
if you turn on the white light with the fog, that would kind of make them useless.

[psilosin]

i thought the whole purpose of a Yellow fog light was to use them on their own in a whiteout or fog where any white light would reflect off the fog or snowflakes and blind you.
if you turn on the white light with the fog, that would kind of make them useless.

Yeah thats why I thought it was stupid we were not allowed, good to know I was wrong. Alas the factory fogs on my Hilux are wired so that the low beams do have to be on for them to operate so I am still in the same situation.