DhiJay23

Do we have a thread for adding r\or how to bypass/change the wiring so that you can turn the fog lights on when ever you want and not just when the lights are on for Mitsubishi RVR?

CottageLifer

Just curious - why do you want to do that? It's illegal to use them with your high beams.

Gatsby

It's beneficial to light up under the fog. Fog lights have sort of become a vanity over purpose thing, mine are hardwired to be on as long as headlights are on (low or high beams). No way to turn them on in my car without due to them being an icy-white rather than yellow.

If they were yellow, then indeed it would be beneficial to turn on without headlights. The only way I could think of doing so would be to hardwire them to a different switch.

AWCAWD

ETACS programming can do that easily. As far as I know, it is illegal in many if not most states/provinces to use the fog lights unnecessarily (even with the low beams). However, so many people use them as fashion lights/visual enhancement lights that the police stopped reinforcing it. In Europe you would get a ticket if you use them unless there is indeed fog or blizzard. Among people, who were interested in programming the ETACS this request is among the top items to change. It can be turned on with any lights but some lights most be on (parking, low or high beam). Not my thing. Over three years of ownership I turned my fog lights on may be once a year.

DhiJay23

I just want to use it alone instead of having both headlights and fogs turned ON especially during mornings. I've seen few vehicles around the city using only fogs but not too sure if its illegal.

That's actually what I'm thinking but I just wondering if you can just tap the fog fuse with a switch and not splice any wires as much as possible.

not too sure in my city but I've seen few vehicles using just the fogs alone. Thanks for the info.

CottageLifer

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.]


Not that you would ever get charged. Although weirder things have happened.

AWCAWD

Thanks for the detailed and accurate information. I must apologize for spreading false impressions instead of facts.

AWCAWD

Here are some info I based my statements on concerning regulations of fog light use:
"Fog lights are designed for use during snowstorms or other poor weather conditions that cause low visibility, not regular driving."
http://www.masslive.com/living/index...s_on_cars.html

"Traffic laws in BC allow drivers to use only fog lights instead of headlights when atmospheric conditions make the use of headlamps disadvantageous, such as in heavy fog." http://bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.ac...ontentId=41472

"Remember however to turn off your fog lights if the fog clears. Keeping fog lights on when visibility is clear is hazardous for other motorists. Drivers following behind will be dazzled by the very bright rear fog light(s), particularly at night. It is illegal to drive with fog light on in clear weather conditions. If stopped by the police, you may be lucky enough to be let off with a verbal warning, ultimately however, you may be issued with a non-endorsable (no penalty points) Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) which comes with a fine of £30."
http://www.drivingtesttips.biz/use-of-fog-lights.html

"Road Rule 217 states that drivers must not use front or rear fog lights unless driving in fog or other hazardous weather conditions that cause reduced visibility". "Using them on a clear day will not improve visibility and can cause other road dangers as they can be blinding to oncoming traffic or those driving in front of you,"
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safe...driving-lights

Something else but might be related. I noticed that some new European vehicles do not come with front fog lights:latest (2016) Audi Q3, while the 2015 model had fog lights. Similarly the new C series Mercedes is missing the front fog lights.

Landshark

i use mine as driving lights, not fog lights, as i see fog around here maybe once or twice a year.

just got some bright-*** LED fog light bulbs for my car, to be used when coming home from work on dark roads to catch the deer hiding on the side of the road. i'll be using them as i would high-beams - not on all the time, and will be turning them off when oncoming cars approach.

CottageLifer

Back to the OP's question: you should be able to run a switch (get an OEM for the panel) and some wires to turn the fogs on/off as you see fit. Just the thing for booting down Lagimodiere and hooning in the floodway.

CottageLifer

FWIW I think the fogs in 2011 RVR - now tinted yellow - are excellent. Way better than the Pathfinder's fogs.

Nast_Nas

well canada has all these crazy laws lol. but yes there are 2 ways to do it because ive done it with my lancer. either it can be done by etacs programming, it makes them independent which means you dont have to have the low beams on to have fogs on, pretty much can turn on anytime you want. other way is to wire the fog lights to a switch, which means you can have them independent as well, original steering column switch would still work as it was originally designed for. just havent done it to the OS yet

CottageLifer

Canada's laws are based on the UTC. If you check, most states will be about the same.

AWCAWD

Some 20 years ago nearly all European cars had REAR fog lights as standard. The reality is that in foggy situations it is equally important to be seen and being able to see forward. We barely have today any cars here that have rear fog lights. Now the front fog light saga...

It appears that some luxury German automakers are not putting front fog lights in their newest models any more (why?).

Mercedes:
In case of the 2016 GLS they could afford to make it standard for sure but they did not (not even in the GLS 500 V8 biturbo, with 455 HP and 700 Nm torque).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YSS4X8mL0k
neither the new GLE (not even in AMG)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLDDzJnpSh0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGwe8GRvwNI
nor the GLC has those installed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QhDKFUfTgQ

Not even in CLA:
http://www.mercedesclaforum.com/foru...og-lights.html
http://www.mercedescla.org/forum/5-c...stall-one.html

North American Merc owners are furious:
http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w2...og-lights.html
and similarly those in the UK:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/gener...foglights.html

Audi:
No dedicated fog lights in the 2016 Q7:
UK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0TyzCXYSIQ
India:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKP_4YqosS4
Germany:
What you see here in the German version are no fog lights either but the IR sensors for night vision system (they are black if you look them closer):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7vtZhUdIm0

No front fog lights on the new 2016 Q3 either (USA):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y6hOZfnwXM
(UK):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFNw71bDuYw

BMW (not even in M5?):
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...ights-wtf.html

What is going on? All European luxury car makers are crazy?

Likely not. They use a new technology what Audi calls all weather lights or adaptive lights:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/our-cars...ights-mystery/
Mercedes calls LED intelligent light system:
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mer...e-new-s-class/
BMW calls intelligent headlight technology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dvPZ3H1Vm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WvK5WC4ns0

All three manufacturers put focus on not to blind the incoming traffic while increasing visibility forward and back.
Nice leadership.
Is North America lagging behind when it comes to adopt new technologies?
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...-new-headlamps
not just in lighting and safety (e.g. an OHV engine receives the best engine award in 2015?):
http://wardsauto.com/2015/2015-winne...lt1-ohv-di-v-8

AWCAWD

Returning to the OP's original request. Here are two videos showing how to do the hard wiring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZq1L9uGkpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjvN3j3TQVQ
Sorry, I do not speak neither Chinese nor Russian to explain it. To be perfectly honest these are only good for someone, who has some knowledge and skills in electricity.
Here is how to do HID conversion for fog lights (for the record, I do not endorse this at all because there is no projector lens for fog light and it will blind the oncoming traffic):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FGOWADJgpw