Newb question...a dumb one

[g911cab]

New cab owner here. I was showing my '09 cab to my bro last night when we noticed something we thought was a defect. When I turned on the rear fog lights, only the driver's side rear fog light came on. Now, I thought I had seen both of them on when I got the car a few days ago, so I was steamed that my new expensive baby already had a trip to the dealership in its near future. Just now, I Googled on the subject, and read the owner's manual (OM). Both seem to say that only the driver's side rear fog light should work, because otherwise they might be confused as you applying the brakes. My question is, if I were your average cop, wouldn't I want to stop you to give you a ticket for only one light being on, foggy day or not? After reading the OM carefully, it does list the description of the device as "rear fog light," with the emphasis on "light" not "lights." Someone please tell me this is the way it was meant to work, so I don't look like a fool at the dealership! Thk, G

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[p-cardriver]

That's the way it is supposed to work, and that is the way it works on all German cars with a rear foglight from the factory. I've always assumed it has to do with euro law, but I really don't know why.
BTW it is annoying as hell to follow a car with that light on, even in the fog. Its just so damn bright compared to the other lights!

[thor7000]

All european cars that have that option have the rear fog light on the driver's side only. When parked on the very narrow streets it's good to leave the light on so that cars see you there. Streets in the smaller towns/villages are very poorly light at night.

[gadgetman]

Yeah, the rear fog lights are only on the drivers side. As a matter of fact, I used my rear fog lights yesterday in a heavy rain down pour.

A neat feature too is when you leave your turn signal on (left or either right), the light stays on after you lock you car. This is helpful when you parallel park on the streets.

[wa1l1in]

only one.. they only can be clicked on when the regular lights are on, so the other side is "on" just not as bright=no ticket from coppers..

[g911cab]

Whew! That makes sense now...thanks to everyone.

[Minok]

Rear fog light- is ONLY on the drivers side, by design. If you saw both lights on.. it was probably the break lights you saw.

The rear fog is NOT to turn on when you are parked on a narrow street... I think the system shuts down the lights when the engine is off. For parking along the road, you have the parking lights - which are activated by leaving the turn signal stalk switch to the side you want the dim marker lights (front and back) to be turned on for.

Rear fogs, in Germany, are legally only allowed in extremely limited visibility. Germany specifies a visibility limit of 50m... thats a bit over 50 yards. Not very good visibility... that means you cannot see squat past 60 yards.. THEN and only then should you turn on the rear fog light. They specify that distance because at that reduced visibility from fog, the regular tail lights are no longer sufficient to show to approaching motorists. In Germany, the highways have the handy white reflective markers along the sides of the road.. that are at 50m spacing... If you can see more than one such marker ahead.. no rear fog light.

Driving with rear fogs on when visibility is clearer is a hazard to you... because drivers can confuse that with your break lights and will begin disregarding the bright lights on the rear of your car and then if you do brake, you may well find another vehicle in your back seat... The rear fog light is too bright for the conditions most folks use.

Here in the Puget Sound I encounter drivers constantly on the interstate, that must think its cool or helps somehow to drive with front AND rear fog lights turned on... just because its overcast or raining (and visibility in the rain is frequently still a 1/2mile or more). They are stacking the odds against themselves.

For what its worth, the German's also specify guidlines on SPEED when visibility is that low on the, with 50m visibility (to use the rear fogs) one should not exceed 50km/h (~32mph). It acts somewhat as an alternate guide to when you use the rear fog... would you feel comfortable driving around 35mph ? If that seems WAY too slow, then you don't need to use the rear-fogs either.

[T33]

I'm assuming you want to drive your car with foglights on. One click (pull) turns on the front fog lights. And the second click (pull) turns on the rear fog lights. And yes it does light up the driver's side only so as not to confused it with the brake lights. And the cops are fully aware of this.

[cibergypsy]

Back in 1992 I got stopped by a female Sheriff (not saying this had to do with it 100%) for having my rear fog lamp on. It took me a very long time trying to explain to her my lights were not falling off the car and that it wasn't faulty equipment! Not kidding on this one!

[stevepow]

Originally Posted by T33

I'm assuming you want to drive your car with foglights on. One click (pull) turns on the front fog lights. And the second click (pull) turns on the rear fog lights. And yes it does light up the driver's side only so as not to confused it with the brake lights. And the cops are fully aware of this.

You guys get front fog lights in Canada? My switch only pulls out to a single click for the rear fog light. No front fogs.

[aggie57]

Originally Posted by stevepow

You guys get front fog lights in Canada? My switch only pulls out to a single click for the rear fog light. No front fogs.

997.1 I suspect.

[Minok]

997.2 no longer have front fogs. The improved and standard bi-xenon setup works well enough in fog that front fogs are no longer needed.

[RF5BPilot]

If you have a second detent for a rear fog light....only use it if you are creeping along in weather that is so foggy, you are genuinely concerned that someone coming up from the rear can't see you.

Driving with the rear fog on in anything like normal conditions actually increases that chance the someone will rear-end you.

[g911cab]

Originally Posted by Minok

Rear fog light- is ONLY on the drivers side, by design. If you saw both lights on.. it was probably the break lights you saw.

The rear fog is NOT to turn on when you are parked on a narrow street... I think the system shuts down the lights when the engine is off. For parking along the road, you have the parking lights - which are activated by leaving the turn signal stalk switch to the side you want the dim marker lights (front and back) to be turned on for.

Rear fogs, in Germany, are legally only allowed in extremely limited visibility. Germany specifies a visibility limit of 50m... thats a bit over 50 yards. Not very good visibility... that means you cannot see squat past 60 yards.. THEN and only then should you turn on the rear fog light. They specify that distance because at that reduced visibility from fog, the regular tail lights are no longer sufficient to show to approaching motorists. In Germany, the highways have the handy white reflective markers along the sides of the road.. that are at 50m spacing... If you can see more than one such marker ahead.. no rear fog light.

Driving with rear fogs on when visibility is clearer is a hazard to you... because drivers can confuse that with your break lights and will begin disregarding the bright lights on the rear of your car and then if you do brake, you may well find another vehicle in your back seat... The rear fog light is too bright for the conditions most folks use.

Here in the Puget Sound I encounter drivers constantly on the interstate, that must think its cool or helps somehow to drive with front AND rear fog lights turned on... just because its overcast or raining (and visibility in the rain is frequently still a 1/2mile or more). They are stacking the odds against themselves.

For what its worth, the German's also specify guidlines on SPEED when visibility is that low on the, with 50m visibility (to use the rear fogs) one should not exceed 50km/h (~32mph). It acts somewhat as an alternate guide to when you use the rear fog... would you feel comfortable driving around 35mph ? If that seems WAY too slow, then you don't need to use the rear-fogs either.

Thanks for the detailed explanation.

[Gundo]

Audi owners seem to the biggest offenders of the rules in these parts.

Nearly all Audis come with two rear fogs, and it is easy to simply rotate the headlamp switch to Fog and then to rear Fog without paying attention.

If I had a nickle for every late model Audi running around CT with rear fogs activated during times of perfect visibility...