Five Star Charges for Activating Fog Lights

[Wiredawg]

Howdy all,



I found a new set of Dodge OEM fog lamps (Hella) on E-Bay for $118 and i was smiling big time... until I installed the lights and switch and read where dealer has to activate them in the computer. My favorite 5-Star says $40 and I'm freaking out... until I call two other dealerships that charge $65 and $85. Dangggg.



Well, I may have the dealer do it or I may just buy a relay, switch and wire them to the ignition. Then, I can use them as driving lights and I can use them w/ high beams. Feeling better already.



Wiredawg

 

[HBarlow]

Howdy all,

I found a new set of Dodge OEM fog lamps (Hella) on E-Bay for $118 and i was smiling big time... until I installed the lights and switch and read where dealer has to activate them in the computer. My favorite 5-Star says $40 and I'm freaking out... until I call two other dealerships that charge $65 and $85. Dangggg.

Well, I may have the dealer do it or I may just buy a relay, switch and wire them to the ignition. Then, I can use them as driving lights and I can use them w/ high beams. Feeling better already.

Wiredawg

Wiredawg,

About 98% of our fellow Texans don't seem to know it but you might want to consider the possible consequences of use of foglamps. It is illegal to use fog lamps as driving lights, absent fog, or along with high beams.

The reason is the light pattern of fog lights is widely dispersed and causes severe glare in the eyes of oncoming motorists. If you notice, few commercial drivers use their fog lights unless driving in fog because OTR drivers w/CDL know it will get them a ticket.

Driving lights are narrowly focused so that they shine under the eyes of oncoming motorists.

I use my factory OEM foglamps sometimes on dark highways at night but turn them off when I see distant headlights. I hold a CDL and know better so it would be tough to explain it to a DOT trooper.

 

[Bob4x4]

$40 is cheap when compared to buying more parts,more time to mickey mouse it and the risk of a ticket... ... ... ... imho

 

[JFought]

when i added them to my 06 slt they worked with no flash needed and on with HIGH beam!!!! great!!!!!!!!!!

 

[24V-DSL]

Sign on the wall of a friends auto repair shop:



Let's assume I opened my doors today to make a living

 

[Bob4x4]

Sign on the wall of a friends auto repair shop:



Let's assume I opened my doors today to make a living

I like that... ... ... .

 

[DBentley]

I would do the relay and keep the dealer away from the truck because they will do all the update flashes you may not want at the same time they turn on the fogs.

 

[Wiredawg]

Honestly, I never knew there was any kind of a law about it... on my '02, I've had the OEM fog lights connected to a relay/switch in addition to the OEM switch since 2002 using them a daytime running lights, running them evertime I drove it dureing the day. It must not be a highly enforced law in TX or all the other states I've driven thru, because no law enforcement has ever cited or mentioned it, even when I got a speeding ticket back in 2003.



I'll certainly take this into consideration in my decision whether I configure my new truck this way or not, since now I know there is a law covering it.



Wiredawg

 

[RWinzen]

If you have a dealer you can trust, I was told they can flash for the fog lights only. But, I don't have any personal experience with that. I have installed them on two - '03 2500s and bought the factory switch with the fog light option and didn't have to flash ours.

 

[Bob4x4]

I would do the relay and keep the dealer away from the truck because they will do all the update flashes you may not want at the same time they turn on the fogs.

That is paranoid thinking and why would they do extra work for free ?

 

[DBentley]

What was i thinking. The dealer would never do something like that without charging for it :-laf

 

[SSell]

oh, they"ll "help" you out now and then..... Had my truck in for AC repair, next thing you know I've truck that honks its own horn and flashes the lights to let people know I'm trying to hook up to the boat. Very helpful... ...

 

[David Pendleton]

SSell, that was a tsb from a few years back. They did the same thing to my truck. From what I recall it was a mandatory safety update to let you know when the truck wasn't completely in reverse and the drivers-side door was open.

 

[Matt400]

Sign on the wall of a friends auto repair shop:



Let's assume I opened my doors today to make a living

:-laf Thats good!

My favorite 5-Star says $40 and I'm freaking out

Pretty cheap when you consider operating expences today, no wonder they are your favorite.

 

[dsherman]

I would do the relay and keep the dealer away from the truck because they will do all the update flashes you may not want at the same time they turn on the fogs.

Ditto on that!!!
I would definitely stay away from the dealer or should I say Steeler:-laf:-laf
The relay, it would be a better way to go because it would be less stress on your OEM switch by bypassing all the OEM crap :-laf:-laf, The OEM switch Gets hot enough without adding anything to it

 

[brods]

Wiredawg $40 is cheap. Even though I only wanted to have the ABS tire size number changed to a specific number, the dealer I bought the truck from wanted $60 and another dealer wanted $100! I didn’t expect it for free, but $60 for at most maybe 10 minutes total (write the work order, mechanic walking over to get the scan tool, etc), not going to happen. Even with a $125 labor rate it should only cost about $20 tops!





Texas Fog Light Laws — KevinDonahue.com

§ 547. 328. FOG LAMPS PERMITTED.

(a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lamps.



(b) A fog lamp shall be:

(1) mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height

from 12 to 30 inches; and

(2) aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam from a lamp mounted to the left of center on a vehicle projects a beam of light at a distance of 25 feet that is higher than four inches below the level of the center of the lamp.

Good fog lights have a clean upper cutoff, so properly adjusted fog lights should not blind other drivers (unless they’re sitting so their eyes are 8" to 26" above the roadway).



Unfortunately there are many improperly aimed lights (of all kinds) out there. A quick and easy check anyone can do is to find a building with a flat parking lot. Drive up to a wall and turn on the lights you want to check. Back straight up and watch the light pattern on the wall. For all lights, the bright sections of the beams should go down as you backup. Headlights should go down and to the right slightly.



The big issue with fogs are they are meant for low speed, low visibility driving and have a relatively short range which is easily over driven. “Driving lights” are no better for oncoming drivers, and are most likely much worse due to their greater range, therefore potentially blinding other drivers over a much greater distance.



Never fear, NHTSA is looking into it, lol: NHTSA Notice: Glare from Headlamps and other Front Mounted Lamps - FMVSS 108

$40 is cheap when compared to buying more parts,more time to mickey mouse it and the risk of a ticket... ... ... ... imho

Maybe, except for the ticket part though. According to Harvey's law, my stock factory installed fogs still allow illegal operation of the fog lights (fogs on with the headlight low beam off).

That is paranoid thinking and why would they do extra work for free ?

Really? While a customer's vehicle is in for service or repair at your dealership, they have never, ever done a recall or warranty repair on it without first getting the customer’s approval??? It has happened to me more than once. Luckily it was on vehicles where I did not care one way or another. Now if they installed that E17 on my truck... .....

 

[widewheel]

Sign on the wall of a friends auto repair shop:



Let's assume I opened my doors today to make a living

I got to find me a sign like that!

 

[Wiredawg]

Let me see: About 25 ft from a wall, aim the fog lights so the top of the beam doesn't shine above the straight line on the wall from the headligts, so they are shining mostly on the ground and not in oncoming traffic's eyes? In the years I have been running this type of datime driving light setup, I have never been flashed, day or nightime, because they are aimed at the ground. . I've already decided to run my own switch and run them separate from the factory. Afterall, 1990 to now can't be luck w/ the law or other drivers. I forgot to mention I had a 1990 Toyota 4x4 I ran them on.



Wiredawg

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I may be obsolete but despite "local ordinances" (they don't hold up when tested in court or by the $$$) the DOT regulations have been:



Foglights: 12" to 24" from the ground on the vehicle aimed to be 4" down from headlight beam center at 50' from a screen wall (or 2" down from 25') and active ONLY with low beam circuit - since you may not run both fogs and driving lights simultaneously.



Driving lights: 16" to 32" inches from ground on vehicle aimed to be 2" down from headlight beam center at 50' from a screen wall and active ONLY when High beams are on.



Citations for fogs without headlights (how my truck was OEM wired) generally tossed out of court with much municipal embarrassment since the cars CAME that way based on DOT and NITSA reqs. (Where do these state and locals think their food comes from - the feds).



Lighting up all lights at once like a runway - yep - that'll get you a ticket!!

 

[Wiredawg]

Well, I had the fog lights programmed today, so that is settled. $40.



Wiredawg