Fog lamps?

[MrA79]

Hey hey AT folks, long time lurker but never had anything to post about till now

Curious about the fog lamps on my car - 2010 genesis coupe 3.8 (base) - the lamps themselves are in the body, but they're only 'enabled' on the higher trim levels. How hard would it be, in your estimation, to get them working?

The switch has 3 'on' positions, one of which doesn't do anything currently - guessing that's the headlights+fog lamp setting, so hopefully I wouldn't need to replace that. Think it's just a matter of changing bulbs\connecting wires, or is there some sort of instruction in the car's computer that disables the lights? Thanks!

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Are you freaking kidding.. They install foglights in a hyundai, but disable them for lower trim levels?? Are you 100% sure about this?

 

[MrA79]

98% sure - everything I've read indicated that was the case, but I could be mistaken.

 

[Zenmervolt]

98% sure - everything I've read indicated that was the case, but I could be mistaken.

You are. The spec sheets list front fog lights as standard equipment for the 3.8 base models in 2010.

If the lights aren't coming on, there's either a short circuit somewhere or the bulbs are burnt out.

That said, most factory fog lights are worthless for anything but looks. A few European cars (usually German) have decent fog lights from the factory, but most "fog" lights are just cosmetic toys.

ZV

 

[MrA79]

Hmm, my bad then. I'll have to try swapping them out. Thanks much

 

[Cobalt]

The bulb and housing isn't actually there though, the wiring necessary to make it work is available. Correct? Because your car should look like this. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=gene...w=1280&h=851&ei=1noqUJ-tIq2ByAGg8oHICg&zoom=1

 

[LTC8K6]

http://0.tqn.com/d/cars/1/7/m/l/1/ag_10gencpe_ltfrt1.jpg

3.8

 

[vi edit]

That said, most factory fog lights are worthless for anything but looks. A few European cars (usually German) have decent fog lights from the factory, but most "fog" lights are just cosmetic toys.

I'd agree with that. Most domestic and Japanese cars I have owned that had fogs were the size of softballs. They didn't do anything other than make a blinding wall of light for other drivers.

My old GTi had some little fogs lenses that were the of a golf ball and those things had a throw on them that rivaled some some of the early HID's. Crazy how much better you could see the edges of the road with those things one. They were great for scanning for deer in the ditches at night.

 

[MrA79]

http://0.tqn.com/d/cars/1/7/m/l/1/ag_10gencpe_ltfrt1.jpg

3.8

That would be mine indeed.

I'll have to dig around a bit more, apologies for my own ignorance

 

[Throckmorton]

My old GTi had some little fogs lenses that were the of a golf ball and those things had a throw on them that rivaled some some of the early HID's. Crazy how much better you could see the edges of the road with those things one. They were great for scanning for deer in the ditches at night.

If your wife tells you to pick up dinner on the way home and you turn on your foglights to look for deer in the ditches.... you might be a redneck.

 

[vi edit]

Heh. It's more of a survival tactic than anything else. There's a dead deer on the side of the road almost daily through the fall/winter months where I am. Nothing to f'up your day like slamming into a deer at 55+ MPH and trashing your bumper, radiator, headlights, ect for a couple grand in damage.

 

[Mermaidman]

That reminds me . . .

Mis-use of fog lights causes accidents.

People--Turn off your fog lights!

 

[Zap]

The switch has 3 'on' positions, one of which doesn't do anything currently - guessing that's the headlights+fog lamp setting

Stop guessing, and bust out with the owner's manual. Sometimes there are settings that are exclusive of each other. For instance, most factory fog lights won't turn on if you use high beam. Another example is my mom's Volvo won't allow high beam if you have the lights set to Auto or some such nonsense (and I say "nonsense" because lights are always on anyways).

 

[Cobalt]

That would be mine indeed.

I'll have to dig around a bit more, apologies for my own ignorance

Something is wrong here then. That is not a base model, that's the middle trim (called GT) which I have. The base model is like the one I pictured. The base model does not have the fogs there at all like what I linked. You also have the turn signals in your mirrors so it is definitely not a base model. That only comes in GT and Track. Check to see if your bulbs aren't burnt out or if a fuse was pulled.

 

[MrA79]

Well no, I don't have turn signals in the windows - that is weird, I'm gonna have to run the VIN and find out for sure what it is. Something isn't adding up here.

Edit - they represented\priced\sold it to me as a base 3.8, so worst case is I got a better deal on it than I thought. Not like I just bought it sight unseen or w\o questions of any sort.

 

[LTC8K6]

Apparently the fog lights will only come on with the low beam headlamps. Not with the park lamps, or by themselves.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Something is wrong here then. That is not a base model, that's the middle trim (called GT) which I have. The base model is like the one I pictured. The base model does not have the fogs there at all like what I linked. You also have the turn signals in your mirrors so it is definitely not a base model. That only comes in GT and Track. Check to see if your bulbs aren't burnt out or if a fuse was pulled.

No. That's a base model 3.8.

All 3.8 models had fog lights. Only the 2.0T models came in trims without fog lights.

In 2010 the Genesis Coupe was available in the following trims (increasing base price):

2.0T
2.0T R-Spec
2.0T Premium
3.8
2.0T Track
3.8 Gran Touring
3.8 Track

Apparently the fog lights will only come on with the low beam headlamps. Not with the park lamps, or by themselves.

This is common in Asian cars (in my experience) as well as in American cars. I tend to only see fog lights that function with parking lights only in European cars though (at least, they do in my '86 951, US regulations may have changed since then).

ZV

 

[LTC8K6]

In the US, the fog lamps can't legally be on with the high beams, iirc. Factory setups will not allow this in the US.

My Jeep allows the fog lamps with the park lamps or low beams, but shuts off the fog lamps if the high beams are turned on.

 

[Ferzerp]

You have no business using fog lamps with high beams anyway. They're for fog, and when it is foggy, high beams mean you can't see.

Not so sure it is a legal thing, since my current ones will work with the high beams on. Or at least the indicator that they're on does not turn off, but I haven't played with them since shortly after I got the car. There is rarely, if ever, fog near where I live.

 

[LTC8K6]

Minnesota statute, for example:

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.56

Subd. 2.Fog light.

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two fog lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than 12 inches nor more than 30 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle shall at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes. Lighted fog lamps meeting the above requirements may be used with lower headlamp beams as specified in section 169.60.

 

[hanoverphist]

the only car ive had with fog lights was a 97 dodge intrepid, if you had them on you couldnt use the high beams. i never turned them on except for the few times i found myself on a dark highway between cities late at night with no moon. in 4 years i think i used them three times.

i hate it when some douche with fogs comes rolling up behind me with a wall of light, regardless of the fact that we are on US60, a fully lit up highway. you dont even need headlights in 90% of the phoenix valley, let alone the daytime-like freeways we have here.

 

[heymrdj]

I modded mine so I could turn on my fogs with highs. Since the 04 Expedition uses it's lows and highs together when high beams are on, it's effectively a 6 beam salute if I flash them. With the relays I added onto the stock harnesses (Ford is notorious for low ga wire, factory harness was only getting about 10.8v to the lights) and 55w bulbs in all sockets, the brilliance is gorgeous.