Volvo S40: Rear Fog Lights?

Discussion in 'Volvo S40' started by Macabre Tel Aviv, Dec 15, 2004.

  1. I've just noticed that I only have a rear fog light on the drivers side.

    On the passenger side there is no bulb and the opening for the bulb has
    never been snapped out??

    Should there be a fog light at both sides at the rear?
     
    Macabre Tel Aviv, Dec 15, 2004
    #1
  2. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Steve Bernth Guest

    There should only be one light, and it should burn brighter than your tail
    lights. This is so that there is not confusion with your tail/brake lights.
    The rear fog light is really there so that people behind you can see that
    there is something in front of them from a greater distance away.
     
    Steve Bernth, Dec 15, 2004
    #2
    Jacklad123 likes this.
  3. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Bonnet Lock Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

    There has been a lot of discussion about this in this NG in the past. The
    perceived wisdom - or, at any rate, that subscribed to by Volvo - seems to
    be that one fog light is safer than two since it is less likely to be
    confused with stop lights.

    My view is that this is cobblers - and that in foggy conditions, you need to
    maximise the chance of being seen by drivers coming up behind. My 1999 V70
    was supplied with only one working foglamp - but the other one was there,
    complete with bulb. The only thing which prevented it from working was a
    deliberate discontinuity in the conductor in the lamp assembly - which was
    quite quickly remedied!

    Regulations differ from country to country, so check before doing any
    re-engineering. In the UK, it is legal to have either one or two rear fog
    lamps - but if you have only one, it must be on the driver's side of the
    centre-line of the vehicle.
     
    Bonnet Lock, Dec 15, 2004
    #3
  4. Macabre Tel Aviv

    James Sweet Guest


    I never understood that mentality, if someone thinks your brake lights are
    on, they'll likely slow down and back off, rarely a bad idea, particularly
    in fog. If you actually *do* hit the brakes then the additional brake lights
    will come on and that will be readily apparent.
     
    James Sweet, Dec 16, 2004
    #4
  5. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Claudel Guest

    No
    Rear fog is only one on the driver side
     
    Claudel, Dec 16, 2004
    #5
  6. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Bonnet Lock Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

    Were you answering the question "Should there be a fog light at both sides
    at the rear?"?

    If so, there are two answers, depending on how you interpret the question.

    1. Did Volvo intend there to be two fog lamps? NO

    2. Does common sense dictate that there *should* be two fog lamps? YES
     
    Bonnet Lock, Dec 16, 2004
    #6
  7. The argument in the USA is that two fog lamps would reduce the
    effectiveness of the brake-lights. One fog lamp alerts people behind
    that they are approaching a vehicle but does not give any clues as to
    the distance.

    Volvo actually puts two fog lights on all the cars I have seen. In the
    USA market Volvo puts in a wiring harness that only goes to one of them
    or uses a lamp fixture that does not power up the second one. Usually
    the socket and power are there and a little creative wiring can get them
    working very quickly. I have done this on 850s and V70s.
     
    Stephen Henning, Dec 16, 2004
    #7
  8. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Bonnet Lock Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Yes, I've heard the argument. I just don't accept it!
    Precisely what I did on my (UK) 1999 V70.
     
    Bonnet Lock, Dec 16, 2004
    #8
  9. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Rob Guenther Guest

    "The argument in the USA is that two fog lamps would reduce the
    Yes, I've heard the argument. I just don't accept it!"

    Oldsmobile has twin rear fog lamps on the big Aurora.... OLDSMOBILE! One of
    the original American car companies.

    They are mounted in the rear bumper, below the main lighting clusters, but
    even so there are two.... And they're really bright.
     
    Rob Guenther, Dec 17, 2004
    #9
  10. And lots of Aurora drivers use them when there is no fog.
     
    Timothy J. Lee, Dec 17, 2004
    #10
  11. Macabre Tel Aviv

    richbonilla Guest

    one fog light is better than two...imho...

    less confusing, folks see something different and
    take notice.....one could "trigger" the wrong
    response by having two lights, and be mistaken
    for brakes...
    one solid, brighter than normal fog light is my
    vote......
     
    richbonilla, Dec 17, 2004
    #11
  12. ping......ggggg......
     
    ~^ beancounter ~^, Dec 17, 2004
    #12
  13. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Bonnet Lock Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    But the purpose of rear fog lamps is to help you realise that you are coming
    up behind another vehicle earlier than if it just had tail lights. Whether
    you see fog lights or brake lights really doesn't matter - the more the
    merrier!
     
    Bonnet Lock, Dec 17, 2004
    #13
  14. not "the more mrrier"...hells bells, it isnt supposed
    to look like a xmas tree presentation, one, bright
    light is adaquate "extra warning"...indicating something
    "is up"...
     
    ~^ beancounter ~^, Dec 18, 2004
    #14
  15. Macabre Tel Aviv

    James Sweet Guest

    Yeah, unusual like one brake light being burned out, I don't see how this is
    any less confusing.
     
    James Sweet, Dec 18, 2004
    #15
  16. In case you haven't heard, Olds and dinosaurs have something in common,
    they are both extinct.

    Maybe you should say Olds had ...
     
    Stephen Henning, Dec 18, 2004
    #16
  17. Macabre Tel Aviv

    James Sweet Guest


    Not that it matters, Olds has been part of GM for many decades now, the
    original Oldsmobile company has been extinct since around WWII.
     
    James Sweet, Dec 18, 2004
    #17
  18. Macabre Tel Aviv

    Tom Scales Guest

    His point is that GM is shutting down Olds forever
     
    Tom Scales, Dec 18, 2004
    #18
  19. In 1895, Ransom Eli Olds and Frank Clark built their first self
    contained gasoline-powered carriage.

    In 1897, the Olds Motor Vehicle Company was formed 8/21/1897.

    In 1900, the name Oldsmobile adopted in a "Name the Car" contest.

    In 1901, Olds Motor Works created the first assembly line.

    Ford's claim to fame was that he added a moving conveyor to the assembly
    line. Olds just rolled the car to the next stage in the line.

    In 1905, R. E. Olds forms the REO Motor Vehicle Co.

    In 1908 Oldsmobile becomes part of General Motors Corporation.
    Oldsmobile was the second brand to become part of General Motors. Olds
    Motor Works, joined GM in November 1908, two months after Buick.

    R. E. Olds retained REO and that company stopped making cars in 1936 but
    continued for some time as a truck manufacturer.

    Olds was the first company to mass produce gasoline-powered automobiles,
    mass producing the Olds' Curved Dash automobile in 1901.

    Oldsmobile was the first to use chrome decoration on its cars. In 1926,
    the shiny metal plating was used on Olds radiator shells.

    Olds had the first cars with a fully automatic transmission, the
    Hydra-Matic, which debuted in 1940 models.

    The Oldsmobile line became GMs vanguard, its coolest brand. Steel
    wheels, hydraulic brakes, independent front-wheel suspension, the first
    4-door hardtop, Autronic Eye, air conditioning, four-barrel carburetors,
    front-wheel drive and even the first airbags were introduced by
    Oldsmobile.


    Once GM began sharing components, and virtually entire cars, among
    different brands, Oldsmobile began to suffer from a loss of identity.

    The last Olds, a Special Edition Alero, which bore special logos and
    certificates of authenticity, rolled off the assembly line at 10 AM
    Thursday, April 29, 2004, in Lansing, the same city where the brand was
    born over 106 years earlier.
     
    Stephen Henning, Dec 18, 2004
    #19
  20. So, where did REO Speedwagon come in? 8^)

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Dec 18, 2004
    #20
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.