Front Fog/Driving lights...HELP....!

[Parky78]

Hi all,

I have a quick question; I am having a bit of a nightmare with regards to my front fog lights?

Both front fog lights do not work?

I think that it is too much of a coincidence for both front fog light bulbs to break/fail at the same time?

Sorry to sound a bit stupid (I haven't actually used the fog lights before on this car), the switches on the bottom right-hand side of the dash board (fog lights, water spray etc...) light up when the headlights are on (so you can find them in the dark!). For some reason, the front fog light switch doesn't light up? I imagine it is supposed to???

This leads me to think that there could be a fault with the switch itself and not the actual bulbs?

I have had a quick visual check of the fog light fuse, this seems to be ok (I haven't put a volt meter on it though). If the fuse was suspect, would this stop the light in the switch to stop working?

Has anyone had a similar problem with their fog lights? Is this an easy thing to fix? Also, is changing the switch (if it is the switch) an easy job?

I might double check the fuse with a volt meter before I start pulling switches out. I am having visions of taking bits of dash board out, hopefully it wont be too painful!



Cheers in advance for any help, It will be much appreciated!


John

[Lee190888]

Full Beam has to be on

[grahampesking]

Lee is right, you need your full beam headlights on .. thats why they are called "Driving Lights" and not " Fog Lights" ..
never had any probs with mine , when you have you,r full beam on , you,r switch should light up blue

hope this helps

[WR 1mposter]

another case of RTFM

[Matty WR1]

LOL!

driving lights = on with main beam with the switch pressed in next to the IC spray button

[SteveS]

An easy mistake to make, lets face it who reads the manual..............until it goes wrong

[Steveyk]

If you press the switch in on the dash with your lights off, nothing will happen, the switch doesn't illuminate. If your lights are on dip, nothing will happen. When you put main beam on or flash, the driving lights come on, providing the switch is depressed. The light in the switch will illuminate blue when your main beam AND driving lights are on.

On a WRX the switch turns the fog lights on, which work whenever the lights are on.

[Parky78]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I didn't realise that the main. Beam should have been on!

I have since learnt why the driving light switch doesn't illuminate. Prodrive put a "driving light" sticker over the original Subaru "Front Fog Light" switch. This sticker doesn't allow the light through to illuminate the switch? I can live with this though, I will just leave the switch on!


Thanks again for all of your comments, they are much appreciated and prevented me butchering my dashboard!


Cheers,

Joh

[Loco2527]

you know, you can get the "driving lights" to come on with just dipped beams. its a simple fix:

just pop the switch out, and swap over the 2 black wires on the back of the switch. The fog lights then come on when on full beam and dipped beam, but not with sidelights on. It does cause the light on the switch to have a bit of a hissy fit tho, as the switch illuminating light is normally off, unless you go to full beam, then it comes on. but the actual green indicating light on the swich still comes on like normal when you press the switch

I found this particularly useful, because when it is actually foggy, its such a pain having main beams on at the same time as fog lights - you still can't see a bloody thing!

hope this helps anyone...

[grahampesking]

you know, you can get the "driving lights" to come on with just dipped beams. its a simple fix:

just pop the switch out, and swap over the 2 black wires on the back of the switch. The fog lights then come on when on full beam and dipped beam, but not with sidelights on. It does cause the light on the switch to have a bit of a hissy fit tho, as the switch illuminating light is normally off, unless you go to full beam, then it comes on. but the actual green indicating light on the swich still comes on like normal when you press the switch

I found this particularly useful, because when it is actually foggy, its such a pain having main beams on at the same time as fog lights - you still can't see a bloody thing!

hope this helps anyone...

good post buddy , it is annoying when you cant use them as actual fog lights , as u say , fuul beam just makes it harder to see

[Ant]

you know, you can get the "driving lights" to come on with just dipped beams. its a simple fix:

just pop the switch out, and swap over the 2 black wires on the back of the switch. The fog lights then come on when on full beam and dipped beam, but not with sidelights on. It does cause the light on the switch to have a bit of a hissy fit tho, as the switch illuminating light is normally off, unless you go to full beam, then it comes on. but the actual green indicating light on the swich still comes on like normal when you press the switch

I found this particularly useful, because when it is actually foggy, its such a pain having main beams on at the same time as fog lights - you still can't see a bloody thing!

hope this helps anyone...

good post buddy , it is annoying when you cant use them as actual fog lights , as u say , full beam just makes it harder to see

Not wishing to offend or upset anyone here but these are the facts, these lights are not fog lights they are driving lights ie additional mainbeam lights so as such should only come on when main beam is on, there not designed as fog lights and will give out a very different beam pattern to fog lights, if you set these up to come on with dip beam and this caused an accident by blinding an oncoming vehicles driver you could face a manslaughter charge so do yourself and everyone else a favour grow up and leave them as they are and dont try to be one of the fog lights on all the time brigade, thanks.

[Ant]

Just to add we had this problem over on the P1 site a few years ago when the P1's started to fall into the hands of younger drivers suddenly every new owner was posting similer questions about getting them working on dip or as fogs, There far more usefull as driving lights anyway as fog lights are only needed two of three times a year, people driving around at night with fogs on all the time is one of my pet hates, having these on with dip beam would be like having main beam on to an oncoming driver.

[grahampesking]

Just to add we had this problem over on the P1 site a few years ago when the P1's started to fall into the hands of younger drivers suddenly every new owner was posting similer questions about getting them working on dip or as fogs, There far more usefull as driving lights anyway as fog lights are only needed two of three times a year, people driving around at night with fogs on all the time is one of my pet hates, having these on with dip beam would be like having main beam on to an oncoming driver.

Not my worry , Ive just put on driving light covers ,

[Steveyk]

Not wishing to offend or upset anyone here but these are the facts, these lights are not fog lights they are driving lights ie additional mainbeam lights so as such should only come on when main beam is on, there not designed as fog lights and will give out a very different beam pattern to fog lights, if you set these up to come on with dip beam and this caused an accident by blinding an oncoming vehicles driver you could face a manslaughter charge so do yourself and everyone else a favour grow up and leave them as they are and dont try to be one of the fog lights on all the time brigade, thanks.[/quote]

Well said sir, they aren't designed as fog lights and are essentially two extra main beams in the bumper. Useful for 'reminding' people they have their fogs on in June, but better left as PIAA intended.

[Loco2527]

wow, when I popped my post up on how to do it, I didn't expect any replys like that!!

pretty certain I made it clear that they are helpful when it's foggy... Maybe i didn't make that part clear enough... I don't drive round like a dick with my "driving lights" on all the time. I use them as fog lights, which I only turn on when it is actually foggy. I find main beam plenty ample for just driving around from day to day, but they are next to useless when it is actually foggy, like it is quite a lot at the moment. is that clear enough now?

I am surprised that this has drawn so much attention. Next thing you know, people will start kicking off about people running full decat exhausts or something like that.

"oh no, all you naughty boys out there..."

[Ant]

wow, when I popped my post up on how to do it, I didn't expect any replys like that!!

pretty certain I made it clear that they are helpful when it's foggy... Maybe i didn't make that part clear enough... I don't drive round like a dick with my "driving lights" on all the time. I use them as fog lights, which I only turn on when it is actually foggy. I find main beam plenty ample for just driving around from day to day, but they are next to useless when it is actually foggy, like it is quite a lot at the moment. is that clear enough now?

I am surprised that this has drawn so much attention. Next thing you know, people will start kicking off about people running full decat exhausts or something like that.

"oh no, all you naughty boys out there..."

So your putting a set of main beams on when its foggy, what do you think that will do to the people coming the other way??? as I said driving lights cannot be used as fog lights as the beam patern is completely different.

[Loco2527]

For a start, I am pretty certain there isn't much difference between driving lights in terms of brightness or glare or anything like that, because there has already been plenty of posts on this thread talking about how they get pissed off with people driving with their FOG lights on (not driving lights in all those cases...). Plus, is there actually any difference between WR1 driving lights, and aftermarket fog lights you can get for other blobeyes?

Secondly, when I see another car coming, I turn them off, just as you would do with full beam when driving on a clear night, or even more appropriately, just as you would do with your rear fog light when someone drives up behind you.

Am I just being crazy here, or do people seem to be picking a fight for the sake of it?! This thread has gone from a simple helpful tip that is potentially going to help you when you can barely see 20 yards in front of you, to becoming a murderer!

I think someone said earlier that people who change a couple of wires over on a switch in order to benefit your visibility in poor conditions, should "grow up". How ridiculous is that?! Well, I'm sorry. I didn't realise that people don't have common sense any more, and as soon as you mention you can put some extra lights on, it means that everyone is going to start driving round with them on, all the time, with no consideration for other drivers...

I mentioned a mod that may end up helping people. If you don't like it, don't do it to your own car.

Pretty "grown up" answer there, I think...

[grahampesking]

its not hard to turn off you,r full beam when you see another car coming , pretty simple really

[chiroman]

What a hoot.

Proposal. As the WR1 "Driving Lights" are becoming harder to source remove existing ones and replace with "Fog Lights" which are aimed as kerb finders, tinker with the wiring so they are on with main and dip beams.

Store or sell on the existing PIAA "Driving Lights".

Install HID's to main and dip lights. With the HID's the mediocre "Driving Lights" are completely redundant.

[Loco2527]

This will make you laugh chiroman...

On the HID front, I am pretty certain it used to be illegal to have HID headlights if you didn't have headlight washer jets fitted to your car (I think it was a stupid EU rule).

Was that the case, and if so, has the law been changed to allow them now? Because if it's still illegal, people will have just as much of a problem with your solution as they would with mine. Can anyone shine any light (pardon the pun...) on this? Haha

[Parky78]

In the words of the late Jimmy Saville "now then, now then"! I feel that this thread went t*ts-up when a certain contributor started to assume/stereotype!

I don't like to stereotype. I am sure we are all responsible drivers (I don't mean to stereotype lol).

I find it quite imaginative by starting a thread about potential light switch problems, it could escalate to irresponsibility and manslaughter?! I might need some counciling before I use my driving lights again just encase I deviate from the correct rules of engagement (R.O.E)! LoL!

I might start a thread about a car mat retaining clip (might result in a food fight? lol).

In seriousness, thank you all for your help and info regarding my original problem, it is much appreciated. This is a great forum, with invaluable info from everyone.

Cheers all.

[WR1 Bro]

In the words of the late Jimmy Saville "now then, now then"! I feel that this thread went t*ts-up when a certain contributor started to assume/stereotype!

I don't like to stereotype. I am sure we are all responsible drivers (I don't mean to stereotype lol).

I find it quite imaginative by starting a thread about potential light switch problems, it could escalate to irresponsibility and manslaughter?! I might need some counciling before I use my driving lights again just encase I deviate from the correct rules of engagement (R.O.E)! LoL!

I might start a thread about a car mat retaining clip (might result in a food fight? lol).

In seriousness, thank you all for your help and info regarding my original problem, it is much appreciated. This is a great forum, with invaluable info from everyone.

Cheers all.

Great attitude and response with a smile.

Watch those mat clips, I've once seen them spring up and nearly taken an eye out. Be warned.

[Matty WR1]

In the words of the late Jimmy Saville "now then, now then"! I feel that this thread went t*ts-up when a certain contributor started to assume/stereotype!

I don't like to stereotype. I am sure we are all responsible drivers (I don't mean to stereotype lol).

I find it quite imaginative by starting a thread about potential light switch problems, it could escalate to irresponsibility and manslaughter?! I might need some counciling before I use my driving lights again just encase I deviate from the correct rules of engagement (R.O.E)! LoL!

I might start a thread about a car mat retaining clip (might result in a food fight? lol).


Good man, love it!

What about a topic about setting the shift change light and how to stop the bugger from beeping! Or is that just mine lol?

In seriousness, thank you all for your help and info regarding my original problem, it is much appreciated. This is a great forum, with invaluable info from everyone.

Cheers all.

[chiroman]

So does anyone actually use their "driving lights"?

As for the HID's there's loads of debates on forums as to whether the aftermarket ones are legal. Apparently the OEM requires jet washers and auto self levelling, maybe even projector reflectors. Mine has passed all MOT's no questions asked.

[Matty WR1]

which clown deleted my typing then eh

[Steveyk]

So does anyone actually use their "driving lights"?

As for the HID's there's loads of debates on forums as to whether the aftermarket ones are legal. Apparently the OEM requires jet washers and auto self levelling, maybe even projector reflectors. Mine has passed all MOT's no questions asked.

I thought only Xenon lights needed washers etc, all new Honda Civics have HID headlights and I don't think they have washers but I might be wrong..?

And I do use the driving lights on the lanes round me, they make a big difference to the edges of the road, hedges and verges etc.

Has anyone got uprated bulbs that aren't HID?

[EK563]

wow after reading this thread im scared to ask the question.

i know of a few wr1's breaking and would like to convert a wrx to have driving lights.

what parts would i need to do this.

i have spare driving lights so they are sorted. im guessing the switch is different because of the blue LED. and again and this is a big guess. the relay is different.

anyone shed some light, thanks.

[EK563]

is it the fact that i asked a bone question

or

does no one know

[asperformance]

the wiring, etc. is totally different, may well be easier to simply buy a new PIAA complete 'kit'

or remove it in its entirety from a broken WR1........

[EK563]

thanks mate. will sack the upgrade