My 03 Santa Fe does not allow me to use JUST fog lights, I must use in
conjunction w/headlights only. I can't leave them on w/high beams
either. Is there any way to switch this?

how are you at putting in switches and relays?

;-)

If you do check your local DMV law. It is possible butit may not be
legal to run that way even if it works better. Some states have laws
requiring the use of headlights under certain conditions.

Yep .. follow the link to a Santa Fe forum member site.

http://www.geocities.com/elusor/inst...tmod.htm?20059

Gordo

That's because they're wired according to DOT regulations. It's not
legal to drive with fog lights only, nor with fogs and high beams. While
the former can be useful in extremely snowy weather (when driving at LOW
speeds), the latter is completely pointless, since fogs and high beams
serve two entirely different purposes that are mutually exclusive.

BTW, it's also illegal - not to mention inconsiderate - to drive with
fog lights or other auxilliary lights when they're not necessary for the
conditions.

Or is your aim simply to irritate other drivers?

First of all, I live way out in the country where us folks all have big
trucks just to get around in the snow. And, although I referred to
them a "fog lights" they are really "driving lights" since they are not
amber, as real fog lights would be. In my part of the country, all
the big boys drive around with there driving/fog lights on. And since
I am an "over 50" female who needs to work, and has night vision
problems, I had to purchase an SUV just to be able to continue working
and driving at night for Nov/Dec/Jan when the stupid time changes. I
do not ever drive at night other than when I have to for work. So, I
am very offended by your comment about "pissing people off". The
"driving lights" help tremendously in seeing the lower portion of the
road and even with high beams it would be helpful. All the GM cars
have such driving lights that are on all the time, so I was just
asking.

The fog lights on my Buick Regal only work on low beams. Pretty much
useless too. Driving lights, fog lights (mine are white, so call them what
you will, but GM calls them fog lights) whatever you want to call them, are
pretty much a decorator item as they come from the factory.

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

Color has nothing to do with the type of light (though amber fog lights
can work better than white fog lights under some conditions). The
difference is in the beam pattern and the intended purpose.

Fog lights project a wide, flat beam that illuminates the edges of the
road and the road surface immediately in front of the vehicle. They
don't project very far, even less than low beam headlights. By law, they
have to be wired to work only with low beams on.

Driving lights are a supplement to high beam lights for long distance
vision. They are useless in fog and snow and only partially effective in
rain. The law dictates that these be wired to work only when the high beams are on.

Fine, but that doesn't make it legal. When you install them yourself,
you can wire them however you want, legal or not.


Sorry to hear that...the vision problem, that is.

What does the vehicle type have to do with night driving?

Don't take it so personally. Around here, there are a lot of morons on
the road that seem to get their jollies by annoying other drivers, using
their auxilliarly lights under clear conditions where they aren't
necessary. Remember, blinding another driver may well cause an accident
and the same courtesy you (should) extend by dimming your lights for
approaching vehicles extends to auxilliary lights, too. That's probably
part of the rationale for the laws governing them.

I think you're referring to fog lights. Perhaps it would be helpful to
you, but all I'm telling you is why they're wired the way they are. It's
the law in the US and car makers have to follow it. If you want to
re-wire yours, go for it. It's not difficult. It's illegal, but if it
works for you and helps you drive safely, that's really what matters,
isn't it? I modified the fog lights on my Elantra to work independently
of the headlights. However, I've only found it to be useful to use them
alone under extremely snowy conditions where reflections from the low
beams nearly blind me. Given the choice, I wouldn't be on the road under such conditions.


It sounds like you're confusing auxilliary lights (fog or driving
lights) with "daytime running lights". They're not the same thing. Many
cars have DRLs now. They're designed to make a car more visible to other
drivers during the day and they serve no real purpose at night.

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but this is a subject where
terminology makes a big difference when you're trying to get a point
across. Hopefully, I've made the distinctions between fog lights,
driving lights and DRLs clear, so you can ask specifically about what
you want. Honestly, I'm trying to help you.